USA > Iowa > Audubon County > History of Audubon county, Iowa; its people, industries, and institutions > Part 27
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291
AUDUBON COUNTY, IOWA.
1882; Christian N. Esbeck, 1881; John Sorensen, 1882; John N. Esbeck, 1883.
In Section 5. Nels J. Boose, 1881; Nels B. Cliristensen, 1887; Andrew Sorensen, 1882; Drace Sorensen, 1882; Chris Jensen, 1881 ; Chris Hansen, 1878; Andrew N. Esbeck, 1879; John Petersen, 1885; Jacob Beck, 1885; L. P. Miller, 1883.
In Section 6. A. C. Nelsen, 1880; Lars Hansen, 1875; Nels J. Nelson, 1883; Tore Toresen, 1871; Lars Hansen, 1875; Paul Boyeson, 1880; Aug. L. Boyeson, 1880; Chris Petersen, 1878; Nels C. Christensen, 1885; Charles J. Shack, 1875; H. F. Shack, 1875; J. P. Nielsen, 1886.
In Section 7. Simon Everson, 1875; Chris Olsen, 1885; Nels Bollesen, 1878; A. P. Poulsen, 1880; Elias Jacobsen, date unknown.
In Section 8. Peter Nelson, 1882.
In Section 10. Niels Hansen, 1883; Lars Christensen, 1875; Nels J. Petersen, 1883.
In Section 14. Jens U. Petersen, 1872; Peter Hansen, 1873; John Johnsen, 1872.
In Section 15. Hans Nymand, 1881; Jesse Nymand, 1880; Jacob P. Bendixen, 1881 ; Carl F. Nelsen, 1872.
In Section 16. Knud Knudsen, 1875.
In Section 17. Jens P. Christoffersen, 1872; B. H. Christensen, 1876; John P. Hoegh, 1881 ; S. P. Daugard, 1882.
In Section 20. Hans C. Hansen, 1882;
In Section 21. Nels P. Hoegh, 1875; George Hansen, 1875; H. C. Nielsen, 1872.
3
In Section 22. Chris Christensen, 1883; Hans P. Hansen, 1880; Ebbe J. Hansen, 1880; Peter Jacobsen, 1877.
In Section 27. Peter Albertsen, 1881 ; H. P. Larsen, 1875.
In Section 28. H. C. Nielsen, 1873; William Erickson, 1880.
In Section 33. N. P. Petersen, 1871 ; Peter Nielsen, 1871 ; Niels Ander- sen, 1871.
In Section 34. N. C. Nielsen, 1871; Martin Nielsen, 1871.
HAMLIN TOWNSHIP.
In Section 29. J. H. Johnson, 1880.
In Section 30. Chris Petersen, 1886; Peter Wilson, 1885; Peter Mad- sen, 1880.
In Section 31. Jens P. Wilson, 1885; Nels Petersen, 1881.
292
AUDUBON COUNTY, IOWA.
SHARON TOWNSHIP.
In Section 7. Peter F. Pedersen, 1880; Andreas C. Sorensen, 1881; Jens Rosenbeck, 1886.
In Section 14. Christian M. Hansen, 1882; Charles Petersen, 1878.
In Section 15. Jasper Jensen, 1880; Martin N. Esbeck, 1879; Chris L. Hansen, 1880.
In Section 16. Martin Larsen, 1882; Jens Marcussen, 1882; Anders Christoffersen, 1882; Hans Marcussen, 1882.
In Section 17. Hans Petersen, 1876; Nels Petersen, 1880; George L. . Jorgensen, 1879; Chris J. Christensen, 1881; Henrick J. Ipsen, 1880; Albert H. Jorgensen, 1880; Peter Rasmussen, 1880.
In Section 18. Chris T. Christensen, 1880; Chris L. Petersen, 1881; Peter Nissen, 1885; Lars Jensen, date unknown; Niels H. Nielsen, 1878; Niels J. Meng, 1880; Chris Larsen, 1880.
In Section 19. Andreas Petersen, 1881; Albert C. Christensen, 1880; Ole Ericksen, 1877; Peter Olsen, 1877.
