USA > Iowa > Pottawattamie County > Biographical history of Pottawattamie County, Iowa > Part 42
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A. LARSON was born in Sweden, in 1850, son of Carl and Caroline Larson, and was a babe eighteen months old when he was brought by his parents to America. For a short time the family made their home at Andover, Illinois, after which they went to Rock Island, same State. At the latter place his father was in the employ of Judge Spencer for fifteen years. During the civil war he was drafted into the service, but the Judge bought him a substitute for $400, in order to retain him in his employ. Mr. Larson's parents now reside five miles south- east of Genesco, Henry County, Illinois. Of
their six children, five sons and one daughter, C. A. is the oldest. He was reared on a farm near Rock Island, Illinois, and received his education in the public schools of Henry County.
In 1875 Mr. Larson came to Pottawattamie County, Iowa, and bought eighty aeres of wild prairie land in section 8, Waveland Township, where he has since made his home. He has added to his first purchase, and now owns 120 acres of well-improved land. The splendid condition of his farm indicates the prosperity which has attended his labors. He has a good house, stables, cribs, good fences and a modern wind-pump. His well is sixty feet deep with thirty-four feet of water in it. Ile has a grove and a beautiful orchard of four acres.
Mr. Larson was married, March 7, 1880, at Red Oak, Iowa, to Miss Vietoria W. Bloom- quist, a native of Sweden, who canie to Iowa a year or two before her marriage. They have two sons: Carl Oscar William, born March 11, 1881, and Elmer Theodore, Janu- ary 21, 1891. Mrs. Larson's father, Jonas E. Bloomquist, was born in 1820, in Sweden, was a blacksmith by trade, and died in Stockholm in July, 1890. Her mother was born in 1832, in Sweden, and died in Westervik, that country, in 1867. She has three brothers and two sisters living, one of the latter a twin, residing in West Des Moines, this State, the wife of Peter Burg. October 11, 1890, a locomotive on the Fort Dodge Railroad ran over two of their (Mr. and Mrs. Burg's) children and killed them. One was Peter, three years old, and the other was Minnie, twenty-two months of age. C. J. Lillgeberg, a prominent business man of Red Oak, Iowa, is an uncle of Mrs. Larson.
Mr. Larson is a man who is well posted on the current topics of the day. His political views are in harmony with Republican prin-
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ciples. He is frank and cordial to all, and has the good will of a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
- ARREN HOUGH, a prominent mer- chant, of Crescent City, and a hotel- keeper there, was born in Hazel Dell Township, this county, April 24, 1849, a son of Samnel M. and Janc (Allen) Hongh, natives of New York State. Samuel M. Hough was born in Williamstown, Oswego County, New York, January 6, 1818, a son of Jocl (a farmer) and Sarah (Stillson) Hongh, natives of Connecticut and of English origin, who married young and emigrated to New York State. Samuel was rcared to farm life until he was married, January 1, 1840, when he began to work at the blacksmith's trade. His wife, Jane, who was sixteen years of age at the time of marriage, was born in Williams- town, April 15, 1824, a daughter of Zoeth and Elizabeth (Bradley) Allen, natives re- spectively of Vermont and Connecticut. Zoeth Allen was a farmer and carpenter. He had nine children: Russell, Lyman, Truman, Morris, Samuel, Abigail, Abger, Huldah (deceased), Riley, residing in Hazel Dell Township. Their parents removed to Lee County, Iowa, in 1841, npon a rented farm, and Mrs. Hough died there in October the next year. In 1846 Mr. Hough came to Pottawattamie County and took up eighty acres of perfectly wild land, made some im- provements, sold it, spent a short time in Crawford County, this State, and then bought forty acres of land and considerable property in Crescent City, including the residence now occupied by his widow.
Being a blacksmith, he erected a shop and commenced business, in connection with farming, which he followed until he died,
November 9, 1881. He was an industrions and successful man, having at the time of his death a large amount of town property and 200 acres of land. He had ten children, as follows: Mortimer and Byron, both deceased ; Esther, now the wife of Il. H. Terry, of Crescent City; Adelaide, deceased; Russell, now residing in York Township; Warren, the subject of this sketch; Marcellus, residing in Crescent City; Herbert, in Council Bluffs; and Denver, a resident of Crescent City. Mr. Warren Hough started out in life for him- self at the age of twenty-three years. Pur- chasing forty acres of wild land in section 27, Crescent Township, he afterward added sixty acres more, on sections 27 aud 28. On this farm he has made all the improvements him- self. Ile followed farming until 1884, when he moved into Crescent City and opened a hotel, which he still conducts. In 1886 he bought a stock of groceries and agricultural implements, and since then has been running a store in the sale of this class of goods. In April, 1886, he was appointed Postmaster, and continued in office until 1889. He is a live and energetic man in business, social and political circles; is a stockholder in the State Savings Bank, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, being one of the founders. For the last four years he has also dealt in grain and live-stock.
