USA > Iowa > Shelby County > Biographical history of Shelby and Audubon counties, Iowa. Containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States from Washington to Harrison, with accompanying biographies of each; portraits and biographies of the governors of the state; engravings of prominent citizens in Shelby and Audubon counties, with personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families. A concise history of the counties, and the cities and townships > Part 87
USA > Iowa > Audubon County > Biographical history of Shelby and Audubon counties, Iowa. Containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States from Washington to Harrison, with accompanying biographies of each; portraits and biographies of the governors of the state; engravings of prominent citizens in Shelby and Audubon counties, with personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families. A concise history of the counties, and the cities and townships > Part 87
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HISTORY OF AUDUBON COUNTY.
terms in Clayton, Fayette and Andubon counties. Her primary education was re- ceived in the district school of Fayette Connty. Later she entered the Upper Fowa University in Fayette County, and had almost completed the course at the time of her mar- riage. Mr. Lancelot is a member of Utopia Lodge, No. 161, I. O. O. F .; the Iowa Legion of Honor; the K. of P., No. 166, at Man- ning, Iowa, and of Hiawatha Lodge, No. 16, I. O. R. M., at Gray. Mr. Lancelot com- meneed the struggle for life single-handed and without capital, and by energy and close application to business he has secured an ample competence.
OBERT HENDERSON, a thrifty and prosperous agriculturist of Cameron Township, was born in the State of Vermont, near St. Johnsbury, October 11, 1851. His father, William Henderson, a native of Scotland, came to America in his youth. Ilis grandfather, William Hender- son, was also a native of Scotland. The mother of Robert Henderson was Hannah Gray, a daughter of William Gray, and a sister of George Gray, of Audubon County. She died when Robert was eight years old. The father is still living, at the age of seventy- five years, on the old homestead where our subject was born. Robert remained under the parental roof until his twentieth year, receiving the advantage of a distriet-school education, and also a few terms at the Peacham Academy. After leaving school the spirit of youth would no longer be re- strained, and he journeyed to the west, seek- ing the best in store for him. llis first sojourn was in Stark County, Illinois, where he remained one year. He then went to AAdair County, Iowa, and thence to Audubon
County, taking charge of George Gray's ranch, which he opened up and managed for four years. Within this period he was mar- ried to Miss Ellen Evans, of Peacham, Ver- mont, a daughter of Charles Evans, Esq. After his marriage Mr. Henderson purchased 160 aeres of land which was new and unim- proved. The courage of the pioneer can scarcely be appreciated in this day, wlien there is so little that is new; but Mr. Hen- derson was equal to the occasion, and began with a will to claim from Nature all that she would yield. He broke out the farm, made many valnable improvements, and added to it from time to time until he now owns 400 acres, all under a high state of cultivation. Ile pays special attention to feeding hogs and cattle, shipping several cars annually. lle also has some very fine horses for farm use. In 1588 he erected a large barn with sheds attached, having a capacity for seventy- five head of cattle and twenty-five head of horses. The confidenee reposed in Mr. Hen- derson is attested in the fact that for several years he has served as township trustee. Ile began his career at the bottom round of the ladder, but by energy, industry and untiring effort he has accumulated a good competence. Mr. Henderson is of a genial, frank disposi- tion, and during his residence in the county has won a host of friends.
