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 89

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 89


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).


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the way for the pace of civilization and prog- ress which the present generation now enjoys. His father was also of fine physique, measur- ing six feet, six inches, and wishing 225 pounds.


Martha S. Simmons married Robert Knox, and they had one child, Eva T. Mr. Knox died and she was married a second time to Freeman Wilber, deceased; La Fayette mar- ried Mary A. Smith, and they have two chil- dren, Leroy and Ida M .; John M. married Amanda Ford, and they are the parents of four children: Charles M., Cleveland J., Benjamin and Amanda A .; Jacob married Louisa Ford, and they have had born to them three children: Edgar G., Arthur L. and Bennie; Benjamin married Lulu Gilmore, and they have one child, Fannie E.


HARLES A. MELIN, one of the pros- perous Swedish farmers of Pierce Town - ship, has been a resident of Page County since 1876. His father's name was John Gabrielson, and according to the Swedish custom his name would have been Johnson; but upon coming to America he found the name Johnson belonging to so many families that he decided to adopt one with more indi- vidualty; he therefore chose the name he now bears, Melin. John Gabrielson was a farmer in Smolen, Sweden, owning his land and in comfortable circumstances. He owned other property and was considered a wealthy man, but by becoming security for others he lost a considerable amount of money. He mar- ried Lena Swanson, daughter of Swan Peter- son, and they became the parents of seven children: John P., deceased; Carrie, Swan M., Joliannie, Andrew M., deceased; Charles A. and Christiana. The parents were mem- bers of the Swedish Lutheran Church, of


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which Mr. Gabrielson was a deacon. He died in Sweden, at the age of seventy-six years, honored and respected by all who knew him.


Charles A. Melin was born in Sweden, July 28, 1843, and received the common- school education afforded in that country. He was reared to the occupation of a farmer, and remained under the parental roof until he was twenty-six years of age. Believing that America offered many inducements to young men of ambition, he decided to emi- grate; he landed at Castle Garden, New York city, and came directly to Illinois and settled at Swedonia, Mercer County. He resided ill this neighborhood and the adjoining county of Henry for a period of six years, first as a farm laborer, and then as a renter.


October 1, 1870, Mr. Melin was united in marriage to Miss Christiana Carlson, daughter of Carl and Mary (Hanson) Scalberg. Mr. and Mrs Scalberg were the parents of five children, of whom Christiana was the oldest; the father died in Sweden, and the mother came to America after his death, and is still living.


As before stated, Mr. Melin lias been a resident of Page County since 1876; his first farm was in Pierce Township, about two miles from his present home; he lived there six years and then purchased 160 acres, to which he has, added another eighty acres.


Mr. and Mrs. Melin have had born to them four children: Anna M., John A. and Frank C., twins, and Hilma M. The mother died in 1877, and Mr. Melin was married in March, 1881, to Mrs. Johanna Swan, widow of Jolianis Swanson, and daughter of Swan Neilson. Mrs. Melin had six children by her former marriage: Lottie, Silma, Frank, Josie, Lina and Gust; all these children were born in Sweden, and came to America with their mother in 1879. Mr. and Mrs. Melin are members of the Methodist Episcopal


Church, of which Mr. Melin is both treasurer and trustee. He is a devoted Christian and is striving to bring up his children in the belief and practice of Christian principles. He has been an industrious, energetic worker, and needs in no way be ashamed of the results he has accomplished. The Swedish settlers in Iowa are a great credit to their nationality and a valuable accession to the State, and their descendants may take satisfaction in their ancestors.


HARLES HYLT is one of the many Swedish farmers in America who have made safe and rapid progress since coming to this country. His father, Gustav Hylt, was a stockman in Sweden, and reared a family of seven children: Charles, John, Josephine, Augusta, Annie, Lottie and Ma- tilda. Mr. Hylt was a man of high morality and integrity, and a consistent member of the Lutheran Church. His son, Charles Hylt, the subject of this notice, was born in Smolen, Sweden, June 8, 1849, and received a limited education in the common schools of that country. At the age of nineteen years he bade farewell to home and friends and . native land, and sailed away to America. After landing on our hospitable shores he continued his journey to Moline, Illinois, where he remained one year working on a farm. He then went to Henry County, Illi- nois, and resided there one year. In 1870 he came to Page County, and secured em- ployment on a farm; he continued to work in this way until 1875, when he procured a team of horses and began the cultivation of a tract of land which he had bought in 1873; it is located in section 18, Pierce Township, and was then entirely without improvements ;


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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.


there were no bridges in that neighborhood, and the settlements were few and far apart.


