Biographical history of Page County, Iowa, containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States from Washington to Harrison, with accompanying biographies of each; a condensed history of Iowa, with portraits and biographies of the governors of the state; engravings of prominent citizens of Page County, with personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families; and a concise history of the county, the cities, and the townships, Part 101

Author: Lewis and Dunbar, Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis & Dunbar
Number of Pages: 946

USA > Iowa > Page County > Biographical history of Page County, Iowa, containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States from Washington to Harrison, with accompanying biographies of each; a condensed history of Iowa, with portraits and biographies of the governors of the state; engravings of prominent citizens of Page County, with personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families; and a concise history of the county, the cities, and the townships > Part 101

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

REDRIC NELSON, one of the most substantial and progressive citizens of Amity Township, first saw the light of day amid the pine-clad hills of Sweden. He is a son of Neils Peterson, and after the Swedish system the son was named Fredric Neilson, meaning Fredric, the son of Neils. In order to Anglicize the name the spelling was changed to Nelson. Neils Peterson was a prosperous farmer and owned his land. In Sweden thie

farms are all named and the people are designated as from such a farm; the name of the Peterson farm was " Nos; " the farmn was obtained through his marriage, the land having been in the possession of his wife's family for generations. He married Cathe- rine Anderson, and to them were born ten children: Peter, Neils, Andrew, Fredrick, Lars, Carl, John, Oliver, Maria and Caroline. Mr. Peterson passed his life on liis farm, living to the advanced age of ninety years; his wife lived to be eighty-five years old. They lived in comfort and plenty, and were a happy, contented family. A greater num- ber of the Peterson family emigrated to America and located in the Western States. Neils Peterson was a worthy member of the Lutheran Church.

Fredric Nelson was born in 1835, and at the age of eighteen years he set sail for America, " the land of the free and the home of the brave." Having an energetic tempera- ment and a considerable amount of ambition he was desirous of trying his fortune in a new country. He landed in New York city in 1853 and proceeded directly to Chicago, where he engaged as a laborer on the Chicago & Alton Railroad; he spent the winter of 1853- '54 in this way, and then tried farming in Illinois nntil 1856. He carefully saved his earnings and when lie liad accumulated be- tween $350 and $400, lie came to College Springs, Iowa, and invested in stock in Amity College, being one of the original stockhold- ers; he received land from the college and also pre-empted land in Lincoln Township. He worked at various occupations and saved a sum sufficient to enable him to attend Amity College three years.

In 1861 Mr. Nelson was married to Julia N. Johnson, a daughter of James P. and Margaret (Rouse) Johnson. Mr. Johnson is a native of the State of New York. The

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

Ross family lived in . New York State for many generations, and one of them loaned money to the Continental Government; they were true patriots and loyal citizens. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson are the parents of two chil- dren: Emma W. and Hattie, who died at the age of four years and eight months. Mr. Nelson settled on his present farın in 1861, and now owns 240 acres of as fine land as lies in Page County; he has made inany valuable improvements and has a large orchard. He is a member of the board of trustees of Amity College, and is also a trustee of the Congregational Church, of which he and his wife are members. He has also represented the people of his township in the various local offices. He has been agent for the American Emigration Society, and while act- ing in that capacity he crossed the ocean ten times; he was instrumental in bringing many of his . countrymen to this country, where they have secured homes for themselves and have led happy, prosperous lives. On one of these trips Mrs. Nelson accompanied her husband and spent three years in her native land; there Emnina W. was born.

Mr. Nelson is a man who has shown great perseverance and strength of character. He began life without a dollar and is a self-made mman in every sense of the world. He has been very industrious and frugal, and has understood how to save as well as to make inoney; being of a strong constitution he has frequently worked extra hours for extra pay. While acting as agent for the Emigration Society he advertised the resources and ad- vantages of America with such success that thousands of his countrymen became inter- ested, and the King of Sweden, fearing the loss of many good subjects, issued a procla- mation to induce them to remain. But many who wished to better their condition entrusted their prospects and money to Mr. Nelson

with the greatest confidence, so that many dollars were held by him for others. He opened an office in Chicago, where he lived three years; he also acted as the Scandinavian agent for the Inman Steainship Line. He then owned 560 acres of land in Amity Town- ship, and was in very prosperous circum- stances; his credit stood high both in Europe and America, and this was taken advantage of by dishonest men, and a large amount of money belonging to him and others who had entrusted their means to him, was stolen. Although Mr. Nelson was not legally respon- sible he went to work and replaced every dollar to the innocent sufferers. Through all these adverse circumstances he has preserved his reputation unspotted, a legacy more pre- cious than gold. He is now local agent for the Inınan Line. He is entitled to great credit for his success in life and for the forti- tude with which he has inet adversity.