Mr. Hough is an intelligent and reliable Democrat. He has been Township Clerk and is now Justice of the Peace, and a member of the Board of Education. He is a member of lodge No. 49, I. O. O. F., of Council Bluff's, and of the Mutual Protection Association, lodge No. 1, of Crescent City.
Ile was married November 28, 1872, to Miss Rebecca, daughter of L. K. and Betsy (Meyer) Dunkle, who was born in Pennsyl- vania October 19, 1855, and they have had five children, named as follows: Walter, born November 10, 1873; an infant daughter, de-
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OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.
ceased, was the next in or ler of birth; the next, Hattie, also died in infancy; the next, an infant son, also deceased; and Lee, born June 30, 1889. Mrs. Hough is a member of the German Reformed Church.
II. E. CLARK, general manager of the Carbon Coal Company, of Council Bluffs, has had his present situation since the organization of the company in 1889. The senior member of the firm is George F. Wright. The office is at 10 Pearl street. They do jobbing both in wholesale and retail. in both wood and coal, and have an annual business of $35,000.
Mr. Clark is a native of Erie County, Penn- sylvania, born in December, 1850, the son of Joel and Lucinda B. (Bliss) Clark, of Puritan origin, he being the representative of the family in this part of the country. He was brought up as a tanner and currier, his father being the same; was educated in the public schools, and commenced to do for himself while in his youth, and has been doing the same ever since his twelfth year. Being a natural trader, he was usually successful. He remained in his native State until the fall of 1880, engaged in the fruit business, handling a vast amount of fruits and vegetables. His first venture in that line was instigated by being in Philadelphia and, seeing the vast amount of vegetables, especially cucumbers, that were being shipped at such cheap prices. he concluded at once that he could make a profitable investment by taking some of the articles to Erie, where he resided. Accord- ingly he had three barrels shipped to Erie, which he disposed of at retail, clearing $18 per barrel. This encouraged him to go on and he therefore gradually increased his stock in various articles until he did a thriving 30
business. He was the first to ship the Jersey watermelon into Erie. He remained in that town until he came West. In 1880 he went to Kansas, where he remained some time, thence to Southern California, and traveled about for six or seven years, when he returned to Kansas; and in the fall of 1888 he came to Council Bluffs, where he engaged in various speculations. In May, 1889, he entered his present business, which he now conducts, and devotes his entire attention to the same.
He always took an active part in the politi- cal work while in Erie; was chairman of the Third Ward Republican Committee for some time, and was very active in the cause of his party. He still zealously adheres to Repub- lican principles. He is a member of Tyrian Lodge, No. 740, I. O. O. F., and also a charter member of Erie Lodge, No. 44, A. (). U. W., having passed the chairs of the same.
He was married June 28, 1877, to Miss Adda W. Woodworth, daughter of William and Caroline (Jewell) Woodworth, of Rush- ford, Allegany County, New York, of Puri- tan origin. The father was captain in the war of the Rebellion, and was wounded at the battle of Fair Oaks, which resulted in his death. They have one child, Gracie, and are associated with the Methodist Episcopal Church.
After having removed with his parents to Erie, Mr. Clark learned the machinists' trade, at which business he worked some eight years. He is a self-made man, having taken care of himself from his early childhood. His parents are both living in the city of Erie, father aged eighty years and mother aged seventy-eight. He followed the tanning and currier's business for thirty-five years, and the latter part of his life he has retired from active pursuits. They had seven sons and two daughters, viz .: Charles, a resident of
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Detroit; George, a resident of River Forest, a suburb of Chicago; Richard, a resident of Chicago; James H. E., our subject: Morris, deceased; Joel, a resident of Cleveland, Ohio; Joseph, a resident of Maywood, a suburb of Chicago; Marania, widow of S. L. Gillson, a resident of Erie, Pennsylvania; and Emma, wife of A. L. Backus, a resident of Erie, Pennsylvania. The family are associated with the Methodist Episcopal Church. On the 20th of last August, 1890, their parents had been married fifty years.