Mr. Hylt was married September 16, 1878, to Miss Matilda Carlson, a daughter of C. M. Carlson, who emigrated to America from Sweden, and settled in Page County, where he still resides. Mr. and Mrs. Hylt are the parents of four children: John, Martin, Lillie and Emma. Mr. Hylt improved the first farm on which lie settled, placing it under good cultivation and erecting comfortable, substantial buildings. In 1884 he came to his present farm, which consists of 160 acres of as fine land as can be found within the limits of Page County; he has built a fine barn, and has added many modern conveniences. He may well be called a benefactor to his county, subduing the wild land and aiding the pro- gress of civilization.


Mr. and Mrs. Hylt are members of the Swedish Lutheran Church, of which Mr. Hylt has been a trustee. The Swedish people possess in a marked degree the virtues which inake valuable American citizens, being al- most to a man industrious and thoroughly reliable. When Mr. Hylt came to this country he was a poor boy without capital, except that which he carried in a strong determina- tion to succeed, and he has through his own efforts become one of the inost substantial farmers of Page County. He is the founder of a new family in America, and it is fitting that a record of his life should be preserved for the coming generations.


ROJAN PALMER, one of the original settlers of Pierce Township, was born in Richland County, Ohio, October 10, 1826. His grandfather, Ephraim Palmner, was born in Pennsylvania, and was of German origin; his father, Matthew Palmer, was also


a native of the "Keystone" State, and a farmer by occupation. He removed to Ohio prior to 1812, and fonght under General Harrison in the Indian battles. All of his brothers were lost in the war. He was mar- ried in Ohio to Elizabeth Grubaugh, a native of Germany, and nine children were born of this union: Harrison, Perry, Martha, Mary, Trojan, Margaret, Matthew, Malinda and Andrew J. The father owned a farm in Richland County, Ohio, and lived there until his deatlı, which occurred when he was sixty- five years of age. He was an honest, upright man, and was well educated for that day, and was a school teacher in his early life.


Trojan Palmer, his son and the subject of this sketch, received but limited advantages in school, but by reading and study at home he became a well informed man; he has con- tinued the habits thus forined in his youth with much profit to himself and his friends. He remained with his father until he was twenty-one years old, and was then married, August 23, 1847, to Miss Mary Fisher, a danghter of Justus and Eliza (Hall) Fisher. Mr. Fisher was a pioneer farmer of Richland County, Ohio, and a man of excellent liabits and good business qualifications.


Mr. and Mrs. Palmer are the parents of six children who have lived to maturity : Elmira, Matthew, Elzina, Laura, Ezra and Emma J. After his marriage Mr. Palmer lived in Richland County, Ohio, seven years. In 1854 he removed to Linn County, Iowa, the tide of emigration moving strongly in that direction; he lived there until 1866, and then went to Mercer County, Missouri, where he resided four years. In 1870 we find him located in Lucas County, Iowa, and six years later he came to Page County, Iowa, and again settled on wild land. When Mr. Pal- mer settled in Linn County, in 1854, the land was raw prairie, and the Indians were numer-


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ous; they were, however, friendly and peace- able and frequently accepted his hospitality. His present farm consists of 120 acres, which he lias placed under good cultivation. It is always a pleasure to record the history of those sturdy pioneers who have made tlie great West what it is to-day, a land of peace and plenty.


Mr. and Mrs. Palmer are both members of the Baptist Church. Mr. Palmer has been a deacon of the church since 1856, and he is a most devoted member. He has taken an act- ive interest in educational matters and has served his district as school director. When a resident of Linn County the people attested their confidence in him by electing him to the office of Sheriff which he held four years. He has always been a man of high moral character, and has attempted to live a life ac- cording to the Golden Rule.


Elmira Palmer is the wife of Robert Ray, and the mother of seven children: Matthew married Ada M. Waits, and they have four children; Laura is the wife of Michael De- lapant, and they have had borm to them three children; Elzina married John Rush, and has two children; Emma J. is the wife of John Higginbotham, and two children have been born of this union; Ezra married Allie Wox.