ILLIAM W. ANDERSON is one o the thrifty, prosperous, young farm- ers of this county. Simon Anderson, his grandfather, was a native of Virginia, of Scotch- Irish descent. Jonathan Anderson, son of Simon and father of William W., was born in Culpeper County, Virginia, July 28, 1805. When he was but five months old his parents removed to Ohio. April 8, 1830, he was united in marriage to Julia A. Gard- ner, daughter of George and Catherine (Dor- sey) Gardner. George Gardner was an old pioneer preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church, residing many years in Licking County, Ohio; he preached in all that part of Ohio in the days of its first settlement. He was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and in his young manhood followed boating. The pioneer Methodist Episcopal preachers rode

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Loveland Pubie Las. .

HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

a large circuit, or walked if too poor to ride, and preached the gospel to settlers in log cabins, or in the shade of the trees, "God's first temples." He continued preaching after he was an old man; he reared a large family and was in comfortable circumstances. He came to Iowa in 1876 with the Andersons, and sometimes preached in the pulpit. He died at the great age of ninety-nine years, lacking but a few weeks of being 100 years old. He was with his children in Ohio at the time of his death. He was a remarkable man in many respects and was well known for his great piety. He was not afraid of death and had a firm belief in the truths of the Christian religion.

Jonathan and Julia A. (Gardner) Ander- son had born to them nine children: Daniel, Catherine, Nancy, Maria, Saralı, Rachel, James, who died from exposure during the late civil war; Ellen and William. The fatlier was a prosperous farmer in Ohio, and owned the land on which he resided until 1866; he then came to Iowa and located in Henry County, and in 1875 he removed to Page County. He had bought a farm in Henry County, and when he came to Page County he purchased 222 acres of land. He died July 24, 1889, at the advanced age of eighty-four years. He and liis good wife were inembers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was a man of great industry and integrity of character, and commanded the respect of all with whom he came in contact. Mrs. Ander- son was born May 18, 1811, and died No- vember 3, 1881.

William W. Anderson, the subject of this notice, was born November 17, 1852, in Licking County, Ohio, and came with his parents to Iowa at the age of twelve years. He was brought up to the occupation of a farmer. He married Merab Harlan, a dauglı- ter of William and Emina (Johnson) Harlan,

and six children were born of this union: Eldia S., Florence, Verner, Leroy, Clarence and Myrtle. After his marriage Mr. Ander- son settled on the homestead, of which lie now owns 122 acres. He is a young farmer of energetic and industrious liabits, and has in- herited his father's superior business qualifi- cations. Mrs. Anderson's father, William Harlan, was born in Indiana, and is a son of John Harlan, a native of South Carolina. He and his wife had four children boru to them: Nancy, Alice, Merab and John K. Mr. Harlan was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion, a member of the Twenty-fifth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. His death was caused by disease contracted in the service.

- RANKLIN MCCURDY is one of the prominent farmers of Buchanan Town- ship. He was born April 10, 1834, in county Londonderry, Ireland, and is a son of Nanian McCurdy, a weaver by trade. He left the beautiful " Emerald Isle " when but fifteen years of age and emigrated to America; lie landed in Philadelphia and afterward ob- tained work in au iron furnace in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. Before coming to this country he had followed the sea, and young as he was he was considered an able sailor. He worked in the iron furnace, the largest in the United States, for six months, and then went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he learned the machinist's trade with the firm of Frank Bonsell & Co. At the end of one year he began running a stationary 'engine at Troy, Ohio, where he remained two years. At the end of this period he came to Iowa and settled in Page County.

In 1859 Mr. McCurdy was united in mar- riage to Miss Esther Seabolt, a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Baker) Seabolt. Ten

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children were born of this nnion: William M., Franklin M., Jolın E., Robert J., Ada, Ida B., Ella, Mertie, E. S. and Ora K. Two years after his marriage Mr. McCurdy settled on his present farin, then in a wild state, but now converted into a fine, fertile farm witlı excellent improvements. In politics le affili- ates with the Democratic party. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is a man who stands high in the community and merits the respect of all good citizens. William M. McCurdy married Emma Foster; John E. inarried Rena Wilson, and Robert J. mar- ried Nora Foster. William Seabolt, father of Mrs. McCurdy, came from Tennessee to Page County in 1859 and managed a steam saw-mill for three years. He then removed to Nodaway County, Missouri, where he lived until his death. He was the father of ten children, five sons and five daughters: Jacob E., Lovell E., Bryant, Elihn, Edward, Allie, Priscilla, Eliza, Esther and Matilda.

