USA > Iowa > Audubon County > History of Audubon county, Iowa; its people, industries, and institutions > Part 46
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DAN E. LARSEN.
Among the citizens of Hamlin township, Audubon county, Iowa, who have built up comfortable homes and surrounded themselves with valuable personal and real property, few have attained a higher degree of success than Dan, E. Larsen, a well-known farmer of this county. With few oppor- tunities except what his own efforts were capable of mastering and with many discouragements to overcome, he has made an exceptional success in life. Although a comparatively young man, Mr. Larsen has the gratification of knowing that the community in which he resides has been benefited by his presence and by his counsels. Mr. Larsen is descended from a well-known Danish family of this state and one which has been foremost in the civic, political and social life of Audubon county for many years.
Dan Larsen was born on July 17, 1883, in Lincoln township, Shelby county, Iowa. He is the son of Lars C. and Sena (Christensen) Larsen, who were natives of Denmark, and came from a district known as Jylland, which is near Germany. They arrived in the United States about 1870, and subsequently located north of Avoca, near Cuppy's Grove. They lived in
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Shelby county for a few years and later purchased new prairie land, getting their start in life as most early settlers did. Lars C. Larsen was first mar- ried to Christine Christensen, a sister of his second wife, and by this union there were five children. After his first wife's death, he married Sena Christensen and had five children by this marriage, of whom Dan E. was the second child and the eldest son, his sister, Sophia, being older than he.
Dan E. Larsen received a good education, having attended the Elkhorn College, the academy at Stewart, Iowa, and the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. His father was a well-informed man and not only was a firm believer in education but was progressive along all other lines.
With the exception of one year which Dan E. Larsen rented land and boarded, he lived at home. The year before he was married, he rented eighty acres and cultivated until the fall when he operated a corn sheller. In June, 1906, he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land in section 30 of Hamlin township, which was only partly improved and he has since added to the improvements a modern eight-roomed house, large barn, cribs, cattle sheds, garage, etc. The farm is one of the best improved in Audubon county and the house is by far the most modern and best constructed within a radius of several miles.
On February 20, 1907, Mr. Larsen was married to Edith Christensen, who was born December 9, 1886, in Oakfield township, Audubon county, Iowa. She is the daughter of Nels and Christina ( Hansen) Christensen, natives of Denmark. Her father came to the United States in 1869, when seventeen years old, from Jylland and her mother came from Fynn, Denmark, in 1874, when eleven years old. Nels Christensen was killed in 1913 in an automobile accident and the mother died in May, 1914.
Mr. and Mrs. Dan E. Larsen are the parents of two sons, Floyd, born on February 24, 1910, and Harvey, born on April 13, 1912.
Mr. Larsen does general farming and stock raising. He feeds from one to two carloads of cattle each year and about sixty head of hogs. His family and his farm are his principal interests.
Mr. Larsen's father was killed in a runaway when Dan E. was six years old. He had just come from church and the minister was with him wearing a fur overcoat. The horses became frightened at the appearance of the coat and, bolting, threw Mr. Larsen out, killing him instantly. Mr. Larsen's mother, a few years later, married Peter Knudsen. It is a coincidence that Mrs. Larsen's grandfather on her mother's side was also accidentally killed by falling from a building. Her uncle in Denmark was killed in a runaway accident soon after the death of Mr. Larsen's father. It seems that the
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family has been particularly unfortunate in suffering so many fatal accidents.
Dan E. Larsen is a Republican, although he has not held office and does not consider himself a politician. Mr. Larsen and family are members of the Seventh-Day Adventist church and are active in church circles. Mr. Larsen is a clean-cut, progressive citizen of Hamlin township and a man of sterling integrity.
THOMAS CHRISTENSEN.
Audubon county is indebted perhaps to the Christensen family as much as to any other, for its wondrous transformation to one of the choicest sec- tions of the Hawkeye state. The members of this family have been leaders in agricultural, industrial and civic affairs since the early days. Each with a fidelity to duty and a persistency of purpose peculiar to the class of men who take a lead in large affairs, they have performed well their duties in all of the relations of life. While they have advanced their own interests, they have not been unmindful of the general welfare of their fellow citizens. Thus, the Christensen family rightly deserves a place in the history of this locality and among the well-known members of this family is Thomas Christensen, a successful farmer of Hamlin township.