In Section 20. Peter N. Jorgensen, 1874; Thomas Smith, 1880; Hans Larsen, 1880; Nels Petersen, 1880.
In Section 21. Jens Larsen, 1880; Hans Petersen. 1883; Peter H. Andersen, 1883.
In Section 23. Willads Rattenborg. 1883.
In Section 27. Rasmus Petersen, 1885; Soren S. Faaborg, 1882; Simon Christensen, 1879.
In Section 28. John Faaborg, 1881 ; Chris Montensen, 1879; Peter N. Esbeck, 1878; Chris Mascussen. 1882; Peter Johnsen, date unknown.
In Section 29. Jens T. Larsen, 1874; Erik P. Simonsen, 1878.
In Section 30. Hans J. Jorgensen, 1874; Chris P. Madsen, 1874; Jens Christensen, 1878; Hans Madsen, 1874; Mads Madsen, 1874; Ole H. Jacob- sen, 1875 ; Ole H. Jacobsen, Jr., 1875; Clarence Jacobsen, 1875 ; Chris Jacob- sen, 1875; Ole Olson, 1873.
In Section 31. John Andersen, 1878; Hans P. Christensen, 1877; Lars Mortensen, 1878; Hans Rasmussen, 1881.
In Section 32. Jens C. Hansen, 1880; Niels Hansen, 1880; Soren Sorensen, 1880; Svend Larsen, 1883; Chris Christensen, 1881 ; Lars Nelsen, 1881; Jens Carlsen, 1882; Jens C. Kjar, 1880.
In Section 33. Lars C. Jensen, 1883; Jens M. Rasmussen, 1880; Carl Iversen. 1882; Chris Iversen, 1882; Anton Christensen, 1877.
293
AUDUBON COUNTY, IOWA.
In Section 34. Chris Thomson, 1880; Nels P. Jensen, 1882; William Christensen, 1881; Lars Sorensen, 1883; Chris Hendriksen, 1883; Soren Sorensen, 1880.
In Section 35. Peter Axelsen, 1875.
In Section 36. Jens Sorensen, 1881; Jens U. Hansen, 1871.
DOUGLAS TOWNSHIP.
In Section 35. Chris Justesen, 1880.
DESIRABLE IMMIGRANTS.
These people have greatly multiplied and now number many thou- sans. But few of them possessed more than the common necessities of life. The lands where they settled were mostly hilly, rough, and brushy, and not of the best quality; but they were well adapted as colonists in a new country, a strong, hardy, healthy race; intelligent, honest, industrious, patient and progressive-just what were required to subdue the wilderness, and build up a prosperous community.
The writer well recalls their first coming, and sold land to some of them. Many at first purchased but forty acres-usually paying down about $70-upon which they built a board shanty, ten feet square, barely suffi- cient to hold a bed, table and a few necessary household articles. The cook- ing stove was set up outside under a board shed, next to the living room. Then they obtained a cheap team, wagon and plow, a cow, an old sow and some chickens and proceeded to break out the farm. Sometimes they planted sod corn the first year and prepared for a crop the next year. After about this fashion they began life in this new country. Times were hard and ready money not to be had. No banks, and farm loans not to be obtained here at that period. Farm products were low in price, and the markets many miles distant. But they had come to stay. By industry and patient perseverance they worked and paid for their homes and increased their possessions. Their financial integrity as compared with that of the average western man was remarkable from the start. There were very few rogues among them. The writer found that when a Dane was given credit for any kind of purchase that he usually met his obligations promptly to the day, which was not true of many other people in the community.
In 1894 the writer had occasion to mention them in the senate of Iowa, citing the founding and progress of their community, and contending that it
294
AUDUBON COUNTY, "IÓWA.
compared favorably with anything of the kind of its age in the world; which was true, and it has since continually been progressing.
BUILDING ELKHORN COLLEGE.