Franklin McCurdy, the subject of this sketch, is a self-made inan, and by industry and economy he has become the owner of a fine homestead of 240 acres. He and liis es- timable wife have brought up their children to frugal habits and may well take pride in what they have accomplished.

ENRY LAUB is one of the prominent land-owners and farmers of Buchanan Township. He was born in Wurtem- berg, Germany, and is a son of Philip Laub, who was a gardener by occupation; he also learned the art of printing in the city of Stuttgart and became very skillful, com- manding high wages. He continued in the printing business eighteen years and was one of the principal men in a large establish- inent where the only newspaper in a wide

community was printed. He owned land and town property and was considered well off. He married Rosina Heller, and three chil- dren were born of the union: Ernest, Gusta- vus and Henry. The father died at the age of forty-three years. He was a member of the Christian Church and also belonged to a benevolent secret society among the printers, from which his wife drew a pension for many years; she lived to be nearly seventy years old.

Henry Laub, son of Philip and Rosina Laub, was born in Stuttgart, Germany, in 1834. He received a common- school educa- tion, and at the age of fourteen years he em- igrated with his brother, Gustavus, to Ohio; and for six years was engaged at work in the vineyards near Cincinnati. In 1854 he came to Bureau County, Illinois, but remained there only four months; le thien came to Page County, Iowa, and entered 120 acres of Government land, which is his present home- stead.

In 1860 Mr. Laub was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Shearer, daughter of Joel and Mary (Farer) Shearer, natives of North Car- olina and early settlers in Page County. Thirteen children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Laub, one of whom died in infancy: Mary A., wife of Robert Donison; Rosina, wife of Henry Carr; Margaret L., wife of William Nixon; William E., Tabitha J., Charles H., Effie L., George L., Thomas E., Ira D., Ivy P. and Sarah M., twins.

In 1864 Mr. Laub entered Company K, Thirteenth lowa Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war. He was in the battles of Nashville, Tennessee, De- catur, Alabama, and several skirinislies. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church while his wife belongs to the Baptist Church. He is an ardent Republican, but believes in free trade. He has taken an act-

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ive interest in educational affairs and has held the office of school director. He has been industrious and thrifty, and by wise management has accumulated a competence. He owns 500 acres of as fine farming land as can be found in Page County, well im- proved. He has brought up a large family of children and has given them a liberal edu- cation. He is well worthy of the esteem in which he is held by the entire community.

OSIAH THOMPSON, one of the leading farmers of the county, is a son of Larkin Thompson, who was one of the oldest settlers of Page County, having settled here in 1844. Larkin Thompson was born in Ray County, Tennessee, April 11, 1809, and is one of a family of nine children. One of his brothers was a soldier in the war of 1812 and died in the service. He was married in Tennessee, January 11, 1830, and three chil- dren were born of this union: Mary C., Eme- line E. and Josiah. The father was a farmer by occupation; he removed with his family to Rushville, Illinois, and thence to Missouri, settling in Buchanan County, where he re- inained several years. He then came to Iowa in 1844, and settled in East River Township, Page County, about four iniles southeast of Clarinda. In 1846 he moved to Buchanan Township and settled on the land uow owned by his grandson, F. M. Thompson; he died there June 3, 1879. He was a successful farmer and was among the most highly re- spected of the old pioneers. Politically he adhered to the principles of the Democratic party.

Josiah Thompson, the subject of this notice, was born in Buchanan County, Missouri, Feb- ruary 12, 1839. He obtained his education in the pioneer log school-house and there- 59

fore enjoyed rather limited advantages. His parents removed to Buchanan Township when he was but five years old, and he has passed his life since that time in Page County. His father being a farmer he was naturally trained to the same occupation. He was united in marriage to Charlotte M. Bridgman, and four children have blessed this union: Larkin F., Artemisia, Frank M. and Jolın. After his marriage Mr. Thompson settled on his preseut farm, where he has led an industrious and en- ergetic life; lie has added to his first invest- ment until he now owns 316 acres of choice land in an excellent state of cultivation. In political opinion he is a stanch Democrat, but he has never aspired to public office. He is an honorable, law-abiding citizen whose word is as good as his bond.

