USA > Iowa > Audubon County > History of Audubon county, Iowa; its people, industries, and institutions > Part 52
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ARTHUR KITSON
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annually. He was at the head of a department when his health failed, and he retired on a pension of three hundred and fifty pounds (seventeen hundred and fifty dollars) annually. Both he and his wife died in England.
Arthur Kitson learned the worsted trade and became an expert in pre- paring wool. He worked for a Mr. Wildman and afterwards a Mr. Saltair, in a mill employing four thousand people. In 1874 Mr. Kitson came to America and joined a cousin, William Fyfe, at Wiota, Cass county, Iowa, where he remained one year. He rented land in Cass county and was a farmer there. He rented land of Roger Robinson for one year, and also rented for one year from J. B. McDermott. In 1877 Mr. Kitson moved to Audubon county, where he purchased land in section 15, Lincoln township, at fifteen and fifteen and one-half dollars an acre. He bought raw prairie land and at this time his nearest neighbor lived three miles away. He was a pioneer in Lincoln township, where the land was very thinly settled and the markets far away. Mr. Kitson "batched" for five years and was married in 1881. In 1906 he left Lincoln township having sold his farm of two hun- dred acres at thirty-one and one-half dollars and eighty acres at eighty-five dollars per acre. He began with one hundred and sixty acres in Viola town- ship and added eighty acres at twenty dollars an acre. He sold forty acres at twenty-three dollars an acre. Subsequently, he went security on a note and got into financial difficulties. After this incident he moved to eighty acres of land which he purchased at thirty-two and one-half dollars an acre from John Hinch. Here he lived for eight years or until 1907. He sold this farm in the fall of 1906 and bought one hundred and sixty acres in sec- tion 34 of Viola township, where he has since resided.
Mr. Kitson was married in May, 1881, to Julia Carpenter. Six children have been born to this marriage, one of whom is deceased. They are Ethel, the wife of Albert Clevenger, of Minnesota; Annie, deceased; Harry, who is a student at the University at Oskaloosa, Iowa: Walter and Burt, twins, the former a student of medicine at Iowa University at Iowa City, and the latter operating the home farm; and Lillian Marian, who lives at home. Mrs. Kitson was born in Devonshire, England, October 13, 1858, and came to this country in 1875 with her uncle, George Chamberlain. Upon arriving in this country, they located in Cass county, Iowa.
Mr. Kitson is an independent voter in politics but a stanch Prohibitionist and supports measures and men rather than parties and party emblems. He and his wife are members of the Evangelical church and are good Christian people. They are respected citizens of this community and eminently deserve to be included in the biographical annals of Audubon county.
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HANS J. HANSEN.
The best history of a community or state is that which deals most largely with the lives and activities of the people; especially of those who by their own endeavors and by the exercise of indomitable energy have forged to the front and placed themselves in a position where they deserve to be called progressive citizens. In this brief review will be found the record of Hans J. Hansen, a man who has outstripped those less active on the highway of life and who has achieved a career of marked success in farming, his name being one which his neighbors delight to honor on account of his upright life and habits of thrift and industry.
Hans J. Hansen was born in Denmark on April 23. 1858, son of Andrew and Gesten (Hansen) Hansen, natives of the same country and the parents of four children, of whom Hans J. is the eldest. Andrew Hansen was a wheel-maker by trade. Hans J. Hansen worked on the farm in his boyhood days and when twenty-four years of age came to the United States, landing in New York city ; shortly afterward coming to Audubon county, where he has lived ever since. For three years after his arrival here he worked by the month and then purchased forty acres of land and rented some additional land. He gradually has added to his holdings until he now owns two hun- dred and eighty acres of as good land as there is in Audubon county. Mr. Hansen's first home was in Sharon township, but in 1907 he bought land adjoining the town of Hamlin and built a large eleven-room house. His barn is also a fine building and there are cribs, granaries, hog houses and other out-buildings, all erected according to the latest approved plans.
On March 6, 1885, Hans J. Hansen was married to Mary Christina Rasmussen, of Sharon township, who was born in Denmark and came to the United States in 1883, and to this union four children have been born, Christina, Mary, Andrew and Alfred, all of whom are living at home save Christina, who married Chris Mulbur, and who has three children, Olivia, Emmet and Hilma.
Mr. and Mrs. Hansen attend and support the Danish Lutheran church. Mr. Hansen is a Democrat, but has never held office, devoting almost all his time to the work on his farm, which shows convincing evidences of his care- ful attention and management. Mr. Hansen helped organize the Farmers and Savings Bank of Hamlin and is vice-president of the bank. He also owns an interest in the lumber yard at Hamlin and is otherwise prominent in the business life of the community in which he lives.
When it is remembered that Hans J. Hansen came to America with no
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money and with few friends in this country and that he has within a com- paratively short time amassed a comfortable fortune, too much credit cannot be given to him for his industry, frugality and good management. He is a good citizen of his adopted country and is admired and respected by all his neighbors and friends, he and his family being held in the highest regard throughout that whole section.
GEORGE M. ROSS.