T. IRWIN, editor of the Neola Re- porter, was born in Steubenville, Ohio, June 24, 1853, the son of James and Margaret (Lucas) Irwin, native» of Ireland. James Irwin was born December 12, 1838, came to America when a boy, and at the age of thirteen years began to learn the printing business, in Harrison County, Ohio. After he had served his apprenticeship he lived in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and other places, and finally located in Steubenville, where he was married. He was in business there two years, then sold out, and for a number of years was foreman on the Steubenville Herald. Since 1864 he has resided at Des Moines, Iowa. His wife was born in January, 1839, and died in November, 1882, leaving three children, namely: H. T. and Elizabeth S., twins, born June 24, 1853; Elizabeth, now the wife of William B. Graham, in Kansas City, Missouri; and Annie E., who was born October 17, 1857, and now resides in Des Moines.
Mr. Irwin, the subject of this brief notice, began his apprenticeship in the art of printing at the age of fifteen, in Des Moines. In the spring of 1878 he was married, in Panora, Iowa, where he remained until 1882, when he re-
turned to Des Moines. In the fall of 1883 le came to Neola and purchased the office of the Neola Reporter, of which paper be is now the popular editor. It is a journal sparkling with news and wit. Mr. Irwin is a Repub- lican on national issues and independent in local elections. He has been Town Recorder for the past three years; is a member of Crystal Lodge, No. 238, K. of P., of Neola, of which society he is treasurer. He is a live, energetic young man.
January 19, 1878, at Panora, he married Anna Bowen, the danghter of William and Sarah (White) Bowen, both natives of Ohio, the former now residing in Nebraska, the latter having died July 5, 1890. She was born September 17, 1857, the fourth in a family of seven children, and a farmer's daughter. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of Neola.
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MMET TINLEY, attorney at law, Coun- cil Bluffs, was admitted to the bar of this city in October, 1888. He was born in Macon County, Missouri, September 22, 1867. His father, M. H. Tinley, removed from Illinois to Missouri, and in 1869 re- moved to Council Bluffs. The family con- sisted of the parents, five sons and three daughters; all are now residents of Council Bluffs. The subject of this sketch was edu- cated in the schools of this city, graduating in the high school in the class of 1886. IIe began the study of law with Colonel D. B. Dailey, and was admitted to the bar October 3, 1888. He formed a co-partnership and engaged in practice with Ambrose Burke, which continued until June, 1, 1890. Mr. Tinley, although one of the youngest mem- bers of the bar of Council Bluffs, is already recognized as an able lawyer. He is a Demo-
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OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.
crat in politics, and takes an active part in promoting the interests of his party, and is a popular and effective speaker.
- ORENZO D. NELLIS, a substantial farmer of Lincoln Township, was born in Ontario, October 28, 1844, the son of Benjamin Nellis, who was born in New York State, of Mohawk Dutch descent. IIe was married there to Mary Bartlett, who was from one of the oldest families of America. Mr. and Mrs. Nellis were the parents of nine children : George S., Myron (deceased young), Orrin, Lysander, Lorenzo D., Mary J., Eliza- beth E. and Sarah A. The father moved to Ontario and became a farmer, and died there at the age of seventy-three years. Both Mr. and Mrs. Nellis were members of the Meth- odist Church.
Lorenzo D. Nellis, our subject, learned the trade of harness-maker in Ypsilanti, Michi- gan, where he remained until about eighteen years of age. He worked at his trade about ten years in Ypsilanti and Grass Lake, Michigan, and Burlington, Iowa, and also ran a shop for himself in Cairo, Iowa, for about five years. In 1871 Mr. Nellis settled in Cass County, where he lived about six years; in 1877 he eame to Pottawattamie County, and in 1879 bought his present farm, then cousisting of eighty acres, which, by energy and industry, he has improved, and to which he has wisely added until he now owns 160 acres of fine farm land. Both himself and wife are members of the Chris- tian Church, and he has taken an active in- terest in the schools. In politics he is a Republican, and is a man who stands high in this township. His children descend on both sides from pioneer American stock, of which there is no better, and they should take an
honest pride in the sterling ancestry from which they sprung.
Mr. Nellis was married in Iowa, to Mary J. Marshall, daughter of Joshua and Euphe- inia (Marlow) Marshall. The father was born in Virginia, and went to Ohio when a boy of ten years with his father, John Mar- shall, who was one of the pioneers of Clark County, Ohio. The Marshalls were of Irish descent, and the Marlows of German descent. Joshua Marshall was the father of nine chil- dren: Robert, Jennie, Mary J., William, Anna A., Charles W., Almina and Joseph Il. Mr. Marshall moved to Iowa and settled in Louisa County, where he was one of the pioneers. He was a comfortable farmer, and died two years after coming to this State, in 1859. He was a member of the Methodist Church, and a man who was respected by all. To Mr. and Mrs. Nellis have been born three children: Mary E., born January 27, 1872; Maud A., deceased in infaney, and Charles B, born February 23, 1876.
