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 97

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 97

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).

Mr. Fleener was a successful hunter, and as all sorts of game was plentiful his family was well supplied with the best of meats. He lived to the great age of ninety-two years. He was a Presbyterian in his religious faith and possessed ail the virtues of an old-time American pioneer.

Isaac Fleener, son of Jolin and Mary (Gib- son) Fleener, was born Angust 22, 1827, on his father's farm in Washington County, In- diana. The dwelling on this farm was built of brick, a very uncommon thing in Indiana at that date. Isaac received the limited edn- cation afforded in the primitive pioneer schools, and was trained to the details of ag- riculture ou his father's farm. When a young man of twenty-two, in 1848, he entered 160 acres of land in Des Moines County, Iowa, and was therefore one of the earliest settlers of the State. He resided on this farm until he came to Page County. He was married in Des Moines County to Permelia Gallaher, daughter of George and Amanda (Williams) Gallaher. The ancestors of the Gallahers wore Scotch people who settled in Tennessee, were also pioneers of Illinois, and among the first settlers of Des Moines County, coming there early in the thirties.

Mr. and Mrs. Fleener are the parents of five children, who are now living: John, Lo- rinda, Charles, Levina and Janie. In Sep- tem ber, 1874, Mr. Fleener removed to Page County and settled on his present farm, which consists of 320 acres; it was then in a wild, state, but by energetic management he has converted it into a valuable farm with excel- lent improvements. He and. his wife are both members of the Presbyterian Church, of which lie is an elder. He is a man who has always taken an active interest in educational and religious matters, and has contributed liberally of his means to the erection and support of the church. He is a man of unquestioned rep-

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

utation, with a keen sense of honor and jus- tice.

Lorinda Fleener married Dennis Crostwait and they liave two children; John married Sadie Grafton; Levina is the wife of Van Evrie Ballard, and they have three children; Janie married William Lamborne, and is the mother of one child, Emma; Charles married Abbie Lamborne.

OHN M. HILGERSON adds another honored name to the already lengthy list of successful Swedish- American farmers, of Page County. He is a native of Smoland, Sweden, and a son of Hilger Hanson, a farmer in Sweden owning 200 acres of fine land; the place is called "Säby," all the Swedish farms being named. The farm belonged originally to his wife's family, her maiden name being Carrie Johnson. Mr. and Mrs. Hansen have had six children: John M., J. Peter, Johannalı M., Samuel E., Louisa C., who died in this country at the age of twenty-three years, and Augusta C. The parents are still living on the old farm in Sweden, and are now quite elderly people, the father having been born in 1821, and the mother two years later. They are members of the Swedish Lutheran Church, and are among the substantial farmers of their country.

John M. Hilgerson was born January 15, 1844, and received the common-school edu- cation given the youth of his native land; he was also taught the principles of agriculture, but at the age of twenty-five he conceived the idea of emigrating to the New World where he believed better opportunities awaited him. He accordingly said good-bye to lris home and family, and friends, and sailed over the sea to the " land of the free and the liome of the brave." After landing he went direct- 57

ly to Illinois and was first employed by a railroad company; he afterward went to work on a farm, but soon rented land in Mercer County, where he lived four years.

In 1871 Mr. Hilgerson was united in mar- riage to Anna L. Carlson, a native of Sweden, but a resident of Henry County, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Hilgerson have had born to them two children: Charles O. and Frank A., both of whom are deceased. Our subject came to Iowa in March, 1875, and purchased eighty acres of land on section 9, Pierce Township, which he has improved and con- verted into a beautiful and valuable farm; he has added to it 160 acres, and has built a fine residence, making a most delightful home. He and his wife are members of the Swedish Lutheran Church, and are in every way worthy of the respect accorded them by the people of Pierce Township.

The name Hilgerson is made up of the father's Christian name and the word son, meaning son of Hilger, this being a custom in Sweden, which gives a great variety of names in the same family. The history of the origin of names is a very interesting study, and this practice among the Scandinavians is a very natural and honorable one.