Thomas Christensen was born on November 2, 1855, in Jylland, Den- mark. He is the son of Chris M. and Anna (Thompson) Christensen, natives of the same locality as their son, Thomas. They were farmers and the parents of four children, of whom Thomas was the eldest.
Thomas Christensen lived at home until he was old enough to work, when he was then hired out by his parents. In 1880 he came to the United States, landing at New York city, coming thence to Cass county, Iowa, but he did not stay long in this county before coming on to Audubon county. Mr. Christensen had .no relatives or friends in the United States and was a total stranger. He first worked out for seven years and then rented land for ten or twelve years, and about 1900 he purchased eighty acres of land as a start. He has added to this land until he now owns two hundred and forty acres in the home place, which is located in section 19 of Hamlin town- ship. Mr. Christensen also has eighty acres in section 18 of Hamlin town- ship. The farm is well improved and Mr. Christensen is one of the largest landholders in Hamlin township.
Thomas Christensen was married on February 15, 1888, in Audubon to Sena C. Christiansen, who was born on March 7, 1868, in Schleswig, Ger-
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many, and who is the daughter of Nels C. and Bodel C. (Wind) Jensen, who were also born in Schleswig. Her father was a tailor by trade and lived in the town of Arnutland. He died when Mrs. Christensen was a small child and her mother later married again. In the spring of 1880 the family came to the United States, arriving on May 1, 1880, at Atlantic, Iowa, where they remained but a short time, subsequently moving to Elkhorn in Shelby county, where they lived until 1883. They then moved to Sharon township, Audu- bon county, where they lived until about 1905, when they retired and moved to Elkhorn.
To Thomas and Sena Christensen thirteen children have been born, nine of whom are living: Chris M., born on March 26, 1889; Nels S., July 8, 1890; Anna C., November 19, 1891; William H., September 27, 1893; Adolph, August 19, 1897: Agnes S., June 3, 1901 ; Henry H., October 23, 1904: Edith E., January 4, 1907; and Myrtle S., November 3, 1909. All of these children live at home. The other four children died in infancy.
Mr. Christensen does general farming and stock raising, and has applied himself diligently to dairying and at the present time milks about twenty cows on the home farm.
Mr. Christensen and family are all members of the Danish Lutheran church. He is a Republican but is not a politician and has never held office. Nevertheless, he has done much to advance the social and civic life of Hamlin township and is known today as one of its most substantial citizens.
CLARK WILSON.
Clark Wilson needs no introduction to the people of Audubon county. He is recognized as one of the best-known citizens of this county, having served for many years as custodian of the Audubon county court house. He is a man, who, by his many commendable qualities and honorable career, has enjoyed for a long time a favorable place in the hearts of the people of this county. It is eminently proper that attention be called to his life and career and due credit be accorded to him as one of the best-known citizens of Audubon county.
Clark Wilson was born on February 6, 1844, in Belmont county, Ohio, a son of Thomas M. and Mary (Richards) Wilson, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio, respectively. The record of the Wilson family runs back to 1727, and shows that the family originated near Belfast, Ireland. Thomas M. Wilson, who was a cooper by trade, came to this country in the late seventies,
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locating on a farm at Hamlin, in this county, where he spent the remainder of his life. Thomas M. and Mary (Richards) Wilson were the parents of the following children: Andrew, a resident of Decatur county, Iowa ; Jona- than, deceased; Robert, living in Washington; Clark, the immediate subject of this sketch; J. Calvin, of Des Moines, Iowa; Abner, deceased, who was a resident of Oskaloosa, lowa: Harris, of Guthrie county, Iowa; Mrs. Mary Miles, of Kansas City; Mrs. Josephine Lefler, a resident of this county ; Sarah Margaret, deceased, and Elizabeth, also deceased.
In October, 1856, Clark Wilson came to Iowa with his parents, who located in Mahaska county, where the father worked at his trade in connec- tion with farming. On August 10, 1862, Clark Wilson enlisted for service in the Union army in Company C, Thirty-third Regiment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of the war, being mustered out on July 7, 1865, at New Orleans, Louisiana. Mr. Wilson participated in many severe engagements during his service, including those of Helena, Arkansas; Little Rock, Arkansas; Meridian, Mississippi; Jenkins Ferry and the siege of Mobile. He was with his company from the beginning to the end of the war, and was never wounded. For five months he was orderly and dispatch carrier at the brigade headquarters of Colonel Solomon. Mr. Wilson's first regimental commander was Col. Samuel A. Rice, and later his regiment was commanded by Col. Cyrus H. Mackey. From Mobile the regiment marched to Clarksville, Texas, to be ready for the invasion of Mexico. It was held there for a while and then was ordered back to New Orleans and sent to Rock Island, and there was finally paid off and discharged, arriving home on August 10, 1865.