SCAR H. BROWN, one of the most prominent business men of Couneil Bluffs, was born near Biggsville, Hen- derson County, Illinois, September 28, 1855, the first born in the family of Clinton W. and Louisa (Short) Brown. The other chil- dren were: Fannie Alice, born May 20, 1857; Anna May, born October 31, 1858, and mar- ried E. C. Brown; William R., born June 18, 1863; Elva C., born October 15, 1865; Stewart C., born January 3, 1868, and died March 25, 1889. Mr. Clinton W. Brown was born near Gallatin, Sumner County, Tennes- see, April 28, 1882, the youngest in a family of four of Reuben S. and Keziah (Sarver) Brown. The other children were: Henry P. M., born April 8, 1824; Marian L., born
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
March 25, 1826; Julia Ann, born July 30, 1828, and married H. W. Crossthwait; Ren. ben S. Brown was born in Rockingham Connty, Virginia, August 5, 1799, and was taken by his parents to Tennessee in their change of residence to that State, settling in Sumner County about 1822 or 1823. Hle inherited no property and commenced mar- ried life without means; was Colonel of the State militia for a few years, and October 10, 1838, with all his household goods in a covered wagon, drawn by horses, he moved to Knox County, Illinois, which section of country he had previously visited, receiving favorable impressions of the fertility of the soil and congenial sentiments of the people concerning slavery; though a Southerner by birth he was a strong Abolitionist. Ile was eight weeks on the journey, having to ford most of the streams and suffer many privations. Settling at Cherry Grove, Knox County, Illi- nois, he remained there until the fall of 1850, when he located upon a farm in the vicinity of Biggsville, Henderson County, same State. During Grant's administration he was Postinaster at Biggsville. In 1876 he removed to a point near Piper City, Ceu- tral Illinois, where he lived until the fall of 1879, and then he came to Council Bluffs, and spent the winter with his son on C street. In the spring of 1880 he went to Imogene, Iowa, where his daughter, Mrs. Crossthwait, had located, and where he passed the re- mainder of his life, dying January 21, 1890, at the advanced age of ninety-one years. Ilis first vote for president of the United States was east for General Jackson in 1828, but he afterward became a Whig and supported Henry Clay. From the time he became of age he cast his vote at every presidential election during his life. He was a personal friend of Abraham Lincoln, and wept like a child when that great and goed man was
assassinated; was an ardent supporter of the Union canse during the war. and was always a strong advocate of temperance; was a zeal- ons student of State and national polities, and a man of remarkable memory, which re- mained unimpaired until his death, and was generons, even to a fault, in all his dealings. His life companion, a native of North Car- olina, died only four years previously, Febru- ary 2, 1886, at her daughter's home. She was a devoted wife and mother and a con- sistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Her death was the first that occur- red in the family.
Mr. Clinton W. Brown was married Sep- tember 15, 1853, but, being the youngest of his father's family, he remained with his parents until the fall of 1854, when he pur- chased a farm near by, in what was afterward Ognawka Township, tive miles from Oqnawka. the county-seat of Henderson County. Illi- nois. He remained there until the antumn of 1863, making many improvements and placing the land in a State of fine cultivation. He then sold out and moved with his family to Montgomery County, Iowa, rented a farm nine miles from Red Oak, at a point now called Climax, remained there until the spring of 1870, and then removed to Pot- tawattamie County, buying an nnimproved piece of land in Washington Township. He erected some buildings, planted a wind-break and an orchard and made other improve- ments. In March, 1877, he rented this farm and moved into the city of Council Bluffs, and owing to the poor health of his wife he never returned to the farm, which he con- sequently sold in 1882, buying property in the city. Here he has been engaged in bny- ing and selling real estate and farm machinery and in building. He has been Justice of the Peace, Township Clerk and Treasurer of the School Board for a number of years. Is a
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OF POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY.
prohibition Republican and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which society he is class-leader, trustee and steward. He is a gentleman who enjoys the confidence and respect of the community in which he has been identified with all the moral, social and material interests. Ilis wife was born in Henderson County, Illinois, Angust 11, 1835, a danghter of Abner Short, who was a native of Kentucky, a pioneer of the " Prairie State," married Hirana Ewing in Indiana, and moved to Henderson County, Illinois, where he continued to reside during the re- mainder of his life. Mrs. Brown was brought up a Presbyterian, but a few years before her death she united with the Methodist Epis- copil Church. She was a woman of sympa- thetic nature, a devoted wife and mother, and admired by all who knew her. She died in Council Bluffs, July 20, 1870, and was buried in Fairview Cemetery.
