USA > Iowa > Audubon County > History of Audubon county, Iowa; its people, industries, and institutions > Part 37
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84
Edward C. Rice was educated in the schools of Port Byron, Illinois, and came to Audubon in the fall of 1881. He purchased a tract of eighty acres of land in section 8, Greeley township, for which he paid seven dollars an acre. This land was raw prairie and had never been touched by a plow. Mr. Rice hauled corn to Exira, which he sold for fifteen cents a bushel, and during a part of the time when this corn, the product of his first farm, was being hauled to Exira, the snow was up to the bottom of the wagon bed. During this period, Mr. Rice boarded with his brother, who lived about a half-mile away. He farmed here for five years, and then for the following five years, he clerked in a grocery store in Audubon. Subsequently, he worked for a pioneer clothing merchant of Audubon, for twelve months,
397
AUDUBON COUNTY, IOWA.
after which he engaged in the mercantile business at Alta, Iowa, for four years. On December 3, 1901, Mr. Rice took charge of the Farmers Exchange Bank, owned by Messrs. Leet and Boysen. After Mr. Leet's death, the partners became Lida L. and Helen C. Leet.
The Farmers Savings Bank, of Gray, Iowa, of which Mr. Rice is the cashier, was first established in 1892. It was founded by George P. Wiley, as the branch bank of Remsen, Iowa. Mr. Wiley was succeeded by Mr. Greglow, of Remsen, Iowa, and later by Leet and Boysen, and then by Lida and Helen Leet. In 1912 it was organized as the Farmers Savings Bank, and Mr. Rice took a very active part in the organization of this bank.
Edward C. Rice was twice married, his first marriage occurring in February, 1883, to Hattie E. Mulhollen, who died in January, 1887. Mr. Rice was afterwards married, on July 10, 1896, and to his second marriage two children were born, Homer and Raymond, twins, born July 12, 1901.
Mr. Rice is a Republican, but his many business interests do not permit of his taking a very active part in political matters. Fraternally, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, at Audubon, and takes an active interest in the welfare of this organization.
BENTON L. DARNOLD.
The gentleman whose name forms the caption of this sketch belongs to that class of men who wins life's battles by sheer force of personality and determination, coupled with soundness of judgment and keen discrimination. In whatever Mr. Darnold has undertaken, he has shown himself to be a man of ability and honor, always ready to lend his aid in promoting principles affecting the public good, having ably and conscientiously served the city of Audubon as marshal and water commissioner, while in other phases of social and political life, he has so conducted himself as to win the unqualified endorsement and support of his neighbors and fellow townsmen.
Benton L. Darnold was born on January 3, 1843, in Madison county, Virginia. He is the son of William and Lucinda (Quinn) Darnold, natives of old Virginia. William Darnold was born in 1808 and was a son of William Wallace Darnold, also a native of Virginia. Lucinda Quinn, who married William Darnold, was of Scotch-Irish parentage and was born in 1812. The family came to Iowa in 1858, driving overland, and located in Wapello, Louisa county, Iowa, where they settled on a farm and were among
398
AUDUBON COUNTY, IOWA.
the pioneer settlers. In 1878 they went to Kansas with a son and the father died in that state; the wife dying in 1879, soon after the death of her hus- band. They reared a family of twelve children, Joseph A., who is a con- tractor in Kansas City; Richard, who is a government contractor in Wash- ington; Donald, who lives at Villisca, Iowa; John H., who also lives at Villisca : Edward, deceased; Mrs. Sarah Lookingbill, who lives in Mediapolis, Des Moines county, Iowa ; two, who died in infancy; Benton L., the subject of this sketch, and Thomas W., who was a member of the Eighth Iowa Cavalry and later enlisted in the regular army under General Miles, and is located in the West.
Benton L. Darnold was thirteen years of age when his family came to Iowa, where he assisted his father on the home farm. He enlisted when nineteen years old at Burlington on January 23, 1862, in Company K, Second Iowa Cavalry, and served until the end of the war, when he was mustered out at Salem, Alabama. He was engaged in the battles of Black River, Iuka Springs, Shiloh, Nashville and West Point. He was also in many minor engagements and was wounded at Farmington, Mississippi, in a charge, his right wrist being struck by a bullet which plowed through the flesh to the shoulder. A brother, Thomas N., was taken prisoner and kept in Anderson- ville for a short time.