After the close of the war, Mr. Wilson became a blacksmith and worked at this trade for thirty years at Hamlin, Iowa, and Sedalia, Missouri. He came to Audubon county from Sedalia in March, 1889, and operated a blacksmith shop at Hamlin until 1905, when he was appointed custodian of the court house and moved to Audubon, the county seat.
· On April 6, 1868, Clark Wilson was married to Belle Neeley, of Sedalia. Missouri, who was born in 1849 in Ohio, a daughter of James M. Neeley, and to this union eight children have been born, namely: William C., of Audubon; Clark Elmer, of Audubon; Mrs. Anna Belle Campbell, of Mel- ville township; Mrs. Mary Bedella White, of Dickinson county, Iowa; Mrs. Maud Ethel Armstrong, who lives near Coon Rapids, Guthrie county, Iowa; Ida, the deceased wife of L. J. Ward; Mrs. Josephine Owen, widow of George E. Owen, of this county, and Vera, who is still at home with her parents.
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Mr. Wilson has always been an ardent Republican and is warmly inter- ested in the political affairs of the county. He and his wife and family are all members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Wilson is a member of Allison Post, Grand Army of the Republic, and is a past commander of that post.
WILLIAM SCHRADER.
It is unquestioned that the example set by thrifty German citizens has been very beneficial not only to our native Americans but to the citizens of all other countries as well. Iowa was fortunate in the days before the war, and even after the war, in attracting many thousands of good Germans to her borders, and among the many German families soming to this state is that of the Schraders, of whom William Schrader is one.
William Schrader, a retired farmer now living at Audubon, Iowa, was born on February 18, 1847, in the village of Rosnow, in Pommern, Ger- many, the son of August and Phillopena (Karl) Schrader. August Schra- der died in 1864 and the mother brought her family of five boys to America. They settled in Wichter, Poweshiek county, Iowa. on August 9, 1869, and there they lived for some time. These five sons were August, who lives in Audubon; Wilhelm, also of Audubon; Albert, of Poweshiek county; Her- man, also of Poweshiek county, and Henry, who was killed by lightning. The mother of these sons died on March 23, 1875, at the age of fifty years, seven months and thirty days.
William Schrader was twenty-three years old when he came to America and for three years following his arrival in this country he worked for his uncle, Frederick Karl, who died in the spring of 1914. After his marriage, in 1871, he moved to a rented farm which was owned by his uncle, and after renting land for eight years, purchased one hundred and six and two-tenths acres of land in Poweshiek county, this state, on which he resided until 1895, in which year he sold out and came to Audubon county, where he pur- chased two hundred and forty acres in Viola township, at a cost of nine thousand one hundred dollars. to which he later added forty acres, now owning two hundred and eighty acres, besides which he has six acres in Audubon, including six lots on which he has lived since 1908, his home being one of the finest in the town.
On October 14, 1871. William Schrader was married to Rosa Stepler, who was born in Iowa and who died on January 4, 1884, leaving five chil-
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dren, Albert, now deceased, who married Augusta Horning; Emma, now deceased; Mary, who is the wife of Fred Tessman, of Viola township, and has five children, Lydia, William, Archie, Inez and Clarence; Wilhelm, now deceased, who married May Ballou and had one child, Albert; Henry, deceased.
On December 17, 1884, Mr. Schrader married, secondly, Emma Possehn, who was born in Germany and who came to America with her parents, and to this union five children were born, as follow: Edward, who lives in Colorado, married Alice Green and has two children, Marvin and Winston; Ludwich, who died in infancy: Otto, who lives in Colorado; Arthur, who operates an automobile garage in Audubon, and Eva, who is at home.
Mr. Schrader has never been especially active in politics, although he has been identified with the Republican party and has served as a member of the school board. The Schrader family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and William Schrader is prominent in the affairs of that church. There are no better citizens to be found in Audubon county than William Schrader and few who have done more to convert a dreary prairie into fertile and productive farming lands. He is a worthy citizen and is recognized as such by his neighbors and fellow townsmen.