In 1878 Rev. Olav Kirkeberg, pastor of the Lutheran church at Elkhorn, founded Elkhorn College, built by subscription; the Danish people in the vicinity contributing liberally for the purpose. It was out in the wilderness, but the Danish farmers turned out with their teams and hauled the material for the erection of the building from the railroad, and the coal with which to heat it when completed. There was a college mess-hall for the students, the food for which, meat, flour, milk, vegetables, etc., was supplied by the neighboring people. They sent their boys and girls to this school. The students printed and published a college journal-Dannevirke-proclaiming that Elkhorn College was the only Danish college in America. Students attended from all over Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Dakota, Nebraska and other states, and some even from Denmark.
It was a common occurrence at that time to observe the old, heavy. wooden chests and trunks of the Scandinavian emigrants marked: "Elk- horn, Iowa. U. S. A." The college was burned down twice, but a better building was erected on the original site in 1910.
TOWNS IN THE DANISH NEIGHBORHOOD.
In 1888 the town of Kimballton-named for an official of the railroad company-was founded in the southwest quarter of section 30, Sharon town- ship, and another town, Elkhorn, is situated two and one-half miles south, in Shelby county. These towns, situated well back in the hills, are strictly up-to-date, with commodious dwellings, business houses and modern im- provements, new and tidy. A spirit of rivalry exists between the two little cities, while the people are mostly Danish.
After living in the country for more than thirty years without a rail- road the citizens rallied and built one themselves, from Kimballton to Atlan- tic. Sharon township voted a railroad tax of five mills on the dollar. and another township in Shelby county voted a like tax, for building the road, and private citizens along the line subscribed for the railroad stock for the same purpose. In such way the railroad was accomplished.
These Danish people have become an important factor in the affairs of Audubon county. They are largely devoted to agricultural pursuits, for
295
AUDUBON COUNTY, IOWA.
which they are peculiarly well qualified. As farmers they are not excelled. Starting as poor men, they now own hundreds of magnificent farms, under a high state of cultivation, with handsome dwelling and home lots, fine barns and farm buildings for sheltering stock and housing grain and hay; fields and pastures thoroughly fenced and stocked with the best breeds of horses, cattle, hogs, poultry, etc. The tidy, thrifty appearance of their farms attest the industry and prosperity of the owners.
As business men they rank favorably with the same classes of people elsewhere. In the learned professions we find among them lawyers, doctors, clergymen, and school teachers. They have represented the county in the Legislature, and in the county and local offices. Others are bankers, mer- chants, agents and representatives of nearly all lines of trades and special callings.
WORTHY CITIZENS.
The Danish people in this county aspire to become thoroughly American- ized, to assume the best types of American manhood and womanhood, and to conform themselves to American laws and customs. Nearly all of the male portion of them as early as convenient become naturalized citizens and readily assume their duties as such. They are patrons of schools and education. It is a rare thing to discover one of these people who cannot read and write. In politics they are remarkably independent about local affairs, generally favoring their own race of people. In this particular they are inclined to be clannish. Religously many are Lutheran, the church of their nativity. Quite a number are Adventists, and some are members of other denominations.
Honest "Pete" Christiansen once in discussing the Danish social proposi- tion said that the Danish boys should marry American girls, and vice versa. He put the theory into actual practice, with success as it appeared.
To sum up in a nutshell-there are no better or more worthy people in the county than the Danes; and there are many other people here who are equally worthy.
CHAPTER XX.
AUDUBON COUNTY STATISTICS.
-
PRESENT POSTOFFICES.
Names. Established.
Audubon
May 12, 1871
Brayton February 27, 1880
Exira June 27, 1856
Gray
January 30, 1882
Hamlin
-June 24, 1873
Kimballton
January 16, 1882
Ross
August 23, 1883
OBSOLETE POSTOFFICES.
Names. Established.
Audubon Center
December 13, 1877
Audubon Heights -June 13, 1877
(name changed to
Conkling)
February 28. 1881
Civil Point
January 8, 1879
July 26, 1880
Conkling
June 14, 1894
Exline (site changed to Appanoose county) January 14, 1878
Fiscus (site changed to Shelby county ) September 8, 1898
March 15, 1908
August 30, 1888
Grove (late Hamlin Grove)
Hamlin Grove (name changed to Grove)
October 1, 1853
Horace
March 19, 1878
June 6, 1871
September 26, 1894 March 26, 1879
Jobes (site changed to Guthrie county) January 2, 1877
Louisville February 6, 1872
Larland April 30, 1890
1
1
1
Discontinued.