The early life of Mr. O. II. Brown, whose name heads this biography, was spent on a farm and in school. At the age of twenty years he began teaching school, in his native county, and continued in that vocation till the spring of 1878, when he entered the em- ploy of Harle & McKune, wholesale and retail druggists, and served two years as an apprentice without pay. The firm then em- ployed him as a traveling salesman for five years. and as a " knight of the grip " he was decidedly successful, though not one of the " boys." By striet attention to business and the practice of economy he saved enough to buy out the retail department of his employ- ers, and opened a first-class drugstore, com- prising also toilet and fancy articles, at 527 Main street, his present location, and he en- joys the confidence and esteem of a large patronage. He also owns a beautiful resi- dence on Tenth avenue. Thus in his short business career, and while yet in the morning
of life he has established a financial standing and business reputation that is indeed envi- able. The many traits of character that are essential to the establishment of friendships and a successful eareer in the social and bnsi- ness world, he possesses to a marked degree. Step by step he has ascended the ladder of prosperity until to-day he ranks among the leading business men of the city. In his political sympathies he affiliates with the Republican party, though he takes no active part in party councils.
September 12, 1889, he married Miss Mamie Sherlock, of Auburn, New York, a lady of many personal charms and accom- plishments. Mr. Brown is a member of the A. O. U. W., in which order he has held the responsible position of Financier for two terms.
AWRENCE KERNEY, of section 25, Hardin Township, came to this county in 1879. He was born in Andrews County, Missouri, November 4, 1849, the son of Caleb Kerney, who was born in Penn- sylvania; and the latter was the son of William Kerney, who was also born in Pennsylvania. Caleb Kerney was a prominent and well-known settler of Mills County, and was a relative of the Kerneys who were famous in history as statesmen and soldiers. He went to Andrews County, Missouri, in 184[, and in 1846 re- turned to Ohio, and was there married to Ruth Van Buskirk, who was born in Ohio, the daughter of Lawrence Van Buskirk, who was a native of Pennsylvania, of Dutch aneestry. They then returned to Andrews County, Mis- sonri, where they were among the first settlers. In 1854 they removed to Mills County, Iowa, three miles north of Malvern, where he resided until 1878, excepting six
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
years which were spent in Missouri, then went to Fremont County, Iowa, and died in 1880, at the age of sixty-two years; his wife died in the fall of 1864. By this marriage there were eight children. After the death of his wife he married the second time, by which union there were seven children, all of whom are now living. Politically Caleb Kerney was a Democrat, and religiously a Baptist, of which church his wife was also a member, and his children were reared in that doctrine.
Lawrence Kerney, our subject, was but five years of age when his parents moved to Mills County. Here he grew to manhood, having passed his youth upon a farm. He came to Pottawattamie County in 1879, and bought forty acres of land, to which he has added until he now owns 120 acres, all in one body. Ile was married in Henry County, lowa, September 9, 1877, to Miss Louie Robinson, a woman of intelligence, who was born in Jefferson County, Iowa, where she was reared and educated; she was a success- ful teacher before her marriage. She is the daughter of Rev. George W. and Margaret (Gregg) Robinson; the former was a pioneer Methodist minister, and now resides at Os- ceola, Clarke County, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Kerney have two children: Everett and Roy Ernest. Politically Mr. Kerney is a Repub- lican, and has hield the office of Justice of the Peace for years. He is a man of intelligence, well-read on all the topies of the day, frank and cordial in his manner, and a popular citizen.
P. MULHOLLAND is the senio member of the firm of Mulholland & Nicholas, wholesale and retail dealers in Missouri River ice; office, No. 4 Pearl
street. The business was established in 1861 by R. Guannella & Brother. The present firm succeeded D. F. Eicher in 1882. Their storage-house has a capacity of about 4,500 tons. Mr. Mulholland was born in Inde- pendence, Missouri, August 7, 1845, the son of Samnel B. Mulholland, of Irish ancestry. He was but one year old when his father (the mother having died) removed to Iowa City. He afterward moved to Sioux City, and then to Concord, Nebraska, and later to South Dakota. In September, 1864, they came to Council Bluffs, where our present subjeet has since made his home. In 1870 he opened a feed store in this city. Eighteen months afterward he quit it and engaged in various occupations, but principally the ice business, for Dan F. Eicher nine years. He is a self- made man, starting out with but compara- tively nothing; and by close application to business he has risen to his present position.
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