ILAS INGRAM, the subject of this biographical notice, is a resident of section 28, Nodaway Township. It was in the year 1854 that he came to Page County, landing in the month of October. He was born in Scott County, Virginia, August 11, 1814, and is now seventy-five years old, past the "three score and ten" allotted to man. He is a son of Silas and Sarah (Spear) Ingrain. The father was born in Scott County, Virginia, and the mother was a native of North Carolina.

Silas, Jr., spent his early youth on a farm, and at the age of fourteen years he went to learn the tanner's trade, which he followed until he came to Iowa. At the age of eight- een years he removed to Tennessee. He was married in Campbell County, Tennessee, in 1843, to Miss Sarah Hampton, who was born in Tennessee in 1820. Mr. and Mrs. Ingram resided there until 1854, when in company with five other families they emi-

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

grated to Page County, Iowa. Some of the company had horses and others had oxen, and it was a long and tedious trip; they crossed the Ohio river at Lonisville, Ken- tucky, and went via Terre Haute, Indiana, across the great prairie State of Illinois to Warsaw, below Keoknk, Iowa; thence they followed the Mormon trail, fording the streams and camping by the wayside at night. Upon their arrival in Page County there were but a few log cabins to welcome them. Mr. Ingram settled a quarter of a mile south of his present place, built a log cabin, and set about making a home. He furnished his family with meat by killing wild game. Thinking he might better his condition he removed to Nodaway County, Missouri, but after one year he re- turned to his pesent location. His farm con- sists of eighty acres of land, innch of which he has cleared and converted into excellent farm land.

Mr. and Mrs. Ingram have six children living: Laban S., Mahala, wife of Ralph De- lop; Frank David, William, Sarah, wife of David McCuen and Eva M.

Politically our subject is a stanch Republi- can. He has served acceptably as a member of the school board. He was reared a Meth- odist and believes in the teachings and gov- erment of that church. Notwithstanding his advanced years he is quite rugged and shows the temperate life he has lived. He is, in- deed, a genuine pioneer, and claims our re- spect and admiration. He has reared a family, an ornament to any community.

AMES A. BURCH is one of the leading farmers of his township, and will form the subject of the next biographical sketch in this work. His grandfather, John Burch, came from Virginia and settled in

Greene County, Indiana, at an early day, when he was numbered with the pioneers. He married Louisa Baze, and they reared a family of nine children; he lived for nearly thirty years in Greene County, and all of his children were born there. In 1855 he emigrated to Iowa and located in Fayette County; ten years later he removed to Nodaway County, Missouri, where he died in 1878. He was a man who commanded the respect of his fellow- citizens; he was called to fill the office of Justice of the Peace, and for several years was director of schools in Iowa and Missouri. In politics he was a stanch Democrat and was well informed on the leading questions of the day. He was a mian of temperate aud inoral hab- its, and by a quiet and steady industry he ac- cumulated a handsome property. At the time of his death he owned over 400 acres of land in Nodaway County, Missouri. His widow still lives, at the age of eighty-eight years. His son Abner, the father of James A., was boru in Greene County, Indiana, and began farming when quite a young man. He mar- ried Stacy Carmichael, a daughter of Archi- bald and Martha (Pennington) Carmichael, and to them were born thirteen children, all growing to years of maturity. Abner Burch lived in Greene County teu years after his marriage and then removed to Fayette County, lowa, and lived near his father. His wife being dissatisfied he returned the next year to Indiava and settled in Owen County, where he remained until 1862; in that year he moved to Nodaway County, Missouri, and raised one crop, after which he went to Page County, Iowa; later he returned to Nodaway County, Missouri, where he now lives on a farın. He is an ordained minister in the Baptist Church and a uran who has earnestly worked for the cause of his Master and the good of his fellow-men.