September 30, 1867
June 24, 1873
Irwin
January 17, 1903 January 21, 1880 May 15, 1902
297
AUDUBON COUNTY, IOWA.
Leroyville May 16, 1871
Melville February 19, 1878
Oakfield
October 22, 1858
November 8, 1878 October 24, 1891 November 29, 1881
Orleans (site changed to
Appanoose county ) May 4, 1860
Poplar
March 30, 1892
March 15, 1908
Price
February 9, 1886
August 17, 1889
Thompson
October 7, 1872
February 24. 1880
Viola Center
March 6, 1878
March 21, 1903
CENSUS STATISTICS 1856.
Dwelling houses
49
Families
50
Males
I50
Females
I33
Married
93
Widowed
5
Voters
69
Aliens
2
Militia
60
Land owners
5I
Acres.
Bushels.
Improved land
701
Spring wheat
II5
1,97I
Oats
28
1,405
Corn
334
10,720
Potatoes
I2
1,927
Number.
Value.
Hogs sold
223
1,916
Cattle sold
I32
4,376
Manufacturers
1,335
Butter, pounds
-3,656
Wool, pounds
-375
1875
1880
1885
1890
1895
1900
1905
acres
acres
acres
acres
acres
acres
acres
Improved land __ 21,046 94,723 165,672 248,276 244,169 272,197 264.749
Unimproved land 257,368 36,587
44,406
19,530
18,698
10,259
19.842
1
1
1
1
I
1
1
1
I
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1
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1
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298
AUDUBON COUNTY, IOWA.
OCCUPATIONS.
Farmers 32
Laborers
12
Blacksmith
I
Carpenters
5
Machinists
1
3
POPULATION OF AUDUBON COUNTY BY YEARS.
1856, 283; 1859, 365; 1860, 453: 1863, 388; 1865. 510; 1867, 790; 1869, 1,032; 1870, 1,212; 1873, 1,873; 1875. 2.370; 1880. 7,448; 1885, 10,825 : 1890, 12,412; 1895, 12.836; 1900, 13,625; 1905, 12,937; 1910, 12,671.
POPULATION BY TOWNS.
1860 1870
1880 1885 1890 1895 1900 1905 1910
Audubon
792 1,152 1,310 1,585 1,866 1,764 1,928
Brayton
38
124
-
I4I
196
I37
Exira
83
160
604
552
575
748
851
828
787
Gray
172
180
19I
I48
Oakfield.
88
Kimballton
271
POPULATION BY TOWNSHIPS.
1890
1900
1905
1910
Audubon
953
953
917
825
Cameron
756
708
619
550
Douglas
783
848
870
848
Exira, except Brayton and Exira town
1,040
1,034
909
836
Greeley
779
766
714
651
Hamlin
806
962
961
918
Leroy, except Audubon town.
858
795
753
820
Lincoln, except Gray town
907
827
713
Melville
729
618
565
590
Oakfield
1,004
1,065
951
996
Sharon
972
1,233
1,223
1,210
Viola
709
699
648
637
I
1
1
1
I
1
1
1
L
I
1
1
1
1
1 1
1
1
299
-
MALE POPULATION, BY YEARS. .
1856, 150; 1859, 198; 1860, 239; 1863, 194; 1865, 240.
VOTERS, BY YEARS. 1 1856, 69; 1859, 93; 1863, 88; 1865, 110; 1867, 177; 1869, 248; 1873, 430; 1875, 527 ; 1885, 2,514; 1895, 3,091; 1900, -; 1905, 3,415.
NATIVITY OF POPULATION.
1856
1895 1905
1856
1895
1905
Austria
IO
Georgia
5
Bohemia
Illinois
I2
937
688
Belgium
Indiana
IO
279
177
Canada
I
74
3I
Indian Ter.