RANZ OTTO SEDERQUIST is one of the prominent farmers of Fremont Township, and one of the thrifty Swed- ish settlers who has made his way by his own untiring energy to a position of financial in- dependence. He was born in Ostergotland, near the city of Skenninge, Sweden, Decem- ber 3, 1846, and is a son of Gabriel Peterson; on learning his trade he changed his name from Peterson to Sederquist. Gabriel Peter-


son was a farmer by occupation, owning his own land, the place being called " Warpliden." He married Christiana Lawson, and to them were born six children: Angust, Clara M., Gustav A., deceased; Louisa C., Pher An- ton, and Franz Otto. The parents were both devoted members of the Swedish Lutheran Church. The father died in Sweden, at the age of sixty-four years; his wife lived to the great age of eighty-five years.


Franz Otto Sederquist, the son of Gabriel and Christiana (Lawson) Peterson, received a limited education in the common schools of his native land, and he learned the trades of painting and harness making. At the age of seventeen years he bade farewell to his native land and sailed away to America; he took passage on a sailing vessel, and was on the ocean nine weeks and three days; he landed in the city of Boston, and proceeded at once to Swedonia, Mercer County, Illinois. There he secured employment on a farm, but soon began working at his trade, painting in the summer, and making liarness during the win- ter. He remained in Illinois until 1872, when he came to Montgomery County, Iowa; he purchased eighty acres of land which lie cultivated two years.


Mr. Sederquiet was united in marriage December 31, 1873, to Carrie L. Hart, a danghter of J. M. Hart, now a resident of Page County. Mr. Hart emigrated to America, from Stockaryd Smaland, with his family, in 1868, and settled at Andover, Illinois. His wife's maiden name was Annie Johnson, and they were both natives of Sweden. She died in 1875 at the age of sixty-five years. They were the parents of seven children: John de- ceased; Johanis, Swan, Carl, Matilda, Carrie L., and Louisa, deceased. The entire family came to America, and are now comfortably established on farms of their own.


Mr. and Mrs. Sederquist are the parents of


.


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seven children: Albert W., who died at the age of six months; Emma L., Henry W., Huldah M., Annie A., Emellia Laura L., Carl A. and Albert E.


In 1875 our worth subject came to his present farm of 160 acres; it was then wild prairie, but he has changed the aspect of the surroundings, and everything bespeaks the thrift and prosperity characteristic of the Swedish farmer. As his means increased he invested in more land, until his farm now covers 240 acres. Both Mr. and Mrs. Seder- quist are consistent members of the Mission- ary Evangelist Church, and take a deep interest in the cause of religion, contributing largely to the support of the church. Mr. Sederquist has represented the people of his township as school director and road super- visor, performing his duties to the satisfac- tion of all concerned, and sustaining his reputation as an honorable citizen.


ARRETT R. JONES, one of the sub- stantial and reliable farmers of Pierce Township, next claims our attention in this record of Page County's leading citizens. His ancestors emigrated from Wales at an early day and settled in Pennsylvania. His great-grandfather, Isaialı Joel Jones, was one of a family of five children; one of his sis- ters married a Breckinridge, an ancestor of John C. Breckenridge, who was at one time a candidate for the presidency on the Demo- craric ticket, and a first cousin to the grand_ father of our subject. Isaiah Joel Jones was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, in which he was wounded, carrying a bullet in his body all his life. In early day he removed to Steuben County, New York, where he was one of the pioneers. He reared a large fam- ily, the names of those remembered by the


present generation being Bascom, Isaiah, Robert L. H., Llewellyn, Ap Griffith, James, Polly, Jane and Julia A. The mother's maiden name was Jane Bascom. Mr. Jones was a man of considerable wealth, although he lost a great deal of money in his younger days. He was a successful hunter and very fond of the sport. His son Robert L. H. Jones, the grandfather of Garrett R., was born in Ly- coming County, Pennsylvania, but removed to Steuben County, New York, where he reared his family; he married Jennie Craw- ford, and to them were born eleven children: Isaiah J., Llewellyn, Ap Griffith, Margaret A., Robert L. H., Charles, Priscilla, James, Jane, Melvina and Bascom. The father was a captain in the militia in the war of 1812, and stood ready to be called into service, but the summons never came; he lived many years in Steuben County, and when an old man, removed to Jay County, Indiana, in 1838; he bought a small farm but returned to New York many times. After the death of lis wife he traveled abont a great deal, visiting among his numerous children. He came to Iowa to visit his son Isaiah, at Franklin Grove, in 1876, and died there at the age of eighty-seven years. He was a zealous mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was a man of upright condnet. He had a fine constitution, his strength having been well developed in early life as a boatman on the Susquehanna River; he was also a pilot on that river. His son Isaiah, the father of Garrett R. Jones, married Annie S. Myers, in Pennsylvania; he was also a pilot on the Susquehanna; he removed to Indiana in 1844, where he lived ten years; he then went to Minnesota and bought a farm of 160 acres, on which he made his home until 1867; in that year he came to Page County, Iowa, passing the remainder of his days here. In 1876 he went to California, but returned at