At the close of the war, Mr. Darnold operated an engine and a saw- mill for two years. He then farmed for about ten years and came to Audubon county in 1875. He owned a farm in Hamlin township, but moved to Audubon in 1883 and operated a grain elevator for three years. Since 1886 he has been city marshal and street commissioner and for several years has been water commissioner of Audubon.
Mr. Darnold was married in 1866 to Martha Barton, who was the daughter of Josiah Barton, and was born in North Carolina in 1841 and died in October, 1912. She was left an orphan early in life and was adopted by a Mr. Sheets, who brought her to Iowa. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Darnold, Nettie, the wife of Charles Lefoy, of Melville town- ship, Audubon county, who has four children; Sarah, the wife of Louis Jones, of Audubon ; Mrs. Lottie Ralph, of Audubon ; Mrs. Elsie May Mertz, of Sioux City; Mrs. Daisy Carper, of Audubon; William Hutton and Anna, both deceased.
Benton L. Darnold is a Republican and has been affiliated to this party during his entire life. He is a member of Allison Post, No. 34, Grand Army of the Republic. All of the members of the Darnold family are con- scientious and devout members of the Baptist church.
399
AUDUBON COUNTY, IOWA.
JAMES M. CARLSON.
It is not an easy task to describe adequately the career of a man who has led an eminently active and busy life, and who has attained a position of relative distinction in the community with which his interests are allied. Biography, however, finds its most perfect justification in tracing and record- ing the facts of such a life history. It is, therefore, with a full appreciation of what is demanded, and with the painstaking scrutiny which must be accorded each statement, and yet with a feeling of satisfaction, that the details of the career of James M. Carlson, a well-known banker of Exira, are here briefly set forth.
James M. Carlson, the cashier of the First National Bank, of Exira, Iowa, was born on December 17, 1884, in Denmark, the son of Hans P. and Oline ( Petersen) Carlson, both of whom were born in Denmark, the former in 1839, and the latter in 1851. Hans P. Carlson died in 1904. He was a farmer in Denmark and came to America in 1892. He located near Elkhorn, Iowa, where he rented a farm for ten years. He then moved to a farm near Atlantic, Iowa, where he lived for a short time, after which he moved to Shelby county, Iowa, where he lived until his death.
Hans P. and Oline (Petersen) Carlson were the parents of five chil- dren : Chris, deceased, was married to Lena Petersen, who is also deceased ; Nels, unmarried, lives in Canada ; Anna, the wife of Walter E. Potts ; James M., the immediate subject of this sketch; Alfred, unmarried, lives at home with his mother at Marne, Iowa.
James M. Carlson received his education in the public schools of Shelby county, Iowa, and after leaving his home township schools, he took a course at the Capital City Commercial College, at Des Moines, Iowa, and was grad- uated from this institution with the class of 1904. He then took a law course in the Lincoln-Jefferson University at Hammond, Indiana, and from this institution, which is a correspondence school, he received the degree of Bachelor of Laws. After completing his law course, Mr. Carlson engaged in the banking business at Marne Savings Bank, at Marne, Iowa, where he remained for five years, and-then located in California for one year. He came to Exira and was elected cashier of the First National Bank in 191I.
Mr. Carlson was married in 1912 to Ethel Musselman, the daughter of Millard and Dora (Cumpston) Musselman, and to this union one child, Mar- jorie, has been born. Mrs. Carlson was born in Warren county. Iowa, and her parents were also natives of this state. They were the parents of six children, Carrie, William, Ethel, John, Scle and Vera. Mrs. Carlson is a
400
AUDUBON COUNTY, IOWA.
member of the Primitive Baptist church, of which the family are regular attendants.
Mr. Carlson is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, belong- ing to the Blue Lodge No. 342, at Exira, and is also a member of the Mystic Shrine at Des Moines. James M. Carlson is a Republican, and is at the present time a member of the Exira city council, and has made a splendid record in this office. Mr. Carlson has been very successful as a banker, and much of the success of the First National Bank, of Exira, Iowa, is partially due to his efforts. He is popular with the patrons of the bank and with the officers and directors of the institution as well. Mr. and Mrs. Carlson are popular socially in Exira, and well known to a large number of people.
REV. JENS PETER CHRISTIANSEN.