2
Denmark
1,252 1,469
Iowa
48 6,989 8,103
England
IO
I34
71
Kansas
2
59
62
France
Kentucky
I7
58
34
Germany
I
953
786
Maine
I 21
I2
Holland
Maryland
2
16
5
Ireland
III
69
Massachusetts
16
20
12
Norway
18
I5
Michigan
8
28
49
Scotland
I
27
2I
Mississippi
2
Sweden
44
42
Montana
I2
United States
10,104
Nebraska
84
I32
New Hampshire
5
15
II
New Jersey
27
24
New York
34
244
149
Asia
I
Unknown
30
60
6
North Dakota
I4
Alabama
2
Ohio
47
506
309
Arkansas
2
---
California
I
4
2
Pennsylvania
7
309
219
Colorado
5
6
Rhode Island
4
Connecticut
4
IO
8
South Carolina
I
Delaware
I
South Dakota
II
22
1
-
1
1
1
1
1
I
1
I
2
Minnesota
1
I
76
80
Switzerland
4
Wales
7
5
Other European
countries
39
North Carolina
2I
6
Oregon
I
I
3
7
8
Russia
18
Missouri
2
14
..
AUDUBON COUNTY, IOWA.
300
AUDUBON COUNTY, IOWA.
1856
1895
1905
1856
1895
1905
Tennessee
2
II
II
Washington
IO
Texas
2
West Virginia
18
12
Vermont
4
37
26
Wisconsin
4 I29
124
Virginia
I7
46
25
NATIVES OF IOWA, BY COUNTIES.
Adair
I8
Floyd
2
Adams
I2
Franklin
2
Alamakee
3
Fremont
I
I
I
1
I
5
Appanoose
8
Green
II
Audubon
4,245
5
Benton
40
Guthrie 1
II3
Black Hawk
9
Hardin
2
Boone
I5
Harrison
9
Bremer
2
Henry
40
Buchanan
3
Ida
9
Beuna Vista
2
Iowa
I40
Butler
3
Jackson
46
Carroll
I26
Jasper
89
Cass
256
Jefferson
16
Cedar
52
Johnson
217
Cherokee
I
Jones
25
Chickasaw
I
Keokuk
35
Clarke
9
Lee
9
Clay
I
Linn
17
Clayton
34
Louisa
8
Clinton
59
Lucas
2
Crawford
49
Lyon
I
Dallas
37
Madison
38
Davis
5
Mahasha
47
Decatur
I3
Marion
56
Delaware
3
Marshall
43
Des Moines
3I
Mills
II
Dickinson
I
Mitchell
I
Dubuque
36
Monona
3
Emmet
I
Monroe
5
Fayette
19
Montgomery
1
19
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1
1
1
1
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Grundy
1
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301
AUDUBON COUNTY, IOWA.
Muscatine
53
Sioux
7
O'Brien
3
Story
23
Osceola
I
Tama
21
Page
5
Taylor
18
Palo Alto
4
Union
2
Plymouth
3
Van Buren
4
Pocahontas
I
Wapello
2I
Polk
87
Warren
28
Pottawattomie 1 I
78
Washington
27
Poweshiek
III
Webster
I
Ringgold
5
Winneshiek
4
Sac
5
Woodbury
1
Scott
102
Others
Shelby
205
OCCUPATIONS-1895.
Agents
8
Dairymen
6
Insurance
5
Dentists
4
Land
4
Doctors
13
Railroad
6
Domestics
41
Auctioneers
I
Draymen
12
Bakers
I
Dressmakers
24
Bankers
6
Druggists
8
Barbers
I3
Editors
I
Beekeepers
I
Engineers,, stationary I
4
Billiard men
9
Farmers
2,072
Blacksmiths
28
Farmers, retired
13
Bookkeepers
7
Gardeners
9
Brickmakers
4
Graindealers
7
Brokers
2
Harnessmakers
20
Butchers
15
Hotel and rest. keepers
9
Carpenters
.
60
Housekeepers
26
Civil officers
5
Jewelers
5
Clergymen
19
Laborers
425
Clerks
46
Laborers, farm
74
Contractors
I
Lawyers
15
Cooks
I Liverymen
7
Creamery
1
I
I
I Machinists
1
1
3
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302
AUDUBON COUNTY, IOWA.