ETER GUTSCHENRITTER is a native of the province which was one of the bones of contention between Germany and France in the Franco-Prussian war, Alsace-Loraine. His father, John D. Gut- schenritter, was of French descent, born in Alsace; he married Francis Arnold, and to them were born four children: John D., Frank J., Mary A., and Peter, all of whom are natives of Alsace. The father was a soldier in the French army, during the Revolution in 1813, and participated in several battles.

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

He emigrated to America in 1844, and landed at New York, continuing his journey to Wis- consin; there he purchased a farm, on which he lived the remainder of his days; he died at the age of eighty-two years. He was a devoted member of the Roman Catholic Church, and his family were brought up according to that faith. He was a man of perseverance, and was respected by all who knew him.

Peter Gutschenritter was born June 6, 1835, and was but nine years of age when his father emigrated to America. He received but a limited education, having a new lan- guage to learn and the schools affording few advantages. At the age of thirteen years he left the parental roof, and went out into the world to seek his fortune, and the little pio- neer French boy had a harder lot than falls to most American children. He came directly to Jolinson County, Iowa, after leaving home, and worked for farmers at sinall wages; but he cared for his money, so that with $100 which he received from his father's estate, he was able to purchase a piece of land in John- son County, Iowa, which he placed under good cultivation.

In 1860 Mr. Gutschenritter inarried Ann McGinness, daughter of Michael and Cathe- rine (McGuire) McGinness, natives of Ireland, and early settlers of Johnson County, Iowa. They were both faithful members of the Roman Catholic Church. The first wife died, and he was married a second time to a widow, Mrs. Elizabeth Gross, nee Gates. There were twelve children by the first mar- riage, and four by the latter. Mrs. Gustchen- ritter is a child of the first marriage, and she was but two years old when her mother died.

Our subject settled with his young wife, who was only seventeen years of age, on his new farm, and there they erected necessary buildings, and made their home for seven

years; at the end of that time they removed to another farm two miles distant, living on it six years; they lived one year at Winton, Iowa, and they settled in Page County, Iowa, at the end of this time, in 1874. Mr. Gutsch- enritter bought 120 acres of new land, in Pierce Township, and he has since made it his home; by the assistance of his faithful wife he has converted in into a most desirable residence; he has added many excellent im- provements, and has increased the original purchase to 360 acres.

Mr. and Mrs. Gutschenritter have had born to them ten children, three of whom died in infancy; they are Peter, Annie and Jamnes A .; the children living are John M., Mary E., Joseph A., William F., Lawrence M., Lewis E. and Clara E. Mr. Gutscheuritter is a strong adherent to the principles of the Democratic party. He is an honored member of the Farmers' Alliance, and a highly re- spected citizen. The children owe their father and mother a debt of gratitude for their efforts in making them a good home, and they will look back with pride to the record of their lives as pioneers of the great and wealthy State of Iowa.

DWARD HADDEN was born in Put- nam County, Indiana, December 3, 1834, and is a son of John Hadden, the very first settler in Fremont Township, Page County. The father removed to Arkansas when Edward was a small boy, and when he was eighteen years of age the family came to Page County, Iowa. This was in the fall of 1850, and there was not another settler in Fremont Township. March 10, 1852, they located on the farin now occupied by Edward. The country was then a wilderness; the In- dians roamed the prairie at will, and game

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

was to be found in abundance, deer, wild tur- key, and 'coous forming a part of the daily " bill of fare." There were nine children in the family: Frank, Larkin, Catherine, Amanda, Matilda, Sherwood, David, Ed- ward, and Dudley. The family were estab- lished in a log cabin and some ground was soon broken and corn planted; but they were obliged to go to Rockport, Missouri, fifty miles distant, to get their corn ground. The next settler who came to the township was Julın Pelham, who bronght his family the same fall tlie Haddens located there. Mr. Hadden died four years after coming to Iowa.