RSON B. FRANCISCO is the man- ager of the Green Bay Lumber Com- pany at Gray, Iowa. This company does a large business in the way of handling Inmber, cedar posts, lime, hair, cement, stucco, hard and soft coal. Mr. Francisco, who has proven himself a most efficient man for the place, came to Gray in 1884, and took charge of the business which had been estab-
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lished in 1881. He was born in the State of New York, near Schenectady, June 13, 1850, and is the youngest of a family of nine children of Cornelius W. and Mary A. (Davis) Francisco. The parents grew to maturity in their native State, New York, and in 1851 they cmigrated to Lake County, Illinois, re- siding there for two years. Thence they went to Grant County, Wisconsin, where the ; father lived the remainder of his days; he died in 1865, and his wife, who survives him, makes lier home with her daughter, Mrs. Gulliford, in Sae County, Iowa. She is now in her eighty-third year and is in the full possession of all her faculties. Her husband was born in 1805. Their children are named as follows -- Sarah, Mary, Cornelia, Elizabethi D., Elisha, Nicholas J., D. Marvin, Andrew J., Orson B., and Elizabeth, who died in her twentieth year. Until his fifteenth year Orson B. lived in his native county; he attended the district sehool, and later the High School of Boscobel, Wisconsin. He taught school thirteen terms, from six to nine months long, in Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota. His father dying when he was but fourteen years old, he was thrown upon his own resources. IIe did not continue in the profession of teaching, but accepted a position on the government survey through the Territory of Dakota; at the end of one year he made a trip into the Yellowstone country np the Missouri, and then returned to Wisconsin, where he was married to Mary H. Winn, a daughter of John and Maria (Griffith) Winn. Mrs. Franeiseo was born in the State of Illi- nois, but grew to womanhood in Wisconsin. They are the parents of four children-Mark C., Edgar, Lulu Belle, Winnie (). Edgar died in infaney. Mr. Francisco is a member of Utopia Lodge, No. 161, I. O. O. F., at Gray; of the Knights of Pythias, No. 166, at Manning. Iowa; of the A. O. U. W., |
Odobolt Lodge, No. 217, and of the Ilia- watha Tribe, No. 16, I. O. R. M., at Gray. In politics Mr. Francisco is rather conserv- ative. Ile served as assistant postmaster nearly four years at Odobolt. The grand- father on the mother's side was Elijah Davis, of German and French extraction. The grandfather on the father's side. Nielolas Francisco, was of French deseont, and served in the Revolutionary war. Both families are noted for their longevity.
OHN CAMERON is a member of the firm of Cameron & Webster, breeders and importers of Clydesdale horses. The celebrated horse of this firm was im- ported by Mr. Singmaster, of Keota, Iowa, and is registered in the Scotch Herd Book, No. 2,481, and in the American Herd Book, No. 1,10S. They also breed fine jaeks, hav- ing the largest herd, numbering thirteen, in the county. Mr. Cameron's farm is located in Lincoln Township, on the branches of the Nishnabotna River, and contains 120 aeres; he also rents some adjoining lands, making 280 acres under his care. Mr. Cameron is a practical farmer as well as a practical stock- breeder, and has been successful in this avo- cation. John Cameron, the subject of this brief biography, was born in January, 1846, in the country of Nova Scotia. His father, Allen Cameron, was a native of Scotland, who emigrated to Nova Scotia and became an extensive owner of pine lands, and for several years was largely engaged in the lumbering interests. He became heavily in- volved by aiding his friends in endorsing paper, so that upon his removal to Carroll County, Illinois, he was in moderate eireum- stanees. His wife, Catherine Cameron, was also a native of Scotland. The grandfather
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HISTORY OF AUDUBON COUNTY.
of our subject was Alexander Cameron, who emigrated with his family from Scotland to Nova Scotia. The grandfather on the mother's side was Donald Cameron, also a Scotchinau. Jolin Cameron passed his early boyhood and school days in Carroll County, Illinois; later he attended a select school for a period of six months. llis father dying soon after the re- moval of the family to Illinois, he was de- prived of paternal care; his older brother took charge of the family, and gave what assistance his years were capable of giving. In the spring of 1868 Mr. Cameron, in com- pany with his brother-in-law, Robert Gunn, came to Andubon County, and located on lands in section 16, which afterward were named Cameron Township, in honor of the Cameron family, he and Mr. Gunn turning the first furrow of land in the township. After breaking out his farin, and making some improvements, he returned to Illinois, and then took a trip to Colorado, in search of wealth, working in the mines which prom- ised to be remunerative. After the lapse of a few years he returned to Audubon County, and settled on his present farm which was new and unimproved; he has placed the land under fine cultivation, and has made many valuable improvements in the way of buildings. Mr. Camerou was married in 1879 to Mrs. Saralı Dustin, of Exira, Audubon County, her par- ents being early settlers of the county. By this union three children have been born - Allen B, Grace M. and James L.