WILLIAM H. COVAULT.
'Among the pioneer farmers of Audubon county, Iowa, who came to this county early in its history, when the most of the land was in a thoroughly wild state, and when there were few inhabitants living in the county, is William E. Covault, a prosperous farmer who owns two hundred and forty acres of land in Greeley township, and who was born on September 29, 1847, in Miami county, Ohio, the son of Isaac A. and Elizabeth (Linton) Covault, who were natives of Miami county, Ohio, and farmers by occupation. Isaac Covault was a son of Isaiah and Betsy Covault, who, it is believed, were both born in Virginia. Although Mr. Covault first came to the state of Iowa in 1869 and lived for a time in Cedar county, Iowa, after which he moved to Poweshiek county, where he lived for five years, he then went back to Ohio, and after a residence there of five years, returned to Iowa in the fall of 1879, arriving in Audubon county in September, of that year. At the time he first purchased his farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Greeley town-
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ship, it was well improved for the times, having a house sixteen by twenty feet, containing one room, although there was no lath nor plaster. The barn, which was a crude affair, fourteen by sixteen feet. held four horses. By prodigious industry, careful management and wise planning, Mr. Covault has improved the farm and buildings and now owns one of the best tracts of land in Greeley township.
Mr. Covault lived at home until he was married, and the educational opportunities of his neighborhood being limited, he was not able to pursue his studies far. In September, 1869, he came west to Cedar county, but remained there only one year, removing to Poweshiek county, but after his return from Ohio. in the fall of 1879. he has lived on his farm in Greeley township continuously since, with the exception of five years which he and his wife spent in Exira. When he and his family first came to Greeley town- ship, there were few settlers in the neighborhood, his nearest neighbor being John Huston, one-fourth mile south of the Covault farm, and from the Huston place to Exira, there was only one other house. Mr. Covault has since added to his farm and now has two hundred and forty acres in Greeley township and eighty across the line in Guthrie county, Iowa.
On January 3. 1869. William H. Covault was married in Miami county, Ohio, to Harriet Jane Ralston, who was born on January 22. 1850, in Miami county, and who is a daughter of Allen and Mary ( Welchhans) Ralston, also natives of Miami county, Ohio.
Mr. and Mrs. Covault have had eight children: Elmer A., who mar- ried Agnes Baker, and they have three children. Elva, Clyde and Hazel; Harry A. married Maggie Flynn. and they have two children, Wilbur and Owen: Charles married Mattie Wire, and they have three children, Silva, Elizabeth and Leota: Della, the wife of Edward Flynn, has three children. Roy, Ralph and Lloyd; Isaac died at the age of twenty-three years; Effie became the wife of Chester Adair, and has four children. Guy, Esther. Wayne and Bernice: William Roy married Annie Goochey, and they have six children. Ruth, Ethel. Eunice. Joseph. Mamie and Glenn; Bertha is the wife of Chelsea Adair, and has three children. Florence, Maxine and Don. Mr. and Mrs. Covault also has one great-grandchild, Lois Hadley, the daugh- ter of Carl and Elva Hadley, the latter of whom is a daughter of Mr. Covault's son, Elmer A.
Although Mr. Covault was a member of the Christian church in Ohio, he has never united with any church since coming to Audubon county. He has given his support freely to all religious denominations which hold services in his vicinity. He is a Democrat and served not only as constable for sev-
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eral years and assessor of Greeley township for one term, but also served as deputy sheriff of Audubon county for four years.
William H. Covault as a pioneer citizen, and one of the early settlers of Audubon county, has been connected with almost every phase of the progress, prosperity and growth of Audubon county for a period of nearly forty years. He has seen the county transformed from a wild and unculti- vated prairie into a garden teeming with the good things of life and the men who have had a part in this wonderful transformation are entitled to the respect of the present generation and much credit is due for their unselfish service. One of these men is Mr. Covault, who is a man of high standing in his community, honored, earnest and cordial in his dealings with the people of his neighborhood and county.
HENRY C. PETERSEN.