Edward grew to manhood amid the scenes and vicissitudes of frontier life, and became accustomed to many hardships; the mnost trying one was the lack of schools, the great- est draw-back to a new country. Edward Hadden was united in marriage to Amy Bel- lis, sister of Adam Bellis, whose history appears on another page of this volume. The result of this union was nine children: Malinda, Louis, Wilson, Jolın, Benjamin, who died at the age of two years; Adamı, who died in infancy; Daniel, James and Al- maretta. This large family was deprived of the educational advantages whichi settlers of the older States enjoy, and they were sub- jected to many privations which would make the heart faint of any but the most deter- mnined and courageons pioneer. But their simple fare has produced some of the noblest specimens of manhood and womanhood to which this New World is heir. Vice Presi- dent Wilson once very truly remarked in a speech upon the settlement of Kansas, ill words to this effect, that the statesmen of America were not raised upon Wilton car- pets, but rather upon the rocky hills of New England and the prairies of the West. And our country's history is replete with the brill- iant names of men who came from the lower

walks of life. Not all the true noblemen of America have distinguished themselves in the halls of Congress, but the pioneers of the West are all true sovereigns of a race of noble sires whose lineage is traced through worthy deeds of manly valor and virtue.

Edward Hadden is well known thronghout his county as an honorable and reliable citizen, and his name will be remembered as one of the brave men who have opened up the wilder- ness in advance of civilization, and made possible the improvements and advantages which the present generation enjoys.

ESSE CALDWELL was born January 27, 1841, in Washington County, Penn- sylvania, and is a son of Andrew Cald- well and a grandson of James Caldwell, both of whose liistories are sketched in the biog- raphy of Alexander Caldwell, which will be found ou another page of this volume. James Caldwell emigrated from Ireland to America in 1774, and settled on a farm in Washington County, Pennsylvania. He landed in the city of New York, where he learned the brick mason's trade, which lie followed both in that city and in Philadelphia until after his marriage; he then located upon his land but continued his trade, hiring the farm work done. He married Miss Annie Sum- mers, a daughter of Joseph and Jane Sum- mers, natives of Scotland, and of this union were born five children: Andrew, Sarah, Jane, and two who died in childhood. One of the daughters married Reason Pumphrey, of Ohio. Mr. Caldwell accumulated a large property in Pennsylvania, and when an old man joined his son in Licking County, Ohio, where he died at the age of ninety-six years. Andrew Caldwell, his son and the father of Jesse Caldwell, was born in Washington

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

County, Pennsylvania, in 1799, and was reared to farm life. When quite a young man he engaged in the stock business and became very successful. After his marriage to Rachel Martin he settled on a farm in the county in which he was born. His family consisted of six children: Thomas, Alexan- der, Joseph A., James, Jesse and Mary J. In 1842 Mr. Caldwell removed to Licking County, Ohio, where he lived until 1853, when he went to Delaware County, Ohio, and purchased 360 acres of land which he de- voted to the raising of live-stock. He was very domestic in liis tastes, caring little for the affairs of church or State. His wife was a member of the Baptist Church, and she ac- cepted the teachings of that sect. She was a woman of fine traits of character and of robust constitution, living to the age of eighty-six years.

When Jesse Caldwell was but one year old his parents removed to Licking County, Ohio, where he received all the educational advan- tages afforded by the public schools. He was brought up on a farm and naturally was trained to agricultural pursuits. June 2, 1868, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary H. Granger, daughter of Sylvester Granger of Granville, Ohio. (See page 510 for gen. ealogy.) They have had five children born to them Della M., Llewellyn P., Jennie A., Rachel E., and Jesse E. After liis marriage Mr. Caldwell settled on the old homestead in Delaware County, Ohio, a part of which he liad inherited; there he had re- sided until 1869, when he removed with his family to Wabash, Indiana, and engaged in the lumber business. One year later he camne to Iowa, and settled at Franklin Grove, Pierce Township, Page County; he embarked in the mercantile trade with M. A. Jones and continued the enterprise three years; at the end of this period he bought a farin west of

Essex, but again in 1874 he entered the mer- cantile business at Essex, in which he con- tinued six years. In connection with his store in Essex he also managed a branch of the business at Coburg, Iowa. In 1882 he purchased a farm consisting of 256 acres, a portion of which lies within the corporation of Essex. This land is well improved and in an advanced state of cultivation. Mr. Caldwell has devoted a large part of his time to the raising and feeding of live-stock, and is now fattening ninety head for market. He has a great horror of debt, and it has been proven that wliere this symptom exists there is sure to be a healthy business con- dition. He is giving his children the advan- tages of a good education. Mrs. Caldwell and the children are members of the Presbyterian Church. The family are from good pioneer stock, and their descendants may take a just pride in the family honor and namne.