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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.


the end of eight months; his death occurred May 10, 1888, at the age of seventy-four years. He and his wife were consistent members of the Christian Church. When a resident of Minnesota he assisted in the organization of his township and served as supervisor of Page County; he has also represented the people of his township as trustee and assessor. He was always a mau of great industry and of excel- lent character. His wife was born in the city of New York, where her father, Garrett Myers, lived, and was in good circumstances; le owned a fine brick mansion in that city, and was captain of a sloop on the North River; he sold his vessel for $16,000, but he lost it all in law, trying to save his home from destruction by a railroad company that pro- posed to run the road through the place. He removed to Steuben County, New York, and purchased fourteen hundred acres of pine timbered land; he cleared off the timber, rafting it down the Susquehanna, and had four fine farms there; he became a wealthy man again, but eventually lost all his prop- erty; he lived to be eighty-seven years old.


Garrett R. Jones, the subject of this notice, is the son of Isaiah and Annie S. (Myers) Jones, who was born in Steuben County, New York, April 9, 1835: he was a lad of ten years when his father came to Indiana, where he received the limited education afforded by that country in its pioneer days. He learned the trade of a brick and stone mason, and also the plasterer's trade, which he followed many years. He was married in Jay County, Indiana, in 1858, to Cynthia J. Woten, daughter of John aud Mary (Boyles) Woten, and they became the parents of three children: Cora, born in Indiana; Leroy, born in Minne- sota, and Mary E., born in Iowa.


In 1861 Mr. Jones removed with his wife and one child to Minnesota and settled on a farın near Granger, where he remained three


years. In 1864 he moved to Page County, Iowa, and lived one year in Fremont Town- ship, settling the next year in Franklin Grove, on some land which he owned. By industry and good management he has added to this small beginning until he now has 212 acres, one of the finest farms in Pierce Township. He takes an active interest in the cause of education, and has served as school direct- or, discharging his duties with much ability. He is an honored member of the Masonic lodge at Red Oak, Iowa, No. 162. He has retired from his farm and is now living in Essex, conscious that he has done his share in the developement and settlement of the great West. He stands deservedly high as a citi- zen, and is a man of excellent reputation.


ULLIVAN BROTHERS & CO., dealers in staple and fancy groceries, Shenan- doah .- This firm consists of Charles N. and Josepli T. Sullivan and their mother, Mrs. Susan E. Sullivan, and they are doing a fine business in their line of trade and can be considered one of Shenandoah's progressive firms. The present firm succeeded V. H. Sullivan & Sons at the death of the senior member, which occurred January 26, 1887.


Virgil Homer Sullivan was born in Jeffer- County, Indiana, February 1, 1837, his father being Joseph S. Sullivan, a native of Ken- tucky, of Irish ancestry; his great-grandfather emigrated to North Carolina from the Emer- ald Isle when a boy. Virgil had a brother John in business at Keokuk, and when he was nineteen years old he joined him in that city. For three years he was in the employ of the Keokuk & Burlington Railway, being the first conductor to run from Keokuk to Burlington. After leaving the railroad he embarked, in company with his brother in


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the queensware trade, in which he continued until his marriage. December 24, 1862, he was united in marriage to Miss Susan E. Hedges, a daughter of N. G. and Jane (Titus) Hedges. She was born at Cheviot, a suburb of Cincinnati, Ohio, June 18, 1840.


N. G. Hedges, who is now prominently connected with Shenandoah, for forty years lias been identified with Iowa affairs. His first wife, the mother of Mrs. Sullivan, was born at Titusville, Pennsylvania, of which place her grandfather was the founder and whose name it bears. She died when Susan was four years old. Mr. Hedges was after- ward married to Mrs. Margaret Jessup, widow of Dr. Jessup, of Rising Sun, Indiana, and a daughter of Colonel Pepper, of the same place. Mr. Hedges has shown his confidence in Shenandoah's future by erecting during the past year a two-story brick block, which adds materially to the general appearance of tlie business portion of the town.