OBERT HI. DAVIDSON, an early set- tler of Douglas Township, was born in Brooke County, West Virginia, Angust 22, 1820. ITe is a son of William and Sarah (Hawkins) Davidson, natives of the State of Pennsylvania. The father was a carpenter
and farmer by occupation. His grandfather was Thomas Davidson. When Robert H. was ten years old his parents removed to Monroe County, Ohio, where he grew to manhood; he was reared to the life of a farmer, and obtained a limited education in the common schools. He remained under the shelter of the parental roof until his maturity, when he was united in marriage with Miss Catherine Canada, who died, leav- ing one child-William E., a resident of Ohio. Mr. Davidson was married a second time, to Maria .I. Stoots, by whom he had five children -- Charles S., Nora C., the wife of Elisha Fiseus; Ida, wife o:' Henry Gillett, and two children who died in infancy. Mr. Davidson's present wife wis Mrs. Lacy E. (Reasoner). widow of William Kunkle, of Guthrie County, Iowa; eight children were born of this marriage -- Vantura, wife of John C. Baker; Anna B., wife of Bert R. Givens; Calvin F., Fred B., Joseph W., Milton HI., Maud and Kittie Lulu. In the spring of 1857, wher lowa was considered to be the frontier, Mr. Davidson removed his faunily from Noble County, Ohio, to Guthrie County, Iowa; there he worked at the car- penter's trade, and cultivated his farin of 120 acres. Selling out his possessions in Guth- rie County, he removed to southwestern Missouri, and remained there eighteen months; the climate of that latitude not agreeing with him he returned to Guthrie County, and resided there until 1873, when he came to Audubon County. Ile located upon his present farm, which is situated on the east tork of the west branch of the Nishnabotua River: the land is fertile, and there is a natural grove upon the place, which adds very materially to the value of the farm. Mr. Davidsen devotes considerable attention to the feeding and raising of good grades of live-stock, and has been very prosperous in
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this enterprise. In politics he is inclined to the principles of the Republican party. He has served his township as justice of the peace for fourteen years, the period of his service being indicative of the respect in which his judgment is held.
RANK GARROUTTE, a most thorough and enterprising farmer of Douglas Township, was born in Brown County, Ohio, near Fayetteville, November 28, 1851. He is a son of John W. Garrontte, who is a native of Ohio, and a farmer and earpenter by vocation. His mother was a Miss Mors- mon, also a native of Ohio, and a daughter of Levi and Rachel Morsmon. The family of Garrouttes are of French extraction. After his marriage John W. Garroutte settled in Brown County, Ohio. Ile and his wife are the parents of two children, boys-Birk and Frank, both of whom are living. Frank Garrontte obtained his education in the dis- triet school, which offered very limited ad- vantages at that early day. Ife was trained to the occupation of a farmer, and that his training was excellent is shown by the model condition of his farm to-day. When he was two years old his parents removed to Dallas County, Iowa, where his father died two years afterward. His mother and brother still re- side in Dallas County, Iowa. He continued to live with them until fifteen years of age. He was united in marriage, June 6, 1880, to Miss Jennie Merryman, of Dallas County. Iowa, a daughter of Henry and Christinia (Wolbert) Merryman, natives of Virginia and Pennsylvania respectively. The Merry- mans were descendants of a Scotch family, and the Wolberts were of English ancestry. Soon after his marriage Mr. Garrontte re- moved to Audubon County, and settled on a
farm in Leroy Township. He remained there two years, devoting his time to the im- provement and cultivation of his farm, which he sold to George C. Couk. His present farm, which is known as the Marion farm, is located in Douglas Township, and contains 160 acres of choice, fertile land, moderately improved. It is well stocked. and the greater part is seeded down to pasture. Mr. Gar- routte rents other land, which he enltivates in addition to his own. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Garrontte. Two are living - Dora and Emery. Katie, Bar- bara and Horace were stricken down in 1888 by that dread disease, diphtheria.
ILSON FISCUS .- This energetie and substantial agrienlturist, a resident of Douglas Township, was born in Owen County, Indiana, March 19, 1847, and is a son of John A. and Elizabeth (Boen) Fisens. John A. Fiscus was born in North Carolina, and there grew to manhood. Ile removed to Indiana when a young man, and was there married, settled in Owen County, and passed the remainder of his days. Wil- son Fisens was reared to manhood in his native county, his time being divided be- tween farm work and attending the district school. llis father, who was a neat and careful farmer, instructed him thoroughly in all the details of farming. In 1868 Mr. Fis- eus was married to Emua Dean, of Oweu County, Indiana. Her parents were Fenton and Elizabeth Dean. In the fall of 1872, after spending several years upon the farm in Owen County, Mr. Fiscns removed with his family to Marshall County, Iowa, and re- sided there two years. From the latter county he came to Andubon County and purchased a farm of 123 acres. The land is of the most
HISTORY OF AUDUBON COUNTY.