ILLIAM S. HOAR, son of Jonathan and Christina Hoar, was born in Reedsville, Mifflin County, Pennsyl- vania, March 17, 1845. He acquired a good common-school education, but principally through close application to his books during his leisure hours at home. His older brother having died, and also his father, before he was thirteen years of age, he learned in youth the responsibilities of life. He was accustomed to farm work, but at the age of seventeen he entered a civil engineer's office. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company D, One Hun- dred and Twenty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and participated in the battles of South Mountain and Antietam, receiving a severe wound in the latter engagement, which confined him to the hospital for five months; he was honorably discharged and returned to

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

Altoona, Pennsylvania, broken in health. When he had recovered sufficient strength to go to work he began the study of telegraphy, and worked at the business for five years.

In 1870, at Tyrone, Pennsylvania, Mr. Hoar was united in marriage to Miss Eliza- beth Barnhart, daughter of the Rev. Thomas and Hannah (Hall) Barnhart. Six children have been born of this union; Thomas, Laura, Henry, Mary, Paul and Helen. At the time of his marriage Mr. Hoar was book-keeper at the Locomotive Works of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, at Tyrone, Pennsylvania, and remained in their employ thirteen years. In 1879 he determined to take up agricult- ural pursuits, and he removed to Page County, where he bought land, to which he has added, until his farm covers 240 acres: At the present time he is devoting liis time and attention to the breeding of highi grades of cattle, horses and hogs.

APTAIN AUGUST ANDERSON is one of the prominent farmers of Swed- ish nationality residing in Page County. He was born near Guttenburg, Sweden, Sep- tember 28, 1834. His father was a farmer in early life, but by a reverse of fortune he lost his land, and afterward followed the sea. He married Christine Anderson, and to them was born one son, the subject of this sketch. The mother died when August was but four years old, and the liome was broken up, as the father was then on the water, where he remained thirty years. After August came to America Mr. Anderson came and lived with him until his death, which occurred in 1887.

After his mother's deatlı Captain Anderson lived with relatives, passing his youth on a farm; he acquired a good education in the

schools of his native country. When sixteen years old he engaged as cook on a sailing vessel bound for Hull, England, and afterward shipped as a common sailor. After one or two years' cruising in this manner he shipped at Antwerp on the American ship " Lydia " to New York; he then sailed altogether on American vessels; during his many voyages he met with all the hardships of a sailor's life, but he also liad many of the pleasures; he learned to steer the vessel, and was ap- pointed second navigator; he also sailed as captain of pleasure yachts from New York harbor. On a voyage to Rio Janeiro the captain was taken ill and placed young An- derson in command of the vessel, which he took safely into port and cleared the brig for New York in his captain's name. The weather was rough and a severe storm was encountered within a day's sail of New York; the captain was still very ill and the sails were nearly blown away, so the young com- mander was obliged to steer her course for the Bermuda Islands, about 600 miles from New York. When near the Islands a great storm was raging, but the pilot took them safely into port. At Rio Janeiro an inefficient navigator had been shipped who caused the young commander a great deal of trouble. In Bermuda he demanded his discharge with the announcement that unless it was given he would himself resign the command. The sick captain gladly complied with his request. He died before the vessel left Bermuda, and Anderson brought the brig back to New York in safety. He was then examined by the Board of Navigation, and passed a satis- factory examination; he sailed as captain of this vessel for years after. During the civil war he did effective service, and for six seasons he was on the great lakes, and finally became master of a vessel.

In the fall of 1864 Captain Anderson was

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

married to Miss Sophia Fraid, in Henry County, Illinois, and to them have been born five children: August N., Carl E., Joseph A., John E., and Annie C. Captain Anderson bonght a small farm in Henry County, Il- linois, on which he resided twelve years. He then came to Page County, Iowa, and by in- dustry and economy he has added to his first purchase of 120 acres, until he now owns 200 acres of as fine land as can be found in Page County. He is a man of good business abil- ity, and his long experience as a sailor and navigator has given him a wide field of in- formation. He has been as successful on the land as he was on the water, and has inade his farining a profitable business. The Captain and his wife are consistent members of the Swedish Lutheran Church, and for five years he has also been one of the trustees. Our country is to be congratulated upon at- tracting snclı citizens to her shores as Cap- tain Anderson, who with other sturdy sons of an older civilization has taken deep root in our free soil, and has developed into a noble, true-hearted American.