George M. Ross, a prosperous and successful farmer of Cameron town- ship, Audubon county, Iowa, is a native of the great Keystone state, and may justly bear the distinction of being a self-made man. He has worked his way up unaided from the humble ranks of the toiler through the vicissi- tudes and adversities of life to an admirable and influential position among the leading farmers of Audubon county. The success attained by him in his business affairs has been due to his steady persistence, unfailing integrity and excellent judgment,-qualities which have also won for him the confidence and esteem of the public to an unwonted degree.
George M. Ross was born on May 4, 1851, in Indiana county, Pennsyl- vania, and is the son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Cowen) Ross, both natives of Ireland. They came to this country with their parents when quite young. They were married in America. Samuel Ross remained in Pennsylvania all of his life and was a farmer in that state. He and his wife were the parents of eight children, Robert, Richard C., Mary Ann, Samuel J., deceased ; George M., Sarah, David and John M.
George M. Ross was educated in the common schools of Indiana county, Pennsylvania. After leaving school, he took up the cigar business in Louis- ville, Kentucky, and was there for five years. In 1876 he moved to Page county, where he began farming. Two years later, he moved to Audubon county and in 1878 settled on a farm in Cameron township. He bought a half section of land at this time and now owns eight hundred acres in Cam- eron township and two hundred acres in Lincoln township, all of which is devoted to mixed farming. He is an extensive breeder of Hereford cattle and has a herd of one hundred head, all of which are registered. Mr. Ross has built up a great business and has many calls which come from all parts of the country for his choicest animals.
George M. Ross was married on May 23, 1878, to Alice C. Price, the
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daughter of William F. and Lydia A. (Smith) Price. They were natives of West Virginia and came to eastern Iowa and settled in Henry county after their marriage. He was a well-known Methodist minister in the state of Iowa. They were the parents of nine children, John L., Harriett J., Elizabeth, Alice C., Luella B., E. D., W. A., Eugenia and Nellie. It is a remarkable fact that all of these children are still living.
To Mr. and Mrs. George M. Ross have been born five children: Cam- eron, who lives at Gray, Iowa; Bessie, who lives at home; George, wlio is an artist in Chicago, who married Julia Clark; Samuel married Iola Johnson : and Carl, at home.
George M. Ross is one of the most influential citizens of Audubon county, not only by virtue of his large farm holdings, but by virtue of his genial disposition and his natural capacity for leadership. He has served in practically all of the township offices and is an ardent Republican, and has been active for many years in the councils of this party. Mr. Ross served as county supervisor for two terms. Fraternally, he is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and has been prominent in this organization.
ROY A. LANTZ.
A native-born citizen of the great Hawkeye state and a prominent young doctor of veterinary surgery at Exira is Roy A. Lantz, who was born at Oakland, Iowa, November 26, 1889, the son of Richard H. and Sarah (Becker) Lantz, both natives of Illinois.
Richard H. Lantz grew to manhood in his native state and was there married. After his marriage, he clerked in his father's store at Afulka, Illinois, and also farmed. He engaged in farming for a few years after his marriage and subsequently moved to Oakfield, Iowa, where he rented his father's farm and managed it for a few years. He then moved to Nebraska and purchased a farm of eighty acres and here he farmed for himself for seven years, when he returned to a farm near Oakfield, which he rented. After being located near Oakfield for some time, he bought a farm near Anita, Iowa, consisting of two hundred acres and is now engaged in general farming and stock raising. Richard H. and Sarah Lantz had six children : William, May, Roy, Earl, Raymond and Merrill. William married Maud Faulkner : May married Rollie May; Merrill is deceased.
After being educated in the public schools of Nebraska and Iowa, and
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having attended the Highland Park College of Pharmacy for one year, Dr. Roy A. Lantz attended the Kansas City Veterinary College for three years and on April 10, 1913, received the degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medi- cine. It must be conceded, therefore, that few veterinarians have had a better training for their profession than Doctor Lantz, and this superior training, which was quickly recognized by the people of Audubon county, has been responsible for the flourishing practice which he has built up in such a short time. Since his graduation, he has been practicing in Exira.
Within a few months after being graduated from the Kansas City Veterinary College, Doctor Lantz was married on September 16, 1913, to Mildred Worthing, the daughter of Frank and Ella (Morgan) Worthing, and they now live in a comfortable home in Exira.
Doctor and Mrs. Lantz are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Fraternally, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Woodmen of the World. He is a Republican in politics, but has never held office nor has he ever aspired to office.
Dr. Roy A. Lantz is a man who is not only well learned in his pro- fession, but he is a man of most pleasing personality and who is well read and well informed on subjects of common interest. He never lags in his duties nor in his work and freely meets persons in all stations of life, with an ease which has made him very popular.
JOHN TWIST.
Among the citizens of Melville township, this county, who have built up comfortable homes and surrounded themselves with real and personal prosperity, none has attained a higher degree of success than John Twist. With few opportunities except those his own efforts were capable of master- ing, and with many discouragements to overcome, he has made an excep- tional success of life, and has the gratification of knowing that the commun- ity in which he has resided has been benefited by his presence and counsels.