choice, being very fertile and drained by the waters of the Nishnabotna River. His resi- dence is a substantial building, attractively surrounded by a beautiful grove. Ilis farm is well stocked with cattle and logs of the best grades. Ile contends that a fine animal eats no more than a poor one, and that in the end it pays to have the high breeds. Mr. and Mrs. Fiscus bave had born to them two children-Eugene W. and E. Bessie. They are devoted members of the Christian church, and regular attendants at Sabbath-school. Mr. Fiscus is an elder of the church. In politics he is rather conservative, but as a rule he votes the Democratic ticket in Na- tional and State affairs. He has held several township otliees, and is the present ineum- brent of the treasurer's othee, which he has held a number of terms. He has acquitted himself with credit, and to the satisfaction of the public.
ILLIAM CLOUGHLY, druggist, Audubon, Iowa, has been identified with the interests of the town from its very beginning. He came to the county before milroads were built, and before the location of the town, and started the first drug store, and has never been out of the drug trade. Mr. Cloughly was born at Lans down, Thousand Islands, Canala, July 22, 1552, and is a son of John and Sarah (Kirk- land) Cloughly; the father is a native of Ire- 'und, and a farmer by ocenpation. They lived in Canada until 1566, when they removed to lowa, and settled in Winterset, Madison County, where the mother died; the father is now managing a ranch in Missouri. Will- jam left home in his thirteenth year to learn the blacksmith's trade at Lansdown. Canada; he served five years, and then came to the
United States, stopping at Mitehellville, Polk County, Iowa, where he worked at his trade. During his stay at Mitchellville he began the study of pharmacy, and then came to Andu- bon and opened his drug store. In 1879 he began buying horses for the western markets, shipping them to all parts of Dakota and Missouri. In 1856 he began breeding horses from very fine stock. and now has eighty head of blooded colts inside the corporate linits of Audubon on pasture. Ile owns 160 acres of land in Melville Township. Mr. Cloughly was married July 12, 1583, to Miss Mary Loney, a daughter of Ilugh Loney. whom he had known in childhood in Canada . They have one daughter - Augusta. Mr. Cloughly is a member of the city conneil, a position he has held for six year -. Hle is a member of Veritas Lodge, No. 392, A. F. & A. M .; Amity Chapter, No. 93, R. A. M., and Godfrey Commandery. No. 44, K. T. Politically he is rather conservative, but in National and State election- he votes the Democratie ticket. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias, of the I. O. O. F. and Encampment, and of the I. O. R. M lle has been a liberal contributor to the churches.
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ILLIAM II. M.CLURE, of the tirm of Cousins & MeClare, proprietors Y of the Audubon County Republican, is a native of the State of Illinois, and was born in Dundee, November 15, 1559. Heis the oldest living son of William and Mana (Wesson) Mcclure. William Mcclure, the father of William HI., was a stone and brick mason in early life, but in later years turned his attention to farming. He was born in the State of Maine, and removed to Illinois, where he married and settled upon a farm. In 180's he took his family to Cedar County,
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
lowa, and settled on a farm, remaining there several years. Hle then moved to the town of Wyoming, Jones County, and still resides there. William MeClure passed his youth in Cedar and Jones counties, receiving his education principally in the public schools of Wyoming. At the age of sixteen years he entered the printing office of the Wyoming Journal, and there learned the printer's trade. He remained in the Journal office seven years from the time of entering, and was then appointed postmaster, serving from May. 1583, nntil 1585, at Wyoming, Iowa. In the month of December, 1955, Mr. MeClure eame to Audubon County, and was employed on the Audubon County Republican. In April, 1387, he purchased the interest held by S. A. Foster, the firm being at that time Cousins & Foster. Mr. Foster retired from the 1 business, and the firm name was changed to Cousins & McClure. Mr. MeClure is a practical printer, and a racy writer. He was married to Miss Kate Holmes, of Wyoming, lowa, a daughter of William Holmes, Esq. Mr. and Mrs. McClure have had born to them four children-Scott, Don, Mary and Edgar.