DAM BELLIS, one of the solid and reliable farmers of his township, is deserving of a space in this record of the pioneers of Page County. He is a son of Wilson Bellis, who was an early settler in Holmes County, Ohio, where he married Mar- garet S. Camp; and by this union were twelve children, eleven of whom lived to maturity: James J., John, Mary A., Adam, Amy, Dilly, George, John W .. Catherine, Charity, Henry and William L. Mr. Bellis removed to Page County in 1858, and settled in Fre- mont Township ou section 4; later he moved to section 18, where he resided until the day of his death, and where his widow now inakes

her home. He was one of the oldest pioneers, coming to the county when it was a wilder- ness, thus forming one of the phalanx of noble frontiersmen, who made Iowa what it is to-day, one of the finest States in the Union. The people of his township testified their confidence in him by calling him to fill the office of trustee, the duties of which he dis- charged to their entire satisfaction. He was a life-long Democrat.

Adam Bellis, son of Wilson and Margaret Bellis, was born in Holmes County, Ohio, August 26, 1842. The schools of that coun- try were so far apart that his education was neglected, but a keen observation has enabled him to transact all the business of life with as much care and exactness as many a college- bred man. He was a yonth of sixteen years when his father removed to Page County, and he at once began to assist in the home- making, no light task in a wild, uncultivated country.

ILLIAM J. PHIPPS is descended from an old American family of Eng- lish origin. They settled first in Gray- son County, Virginia, where Isaiah Phipps, the grandfather of our subject, was born; le was married there and reared a large family. His son, John, the father of William J., was born in Grayson County, Virginia, in 1815, and was reared to the occupation of a farmer. At the age of twenty years he emigrated to Vermillion County, Illinois, where he was one of the early settlers. He married Eliza J. Hall, a daughter of William and Annie (Copeland) Hall, and to then were born three children: Mary A., Sylvester and William J. They resided in Vermillion County until 1839, and then went to Bates County, Mis- souri, where the wife died. In 1847 Mr.

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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.

Phipps removed to Lee County, Iowa, and was one of the pioneers of that county. In 1850, during the gold fever in California. he emigrated to that State and engaged in inin- ing, meeting with marked success. While there he turned his attention to farming; he was again married to Ellen Wayman, and they had four children: Emma, Ann E., Mary E. and John N. Mr. Phipps is now living in San Luis Obispo County, Califor- nia. He is a worthy member of the Chris- tian Church, and an honored citizen.

William J. Phipps, his son and the subject of this sketch, was born in Vermillion County, Illinois, in 1837, receiving the limited educa- tion that was afforded in that early day. His fatlier being a pioneer of three States: he was reared on the frontier and subjected to the privations and vicissitudes of that life. In 1857 he was married. to Lydia A. Cope- land in Decatur County, Iowa. She is a daughter of Jefferson and Louisa (Johnson) Copeland. Seven children were born of this marriage: Mary A., deceased at two years; Miles J., deceased at the age of seven years; Julia E., deceased at five months; Emma J., Leonore and Theodore, twins, deceased in infancy, and John W., deceased at one year of age.

Mr. Phipps engaged in agricultural pur- suits in Decatur County, where he lived until 1861; he then removed to Pottawattamie County, and at the end of two years went to the Rocky Mountains, remaining there three years. In 1868 he came to Page County and bought land in Fremont Township on which he settled; he still owns this farm, but it is now occupied by his daughter and son- in-law, Howard Soper, who married Emma J. They are the parents of two children, William Howard and Morris Willard.

Mr. Phipps is a man of correct principles and habits, and has endeavored always to live

an upright life. He is prominently identified with all the interests of the great West, have ing witnessed its growth and development from the trackless prairie to its present ad- vanced state of cultivation. He and his wife are both true Christians, and have borne the sorrow which they have met in the loss of their children with characteristic patience and resignation. Politically he affiliates with the Democratic party. It has been through his own unaided efforts that he has made his money, and he deservedly ranks with the honored list of self made men of the West.

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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