The life of the minister of the gospel, with its requirements for personal sacrifice, does not attract the average man. To the lay mind, it is some- times incomprehensible that a man should voluntarily give up much of his personal freedom in order that he may minister to the spiritual, physical or material welfare of those in need of him. Although the minister's chief concern is for the spiritual uplift of the community which he serves, his duties and his thought are not nowadays limited to this sphere of life. The modern minister must constantly respond to demands of which his prede- cessors knew nothing. Not only must he be always ready with advice and encouragement for those who seem worsted in life's battle, but he must also render financial assistance to many causes and individuals. Otherwise, he would, no doubt, lose his influence as a preacher. Not a calling, indeed, to appeal to any but the unselfish and altruistic. But here and there we find men and women who have discovered that happiness for them lies along this way, and to such, ministry is not a sacrifice, but a joy. A stranger in Audubon county would not have to remain here long to hear the name of Rev. Jens Peter Christiansen, pastor of the Danish Lutheran Church, in the town of Audubon. Reverend Christiansen is a native of Denmark, having been born there on November 17, 1876, in a town called Ruds-Vedby.
Rev. Jens Peter Christiansen is the son of Nels and Anna Metta (Fred- ericksen) Christiansen, both natives of Denmark, the father born in Jerslev, the mother in Kallenborg. The father was engaged in farming both in Denmark and in this country, he having come here in 1893, settling in Win-
40I
AUDUBON COUNTY, IOWA.
throp, Iowa, where he bought a farm, retiring from active labor some years before his death, which occurred in August, 1912. Upon retiring from the farm, Nels Christiansen moved to Cedar Falls, Iowa, where his widow still resides. Both were stanch Christians and energetic workers in the Luth- eran church. They were the parents of the following children: Christian Valdemar, a farmer living in Cedar Falls; Johannes Christiansen, a machin- ist in Philadelphia; Laurits Christiansen, who is also a machinist, but who lives in Kansas City, Missouri; Martin Christiansen, who is employed by the Gas and Electric Light Company at Cedar Falls, and Rev. Peter Chris- tiansen, the subject of this sketch.
Jens Peter Christiansen was graduated from the schools of Denmark, and upon coming to the United States attended Trinity Seminary at Blair, Nebraska, from 1899 until 1906, in which latter year he was graduated. His first charge was in Lincoln, Nebraska, where he remained from 1906 until 1909, coming thence, in the latter year, to this county, in response to a call from the Danish Lutheran congregation at Audubon, and has lived ever since in that city, serving very acceptably as pastor of the Danish Luth- eran church.
On June 6, 1906, the year of his graduation, Rev. J. P. Christiansen was married to Nora Jensen, who was born in Kundby, Denmark, the daugh- ter of Jens and Marie (Olsen) Jensen, who came to America in 1873, locat- ing at Cedar Falls, Iowa, where Jens Jensen died on May 4, 1915, his wife having preceded him to the grave many years, her deatlı having occurred on June 30, 1898. Mrs. Christiansen is the sixth child born to her parents, the others being: Jens S., who lives in Kansas; Maria, deceased; Christine, of Cedar Falls; Line J., also of Cedar Falls; Christian J., of Waterloo, Iowa; a daughter, Ida, who is now dead, and Alfred J., of Sioux City, Iowa.
It is only natural that a man of Reverend Christiansen's profession should be well educated. But it does not follow that he, as a minister, should keep abreast with the times, as this is not an invariable rule. It is true, how- ever, in the present case, for one element of Mr. Christiansen's marked suc- cess in the ministry is his interest in modern thought and modern activities.
To Rev. J. P. and Nora (Jensen) Christiansen three children have been born: Rudolf Paulus, born on June 29, 1907; Phillip Wilhelm, July 17, 1909, and Noomi Damaris, July 9, 1912.
Since their residence in Audubon, the Reverend and Mrs. Christiansen have become important factors in the life of the town in which they live. Not only as a minister does the former find and fill his place in the com- (26)
,
402
AUDUBON COUNTY, IOWA.
munity, but as a man he is respected and admired. Nor is this respect and admiration limited to the congregation to which he ministers, for his range of influence extends beyond. As a minister's wife, conscious of the high calling of her husband, Mrs. Christiansen has seconded all of her husband's efforts in building up strong Christian manhood and womanhood in this community, and both would be greatly missed should they leave Audubon.
PETER MATHISEN.
Not only those whose lives are spent in the teeming cities, and in the world's centers of industry and commerce, are worthy of classification among earth's great and useful. but he who has been a good husband. a loving father, a true neighbor and a loyal citizen is great as a man, even though his praises have not been sung in press and pulpit. Every man who has held public office and who is honest, has given to his community time, attention and ser- vice which the salary paid him cannot cover. Many are the demands made upon such a one, and yet would not come to him as a private citizen or busi- ness man. When, therefore, it is said of a man that he has filled any office with credit, this may be taken to mean that he has given the best that was in him for the public good.