Any person who will investigate the fact will be surprised to learn of the great number of people of Danish descent now living in the state of Iowa. Unquestionably, the greatest number of immigrants who reach the shores of the New World is of Teutonic origin and statistics show that there is more Teutonic blood in the United States than of any other country. It is, there- fore, not difficult to account for the prosperity and morality of this country; not only this, but it will afford an explanation for the love of learning shown by the people of this vast country. The little kingdom of Denmark is famous for its universities and its highly-educated men. The qualities which characterize the native Danes have been brought to this country by the immi- grants and are now a part of our wonderful country and have contributed to the progress and advancement of its material and social life.
Henry C. Petersen, a well-known farmer of Hamlin township, Audubon county, Iowa, was born on March 22, ISSI, in Clay township. Shelby county. Iowa. He is the son of Mads P. and Sophia (Christensen) Petersen, both of whom were born in Denmark. in the part known as Moen. Mads P. Petersen came to the United States when eighteen years old. and first located in Illi- nois, where he worked for some time and then came to Shelby county, Iowa. and purchased eighty acres of land about 1879. Henry C. Petersen was one of two children. the other being George P. His parents later adopted a girl, Bertha Mary Jensen.
Henry Petersen received a good common school education in the public
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schools of Iowa. He lived at home until twenty-four years of age and then married. After his marriage, he moved to his present farm in Hamlin town- ship. His father having first purchased one hundred and twenty acres, Henry C. later purchased eighty acres more.
Henry C. Petersen was married on September 28, 1904, in Elkhorn, Shelby county, Iowa, to Sena S. Jorgensen, who was born on March 15, 1883, in Clay township, Shelby county, Iowa. She was the daughter of Peter and Christina (Nelsen) Jorgensen, natives of Fynn, Denmark. Mr. and Mrs. Petersen have had three children, Violet, born on July 1, 1905; Clyde, June 7, 1908, and Irene, June 4, 191I.
Henry C. Petersen was a Republican, but he has never been active in politics, and, for that reason, has never held any offices. In fact, Mr. Peter- sen is not interested in politics, but is interested in his family, his home and his farm, and to these interests he devotes practically all of his attention. The family are members of the Danish Lutheran church at Exira.
Mr. Petersen is engaged in general farming and stock raising. He is a stockholder in the Elkhorn-Marne Telephone Company and the West Ham- lin Creamery Company. He undoubtedly deserves to rank as one of Hamlin township's progressive farmers and wide-awake, up-to-date citizens. He is popular with his neighbors and enjoys their universal esteem and confidence.
PETER N. LAURIDSEN.
Among the successful farmers of Hamlin township, Audubon county, Iowa, is Peter N. Lauridsen, who was born on March 25, 1866, in Jylland, Denmark, the son of Neils and Dorothy ( Bogard) Lauridsen, farmers in Denmark, who never came to this country.
After attending school until fifteen years of age, Peter N. Lauridsen worked out as a farm hand until 1893, when he came to the United States, and after landing at New York city, came to Minton, Nebraska. After living there only eight or nine months, he came to Marne, Iowa, where he lived for one year, and in 1895 came to Audubon county. Here he worked for the West Hamlin Creamery Company for about four years, after which he pur- chased forty acres of land in Sharon township, Audubon county, where he lived for three years. After disposing of this farm he bought eighty acres of land in Hamlin township, where he lived for three years, or until the spring of 1904, when he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land
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in section 21, of Hamlin township, where he now lives; in the meantime Mr. Lauridsen had sold his other land.
On November 5, 1888, Peter N. Lauridsen was married to Marguerite Petersen, a sister of Hans Petersen, of Exira. She is a daughter of K. S. and Carrie (Sorensen) Petersen, both natives of Denmark, the former of whom was a veteran of the Danish-Prussian War of 1864, and a farmer in his native land. At the time this war broke out, he was living on the Danish- Prussian border, and served throughout the war. He died in 1886, while his wife passed away several years previously, in 1879. They were the parents of ten children, seven of whom are now living: Peter K., Christina, Mar- guerite, Soren, Hans P., Minnie and Chris. All of these children, except Christina and Minnie, are living in America.
Mr. and Mrs. Peter N. Lauridsen are the parents of twelve children, ten of whom are still living: Charles, born on January 14, 1890; Dorothy, May 14, 1891, is the wife of Chris Johnson, and they have two children, Violet and Milo; Nels, November 9, 1893; Harry, October 28, 1894; Carrie, December 28, 1897; Henry, December 7, 1898; Rosa, January 5, 1902 ; Anna, December 1, 1904; Dagmar, November 1, 1906, and Edna, January 29, 1910.
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