Mrs. Sullivan was educated at the Wesleyan Female College at Cincinnati, from which slie graduated in 1858, in a class of twenty-nine students. This is one of the oldest female educational institutions chartered in this country, and ranks among the best.


After Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan's marriage they removed to a farm fifteen miles from Keokuk, and were engaged in agricultural pursuits until coming to Shenandoah in 1883. Then, in company with his sons, Mr. Sullivan started the present business. He was a care- ful, methodical business man of liberal views. He was frequently placed in positions of public trust, and for several years was an in- fluential member of the County Board of Su- pervisors in Lee County. His family con- sists of Charles N., Joseph T., Jennie H., Lusette, Albert H. and Pearlie.


Charles N. Sullivan was born on the farm in Lee County, Iowa, January 8, 1863, and


after receiving a fair education in the common schools, in 1882 he entered as clerk in the grocery store of his uncle, D. T. Hedges, of Sioux City, with whom he remained until his father had selected Shenandoalı as a business location; he has since devoted his time and attention to the demands of the trade. He was joined in wedlock February 27, 1889, to Miss Ida Medley, who was born in Belmont County, Ohio, June 10, 1867. She is a daughter of Joseph and Luvina Medley, and came with her parents to Essex County when sixteen years of age.


.


Joseph T. Sullivan was also born in Lee County, Iowa, February 5, 1865. He ob- tained his education in the country school and the Keokuk High School, but his time was principally spent on his father's farın until the present business was started. He is unmarried and lives with his mother in their commodious residence on Church street.


The stock of goods carried by Sullivan Brothers & Co. is a choice line of staple and fancy groceries; their store is in the new Hedges Block, and in many respects ranks among the first institutions of the town. The brothers are accommodating, gentlemanly salesmen, and by close attention to the demands of cus- tomers they have established a profitable and prosperous business. They both have the ring of true metal, and we bespeak for them abundant success in whatever field their in- cliuations may lead them.


OWARD & LATIMER, proprietors of the Mt. Arbor Nurseries, Shenandoah. The Mt. Arbor Nurseries were estab- lished in 1875 by T. E. B. Mason, who con- ducted them for twelve years; January 6, 1887, he was succeeded by the present pro- prietors, Charles T. Howard and Lemuel B.


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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.


Latimer. From a small concern that required but forty acres of ground this institution has grown to such proportions that 200 acres are occupied by it. Employment is given to twenty-five men in the nursery and office while fifteen salesmen are canvassing; thus thousands of dollars are paid out annually and the establishment is of great benefit to Shenandoah and her citizens.


The annual sale of trees is about 225,000 apple, 15,000 each of plum and cherry, and a specialty is made of osage orange, of which they sow ten bushels of seeds, yielding several millions of plants. Mt. Arbor nursery is widely known as introducing the popular curculio-proof Pottawattamie plum, which is fast becoming the standard plum of the coun- try. The packing grounds of the establish- ment occupy five acres of choice ground, one block from the Wabash depot, and there are located a dwelling and the office. A fine selection of evergreen trees adorn the place, presenting a very attractive appearance.


The proprietors of this business are live, energetic men, and are inaking a brilliant success of this institution, and everything in- dicates a continuance and increase of pros- perity and popularity.


The senior member of the firm, Charles T. Howard, was born March 25, 1844, in War- ren County, Illinois, and is a son of George W. and Mary A. (Whitten) Howard, natives of Kentucky, and early settlers of Illinois. For several years the parents have resided in Shenandoah. They reared a family of eleven children all who are living: Charles T., Laura A., wife of T. E. B. Mason; John F., Sarah E., Eoline F., wife of William Boydston; Josiah L., Stephen B., George W., Mary L., wife of William Fisher; William H. and Henry W.


Charles T. was reared on his father's farm and remained at home until his marriage,


which occurred January 25, 1866; he was united to Miss Clara Day, who was born in Fulton County, Illinois, April 22, 1845. He then began to farın near his father and re- sided in Warren County until 1870, when he came to Fremont County, Iowa, and settled ten miles from Shenandoalı; he has a finely improved farm of 240 acres where he still resides. He has been engaged in feeding cattle and hogs, fattening annually from fifty to 100 head of cattle and a proportionate number of hogs. His family consists of Della L., Minnie, Edward E., Gertrude, Ein- ma and Stella. The oldest daughter is en- gaged in teaching and occupies an advanced position in her profession. Death has claimed one of this family for his own: Cora, aged thirteen years, died February 17, 1889.




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