Peter Mathisen, ex-supervisor and retired farmer of Audubon, Iowa, is a native of Denmark, having been born there on October 21, 1845, in the province of Schleswig.
His parents, Peter and Christina (Stephensen) Mathisen, also were born and brought up there. The father, a farmer, died when he was sixty years of age, and the mother came to this country in 1877, lived with her children in Sharon township, this county until her death in 1903. Both Mr. and Mrs. Mathisen were members of the Lutheran church. Peter, whose name appears at the head of this brief record, was the eldest. The others were: Catherine, who died in Davenport, Iowa; Carrie, now the wife of Jens Werner of Audubon, Iowa: Sophia, who passed away while the family lived in Davenport: Jorgen, a farmer living in Sharon township, Audubon county, Iowa, and Maria, the youngest daughter, who died in Denmark.
The eldest son, Peter, was ambitious for education, and received his early. schooling in Denmark, but he was compelled to leave school for the farm, and as a young man, worked out on a farm. Being ambitious to advance, and while still a young man of twenty-two, he started for America, at first tak-
403
AUDUBON COUNTY, IOWA.
ing up the occupation he had followed in the old country, this time, in Daven- port, Iowa. "From 1869 until 1872, he lived in Cass county and worked on the Rock Island railway.
In 1870, he was married to Sophia Sorensen, who was born in Denmark and who came to this country in 1869. In the year 1872, preferring the farm to railroad work, Mr. Mathisen purchased a tract of prairie land belonging to the railway company four miles north of Atlantic, Iowa, and began clearing his forty acres. Four years later he removed to Jackson township, Shelby county, the same state, bought one hundred acres, and made this his home for seven years, living on the farm which he improved. In 1883, Sharon township attracted him, and he became the possessor of a piece of unimproved land, a portion of which was partially improved, and after expending several thousand dollars for improvements, began stock raising. He specialized in a good breed of cattle, Poland China hogs, and draft horses. For the two years following 1896, he lived on a farm which he owned in Leroy township. Audubon became his home in 1900, and it was on the west side of the town that he built his present home. Besides the site on which it is situated, he owns two other lots. A farm which he owns in Cameron township is rented to tenants.
Owing to having held three prominent county offices, Mr. Mathisen is unusually well known, not only in the vicinity of his own home, but in adjoin- ing neighborhoods. For several years, he was trustee of Sharon township, and a school director, and was elected county supervisor in 1891 ; he served in this latter capacity for three years. An active politician, he was a leader in the Democratic party, and his judgment was relied upon by other poli- ticians. He has been identified all of his life with the Danish Lutheran church. In matters concerning current events, Mr. Mathisen is always well informed, and his interests are not limited to local subjects.
The children born are four in number., The eldest, Christina, is mar- ried to Andrew Knudsen of Sharon township, and they live on the old home- stead of her father. Their children are Mary, Johanna and Sophia. The second child of Mr. and Mrs. Mathisen died in infancy, and Maria, the next in order of birth passed away while young. Stephen is a farmer in Sharon township. He married Christina Nelsen, and their children are named Anna Marie and Laura.
These are the important facts concerning the life of Peter Mathisen, but one must read between the lines to realize that success and honor among his fellow men did not come without effort and just cause. Those pioneers who have become prosperous, are strong, sturdy characters, undaunted by
404
AUDUBON COUNTY, IOWA.
conditions which would dismay less stalwart minds, and so when the goal has been reached, and they can cease the more strenuous activities, it should not be forgotten that the way has not always been so easy, nor the conditions of life pleasant. No one more deserves a life free from care, comparatively speaking, than he who has known what it means to work for long hard hours, and to keep at it when the end seemed far away.
LUDWIG F. MILLER.
Ludwig F. Miller, cashier of the Brayton Savings Bank of Brayton, Iowa, is one of the well-known citizens and business men of Audubon county. Engaged in the grain business in this community for many years and at different times in the lumber business, he has many friends in this part of Audubon county, men who know him for his worth as a citizen and for his honorable and upright dealings with the public generally.
Mr. Miller was born on July 27, 1858, in Denmark, the son of M. F. and Maren (Larson) Miller, both natives of Denmark, the father having been a school teacher and having taught school for thirty-eight years. He died in 1878, his wife surviving him many years, passing away in 1912. They had six children : Frederick, Lawrence, Peter, Minnie, Laura and L. F., the sub- ject of this sketch.