ESPER JENSEN, Supervisor of Audubon County. This highly respected and in- fluential member of the present board of supervisors was born near Aalborg, Den- mark, May 1, 1852, and is the elder of two children, the other being a daughter, Mary Ann, residing in the mother country. The parents were Jens and Metta K. (Jespersen) Mortensen. At the time of young Jensen's birth it was the custom in Denmark for the children to assume thegiven name of the father for their surname, hence his name is Jensen instead of Morte .. sen. His parents died in their native country, the father about three
years ago, and the mother within three weeks of the writing of this biographical sketch. Mr. Jensen's father was quite a large farmer for that conutry, having about 200 acres of land. Young Jensen in addition to hard work on the farm had the advantage of good schools, and received a fair education, study- ing the English language, and becoming con- versant with its grammar and construction. Ile early imbibed an idea of coming to America, having a well-grounded dislike to monarchial governments. and a strong desire to live where he could be a man. In futher- anee of this plan, when he arrived at the age of eighteen years he resolved to emigrate. and make his home in the United States. Accordingly, in March, 1870, he embarked at Copenhagen and crossed the North Sea, and landed at Leith, Scotland; after a delay there of ten days he took passage at Glasgow on the steamer North America, the voyage requiring twenty-six days. The vessel being delayed off the coast of New Foundland by ice sheets, the vessel was compelled to run into Halifax for coal and provisions, and then the journey was resumed, and May 16 they landed at Quebec. Mr. Jensen went directly . to Chicago, which was his destination. It was just after the great fire in Chicago, and he remained there two years, finding ample opportunity to exercise his ability to work. At the end of two years he went to the iron mines of Lake Superior, where there was a boom, intending to work in the mines; but finding that many laborers were losing their lives in the mines by frequent accidents, he sought a less dangerous ocenpation, and succeeded in getting a position in a powder mill, preferring this perilous work to the more dangerous mines. There he worked siv monthe, receiving $80 per month and board. The panic of 1873 coming on, the inill suspended, and he spent the next six
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HISTORY OF AUDUBON COUNTY.
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months looking over the northern peninsula of Michigan, visiting among other institu- tions the famous copper mines. Not find- ing any snitable en ployment he returned to Chicago, bought a horse and wagon, and en, gaged in the express delivery business; find- ing it profitable, lie decided to establish a home; and to that end secured a wife. Mr. Jensen was married March 9, 1874, to Miss Anna K. Larson, who was also a native of Denmark. Iler parents were Lars and Kirsten Jensen; here again appears that old style of taking the father's name as a surname. At the end of two years Mr. Jensen entered the employ of the Chicago Street Car Company, and . continued there for five years, filling the various positions in the street railway busi- ness; his wages were 883 per month. In the spring of 1880 he decided to leave the city. Knowing that a large number of his country- men had settled in Shelby and Audubon counties, Iowa, he came direct to Harlan, and after a short investigation he contracted for a part of his present farm on section 15, Sharon Township. Hle then returned to Chicago, and remained there one year longer with the same company, and in the spring of 1881 he removed his family to their new home. He has since added more land to his original purchase, and has inade excellent improvements in the way of a house, barns, eribs and feed-yards, so that he has one of the best improved farms in the southwest part of Audubon County; it is well stocked with good grades of cattle, horses and hogs.
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Mr. Jensen was soon called upon to manage publie business, being elected township trustee the second year after coming to the county, a position to which he was re-elected, and held until he resigned to accept the position he now holds, having been elected in 1886 a member of the county board of supervisors; his colleagues at that time were Sparks Baker and George McKain. Mr. Jensen has made an excellent record as a safe, prudent, far-seeing business man, and his voice has ever been given to render lasting benefit to the county; an instance is his support of the aid given to the County Agricultural Society which has enabled it to be placed upon a substantial basis; another is his hearty co- operation in securing the present county- farm. A position of this kind is a difficult one to fill, as there are always many who stand ready to eritieise every move where the public business is concerned; but Mr. Jensen has the satisfaction of knowing that his ideas have been sanctioned by the best men in the county. He has reeen ly suffered the loss of his estimable wife, Mrs. Jensen dying of consumption after a lingering sickness, April 12, 1889, in her thirty-second year. She was the mother of seven children Lawrence C., Waldemar, Louise, Alexander, Amanda, Victor, Anna K. Mr. Jensen is a member of the Lutheran church, of the Danish Brotherhood, and of the Knights of Pythias. He is a staunch Republican, and has always taken an active interest in conventions and general political work.
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