Mail carriers
5
Shoemakers
6
Marble cutters
3
Spinners
2
Manufacturers
4
Stock dealers
IO
Mechanics
19
Stonemasons
8
Merchants
73
Students
4
Millers
4
Surveyors
I
Milliners
7
5
Miners
2
Tanners
3
Musicians
4
Teachers
126
Nurses
2
Teamsters
IO
Opticians
2
Telegraph operators I
6
Painters
12
Tinners
4
Photographers
5
Traveling salesmen
I
Plasterers
9
Veterinarians
3
Printers
13
Wagon makers
I
Railway employes
I
Weavers
I
Seamstresses
2
Well diggers
2
FARM PRODUCTIONS, 1905.
Acres.
Bushels.
Value.
Corn
.91.969
3.797,856
$1,203,141
Wheat
11.714
94,260
67,037
Oats
-31.575
857,125
180.583
Barley
1
7,256
194,806
57,349
Rye
125
2,006
1,18I
Buckwheat
2
37
26
Tons.
Clover
4.421
6,539
27,589
Timothy
25,554
42.545
172,638
Millet and Hungarian
363
812
2,690
Alfalfa
I
.
2
8
Wild hay
4,287
8,091
32.455
Bushels.
Clover seed
826
971
5,865
Timothy seed
1,791
10,347
9,515
Potatoes
1
105,265
26,752
1
I
I
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
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1
1
1
1
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1
1
1 I
1
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1
1
1
1
Tailors
I
1
1 I I
303
AUDUBON COUNTY, 10WA.
Sweet potatoes
936
875
Sweet corn
5,22I
1,897
Apples
13,590
Peaches
I36
Plums
2,687
Cherries
2,87I
Berries
7,508
Grapes
2,074
CENSUS 1905.
Cattle
47,850
Value
$946,829
Horses and mules
11,485
Value
686,798
Swine
63,439
Value
392,782
Sheep
1,538
Value
9,304
Wool, pounds
4,118
Value.
822
Chickens
184,439
Value
53.587
Other fowls
7,748
Value
5,540
Eggs, dozens
623,758
Value
I
1
79.377
Dairy products
Value
276,97I
Vegetables
Value.
1
1
I
11,652
County revenue for year ending December 31, 1904
$162,598.01
I
1 1
1
1
I
1
1
1
1
I
I
1
1
I
1
1
I
County expenses, same period 155,710.48
Militia, 1905, 2,540.
I
1
I
-
na 345 Wilhems & Bre VY.
Chas Van Garder
BIOGRAPHICAL
CHARLES VAN GORDER.
We of a later generation who are enjoying the comforts and even the luxuries of this modern-day civilization owe much to the earlier pioneers ; in fact, it is difficult to place a proper estimate upon their services for the benefit of the generations who follow after them. They blazed the trails and bore the brunt of the first hard and difficult battle in the redemption of a wilderness. Their foresight and optimism enabled them to see into the distant future and vision the productive and fertile farms, the beautiful towns and cities, the grid-ironing the country with the steam railroads ; all of which were to transform the wide stretches of prairie lands and the rolling hills into a veritable storehouse of wealth which would afford sus- tenance for innumerable thousands. It was the pioneer who transported his family and meager possessions by horse-wagon or slow-moving ox-team from the haunts of civilization across the lonely stretches to the far-distant uninhabited country and there erected his cabin on the spot of his choice. He came, he saw, he conquered, despite the vicissitudes and hardships which of necessity were the lot of him and his family. He likewise reaped his reward in the inevitable prosperity which followed in the wake of the settle- ment of the new country. This was no more than his just desert. A high type of the pioneer is found in the person of the man whose name heads this review, Capt. Charles Van Gorder, one of the pioneer settlers and bankers of Audubon county, who has resided in this county for fifty- four years.