It was Mr. Miller's good fortune to have the opportunity in his native land, to obtain a better education than most of his fellow countrymen who have come to America from that country. After finishing the course given in the public schools, he attended college and upon leaving college, spent eighteen months in the Danish army.
Coming to America in 1882, L. F. Miller located at Brayton, Iowa, where he worked as a farm hand for two years. Subsequently, he took a position with the D. W. Powers Lumber Company, which he held for three years. In the meantime, he also bought grain and operated an elevator for two years. He then worked for the Green Bay Lumber Company for one and a half years and finally engaged in the grain business himself under the firm name of Worthing & Miller. For ten years Mr. Miller was engaged in the grain business at Brayton, but sold out to the Rothchild Grain Com- pany and worked for this company for two years at Brayton and also two years at Laura, Iowa.
In 1901 Mr. Miller became engaged in the banking business at Brayton,
405
AUDUBON COUNTY, IOWA.
Iowa, in the bank owned by Delehoyde & Van Gorder and served as assistant cashier of this bank until 1913, when it became a state bank and he was elected cashier. The Brayton Savings Bank has had a very satisfactory growth, and no small part of its prosperity is due to the zeal, wisdom and energy of its cashier.
On May 29, 1882, Mr. Miller was married to Olena Hansen, the daugh- ter of Hans and Mary Ann ( Rasmussen) Hansen. Of the children born to this marriage, six are now living: Raymond, Harry, Einer, Minnie, Agnes and Edna. Raymond married Ina Bisom and has three children, Lucile, Cosetta and Carl L .; Minnie married Reed Walker and has one child, John Dale. The remainder of the children are single and live at home. Mrs. Miller is a native of Denmark, as were her parents, and she came to America in 1882, the year she was married to Mr. Miller. Her parents lived and died in their native land. They had three children: Olena, Jens R. and Karen Marie.
Fraternally, Mr. Miller is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is now a past grand. He is also a member of the Mod- ern Woodmen of America at Brayton. In politics, he has always been identified with the Republican party since coming to this country. As a public-spirited citizen, Mr. Miller is well known in this section of Audubon county, not only for his wide and diversified career in business but for his interest and support of public movements. He is very popular among the people of this community, being affable and agreeable, honorable and straight- forward in all the relations of life.
JOHN M. DIMICK.
John M. Dimick is a well-known cattle buyer and feeder of Exira, Iowa, who, after farming with his father for ten years, purchased the homestead farm in Audubon county and began life for himself. Mr. Dimick began life with eighty acres of land, for which he paid twenty-two and one-half dollars an acre. Now, he is perhaps the most extensive stock raiser in Audubon county. He has increased his land holdings from eighty to five hundred and thirty-five acres and raises on an average five hundred head of live stock every year. He buys between twenty-five and thirty thousand bushels of corn and feeds from fifteen to twenty carloads of cattle, and from five hun- dred to six hundred head of hogs each year. The immensity of these opera-
406
AUDUBON COUNTY, , IOWA.
tions is immediately apparent to any one who is at all familiar with farming. Mr. Dimick has the reputation of feeding prime cattle, which the Chicago buyers are always anxious to get, and for which they are always willing to pay top prices. He deserves much credit for the great progress he has made.
John M. Dimick was born in Johnson county, Iowa, February 27, 1869, and is a son of John J. and Fannie (Mitchell) Dimick, both of whom were natives of Erie county, New York. John J. Dimick was born January 24, 1825, and his wife, who, before her marriage, was Fannie Mitchell, was born March 31. 1837. John J. Dimick grew to manhood in Erie county, New York, and there lived upon a farm. Before his marriage he made a trip to California during the historic gold-strike of 1849-50. He was farily. suc- cessful in his quest for fortune and after remaining in California for three years he returned to Wisconsin, where he remained until 1858, when he came to Johnson county, Iowa. While living in Wisconsin he conducted a hotel. After coming to Johnson county, Iowa, he first purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Johnson county. Subsequently, he increased his hold- ings by one-half. After being well started in farming, he engaged in the lumber and stock business, in which line he remained for five years, at the expiration of which time he sold out and came to Audubon county, Iowa, in March, 1881, locating four miles northwest of Exira. Here he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land and was engaged in general farming until 1901, when he moved to Exira and took up cattle buying, following this business until his death, January 1, 1910. His wife had died more than a quarter of a century previously, March 1, 1879.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.