James A. Burch, son of Abner Burcli, was

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

born in Greene County, Indiana, March 16, 1850, and was bnt five years of age when his father removed to Iowa. He was a bright, intelligent lad, but received only the limited education afforded in the new western coun- try. In 1869 he was married to Miss Sarah A. Creps, a daughter of John and Mary (Waltuer) Creps. Nine children were born of this nnion: Louis A., Cora E.,. deceased at the age of fonr years; Stacy J., William A., Harriet G., Carrie E., Marvy A., Leila E. and Moses. After his marriage Mr. Burch lived in Nodaway County, Missonri, and also spent one year in Texas before he came to Page County. He now owns a farin of 365 acres which is well improved, and is sitnate three-quarters of a mile from Braddyville He and his wife are devout members of the' Baptist Church and he has been a deacon for seventeen years. He has taken a deep in- terest in educational matters and has filled the office of school director in his district. By hard work and patient endeavor, assisted by his faithful wife, he has accumulated a competence; but of far more importance in the record of his life is the reputation he has made as a inan of sterling worth and deep in- tegrity of character. He has endeavored to bring up his children in the paths of recti- tude and right and they all merit the respect of the entire community. John Creps, the father of Mrs. Burch, was born in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, in 1820. His father, Jolin Creps, was born in Union County, Penn- sylvania, and married Nancy Ziegler. To them were born eight children. The great-grand- father of Mrs. Burch emigrated to America be- fore the war of the Revolution, but being too young to serve as a soldier he assisted in erect- ing breastworks for the defense of the soldiers. He learned the tailor's trade, and in later life owned a farm in Union County, Pennsylvania. John Creps was a consistent member of the

Presbyterian Church and enjoyed the confi- dence and esteem of his townsmen to an ex- traordinary degree.

H BROCKMAN, one of the ambitious young farmers of Page County, is an adopted citizen of America, his birth- place being Oldenberg, Germany, and the time of his birth May 31, 1864. His parents, John Henry and Catherine (Drace) Brock- man, were also natives of the " Fatherland," but emigrated to America and settled in Mason Connty, Illinois, when H. H. was an infant. There were only two children who lived to maturity, onr subject and Mrs. Lizzie D. McCabe, who still lives in Mason County on the old farm. The father died in October, 1873, and the mother passed away in October, 1887.

Mr. Brockman was reared to farin life and obtained his education in the common schools of Mason County, Illinois. He remained there until the spring of 1890, when he came to Page County for the purpose of investing in land and making a home for himself. He bought a valnable farm in Harlan Township, containing 118 acres; it was improved by Robert McElhose, and is worth $50 per acre. The buildings are all of a most substantial character and are well arranged; the orchard, one of the most desirable features of a west- ern farm, is surrounded by two rows of evergreen trees, which make a perfect wind- break, protecting the trees from the strong winds of the winter. The improvements have been made at a cost of $2,500, and there is little to be desired in addition to all the conveniences for modern farming. In this free land every citizen, whether na- native or adopted, must be guided more or less by the political creed of one of the

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

parties, and Mr. Brockman is identified with the Democrats. In his religious faith he is a Lutheran. He is iu the prime of young, vigorous manhood, is energetic and indus- trious, and we anticipate for him a successful career in his newly found home where true merit is ever appreciated.

OHN KRABILL, a prominent farmer of Page County, was a soldier in both the Mexican and civil wars, and it is of rare occurrence that the writer of modern history has the honor to interview a veteran of the two wars. Our worthy subject was born in the Cantou of Berne, Switzerland, October 14, 1814, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Whitebread) Krabill; there were fourteen children in the family, one of whom died in the old country; the father emigrated to America in 1833, and located in Pennsyl- vania; he rented a farm in Butler County, on which he lived eight years; he then went to Allegheny County, but at the end of two years he came as far west as Ohio, and pur- chased a farm in Hardin County, where he resided until after the civil war; he then came to Iowa and lived with his son John, who kindly cared for him until death, which occurred when he was eighty-seven years old. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and was an honorable, industrious man. His wife died in the State of Ohio.

John Krabill, son of John and Elizabeth Krabill, was a young inan of seventeen years when he emigrated with his father's family to this country; in his early youth lie was put to work in the factories of Switzerland, and later he assisted his father on the farm. At the age of nineteen years he engaged as a boatinan on the river steamboats, and con- tinned in this employment ten years, plying

on the Mississippi, Arkansas, and Alabama rivers. At New Orleans he enlisted in the United States service as a boatinan in the Mexican war, running on the Rio Grande River; these boats were used in the transpor- tation of troops and rations, and were regular Government vessels. Mr. Krabill was on the " White Swell," a small steam boat; he was in that service eleven monthis, and then returned to his home, seenring employment in a saw- mill.

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Author: Lewis and Dunbar, Chicago, pub Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis & Dunbar Number of Pages: 946

Author: Lewis and Dunbar, Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis & Dunbar
Number of Pages: 946