During his long residence in Audubon county Captain Van Gorder has seen the land transformed from grass and flower-covered prairie and hill lands into a smiling landscape of fertile farms and thriving towns. He has seen the trail succeeded by the old stagecoach; in turn he has seen the stagecoach supplanted by the steam railway and the automobile coming as a more modern means of conveyance, and very properly is one of the most highly honored and respected citizens in the county.
(20)
306
AUDUBON COUNTY, IOWA.
Charles Van Gorder, vice-president of the First National Bank of Audubon, this county, was born in Delaware county, New York, on Jan- uary 23, 1837, the direct descendant of an old Holland family which figured in the colonial life of the Empire state. He is the son of Simon Van Gorder, whose grandgather, John Van Gorder, was born in the Dutch settle- ment of Delaware county, New York, in the ancestral home of the family. John Van Gorder was the father of William, John, Abram, Isaac, Law- rence, Albert and Manuel Van Gorder. Lawrence Van Gorder, the father of Simon Van Gorder, resided in Orange and Ulster counties of New York. His other sons were Hiram, Charles, John, Lawrence and Calvin, all of whom lived to be over ninety years of age. Four of the sons of John Van Gorder settled in the Lake county of New York state.
Simon Van Gorder, upon attaining his majority, moved to Delaware county, New York, and thence, in 1843, to Bradford county, Pennsylvania, where he died in October, 1890. His wife was Jane Fish, a native of New York, daughter of Isaac Fish, a native of Connecticut, who settled in Dela- ware county, New York, early in the nineteenth century. To Simon and Jane (Fish) Van Gorder were born the following children: Maria Antoinette, deceased; Mrs. Lorane Hodge, deceased; Billings, of Chemung county, New York; Charles, of whom this chronicle treats; John, deceased ; R. B., a resident of Chemung county, New York; Mrs. Sarah J. Kirkpat- rick, residing in Bradford county, Pennsylvania, and H. Wallace, a citizen of Chemung county, New York.
Charles Van Gorder was reared on a wilderness farm, he having been but six years of age when his father removed to the wilds of Bradford county, Pennsylvania, and entered on the task of carving a farm from the dense forests. There were no school facilities in this primitive country and Charles did not attend school until he had attained the age of seventeen years. This schooling was very limited, however, and he did not succeed in securing the education which his ambition craved. It is a fact that he did not finish his education until after he came to the West, and he attended school for two years after he had attained the age of thirty years. When he was nineteen years of age, Charles Van Gorder left home with the par- ental blessing and little else to fortify himself with, and migrated to Henry county, Illinois. In the spring of 1857 he made the long overland journey to Kansas. Kansas, at this period of her history, was carning the sobriquet of "bleeding Kansas" and was the fighting ground of Abolitionist and slave- holding advocate. The young adventurer saw troublous times during his stay in that territory, and after traveling over the western country for some
307
AUDUBON COUNTY, IOWA.
time he settled in Bates county, Missouri. He resided in Missouri for three years, or until 1860, in which year he came to Iowa, choosing Audubon county as his place of residence, and settled in the town of Exira. During his long residence in Audubon county, Mr. Van Gorder has made three trips across the plains to Pike's Peak and return.
In 1861 Charles Van Gorder engaged in the manufacture of bricks in Exira and was doing a thriving business in the sale and manufacture of his product to the incoming settlers and homesteaders, when the Presi- dent called for troops with which to quell the rebellion in the Southern states. Mr. Van Gorder, in whose veins flowed the blood of a long line of sturdy American ancestors and lovers of the Union, was one of the brave sons of Iowa to respond in 1862. He enlisted on August 22, 1862, in Company B, Thirty-ninth Regiment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and served for two years and ten months. His field service was with his regiment in Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. The principal engagements in which he fought were at Parker's Cross Roads, Tennessee; Cherokee Station, Alabama; Resaca, Georgia, and Altona Pass. During the latter engagement he was wounded in the left foot and invalided for six months. Entering the service as a private, he presently was promoted to the posi- tion of a corporal and rapidly rose to be a sergeant, then a lieutenant and finally a captain, which was his rank when he was mustered out with Sherman's army at Washington, D. C., following the grand review. Cap- tain Van Gorder was paid off and received his final discharge at Clinton, Iowa.
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