John Twist was born in England on November 26, 1862, a son of William and Mary (Green) Twist, whose lives were spent in England, their native country. William Twist was a bricklayer by trade, which occu- pation he followed all his life.
John Twist came to America just after he had reached his majority. He was married in 1882, after which he came to the United States, arriving
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here on Christmas eve, 1883. He proceeded at once to Illinois and settled at Port Byron, where he lived for ten years, farming on land rented for that purpose. In 1896 he came to Iowa, and rented a farm in Greeley township, this county. By dint of patient industry and economy he was enabled to buy some land with the savings which he had accumulated, and in October, 1906, purchased three hundred and twenty acres, for which he agreed to pay the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars. Mr. Twist has made many improvements on the land, erecting corn cribs and other out- buildings, and now has a model farm in every respect, the farm having greatly increased in value since it has been in his possession. The land is in the famed corn belt of Iowa, and Mr. Twist ordinarily raises one hun- dred and twenty acres of corn annually, this acreage yielding more than fifty bushels to the acre. Mr. Twist feeds from sixty to seventy head of cattle each year, and from one hundred and seventy-five to two hundred head of hogs annually for the markets. Thus it is apparent that he is one of the largest farmers in Melville township, as well as one of the foremost citizens thereof. and has had much to do with the material progress of the county since coming here.
On January 27, 1882, John Twist was married to Emma Jane Wright, daughter of Samuel and Jane Wright, both natives of England. Mrs. Twist was born in England on October 15, 1865, and her marriage took place in that country. John Twist and wife are the parents of the follow- ing children: Robert, of Audubon, Iowa: Margaret, the wife of Jason Jones, of Audubon : Earl, a farmer of Melville township, and William, Nellie, Benjamin, Ivan and Ruth, who are still living under the parental roof. Robert Twist married Zena May Carter, and they have three children, Merle Emma, Helen Lucile and Veda May. Mrs. Margaret Jones has two chil- dren, Evelyn Beatrice and Bernice Olivene. Nellie Twist married Lona Peppers and has one child, Sherman.
John Twist, judged from any standpoint, is a self-made man. He is well informed, few farmers in the county having a wider fund of informa- tion. He considers himself an independent voter, but is a keen admirer of Colonel Roosevelt, and is inclined to endorse the principles and measures announced by the Progressive party. Personally, few men are more sociable and hospitable than John Twist, and few men are more richly deserving the confidence and respect of their fellow citizens than he.
Mr. and Mrs. Twist and family are earnest and faithful members of the Evangelical church; actively interested in the affairs of that denomina- tion, and are liberal contributors to its support.
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REV. HENRY PHILLIPS GRINYER.
It is not often that an individual may turn from a trade which he has fairly learned, to a profession, and make a success in the second case. Before the Rev. Henry Phillips Grinyer, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church of Exira, this county, became a minister of the gospel, he was a skillful tailor and cutter. In fact Mr. Grinyer became a "local" preacher near St. Thomas, Ontario, while he was still engaged in following his trade. The Rev. Mr. Grinyer, who became the pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church at Exira in 1913, has proved himself to be an able preacher. He has neg- lected none of his pastoral duties and is exceedingly popular with his congre- gation.
The Rev. Henry Phillips Grinyer is not a native of this county. He was born in Canada on April 1, 1870, son of James and Matilda (Duffin) Grinyer. James Grinyer was a native of Brighton, England, and his wife, of Merriton, Ontario, Canada. James Grinyer was born in 1842, and emi- grated to Canada with his parents when he was eight years old. They set- tled near Caledonia, and there his father was a farmer. James Grinyer grew to manhood near Caledonia, Canada, and received his early education in the schools of that vicinity. After leaving school he took up the trade of a saddler and followed that trade all his life, until his death in 1912. His wife had died in 1876, more than a quarter of a century previously. In 1885, nine years after the death of his wife, James Grinyer moved to Illinois and spent the rest of his life in that state, his death occurring at Galena. Henry Phillips Grinyer is the youngest and sole survivor of six children born to his parents, the others having been William, two sons named Samuel, Margaret Jane and Mary.
After having received his early education in the common schools of Hagersville, Ontario, and after having completed a high-school course of three years, Mr. Grinyer took up the tailor's trade and became very pro- ficient as a tailor and cutter. He worked at this trade until he was thirty- seven years old, during part of which time he was also engaged in preaching. In 1896 he started out as a "local" preacher, near St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada. He lived at Moorefield for two years and in 1902 moved to Cargill, Canada, where he remained for five years, or until 1907, when he came to the United States, and was stationed at East Peru, Iowa, as the pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church at that place. From East Peru he went to Waukee, Iowa, and remained there as pastor for two years. After a pastor- ate at Waukee, Rev. Henry Phillips Grinyer removed to Griswold, Iowa, and
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was located there until in September, 1913, at which time he became the pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church at Exira. He also has charge of the churches at Hamlin and Buck Creek, dividing his time among these three charges.
On October 15, 1892, the Rev. Henry Phillips Grinyer was married to Sarah Ann Geddes, daughter of C. R. and Charlotte Geddes, and to this union three children have been born, Gladys, Myrtle and Carleton. Gladys married C. T. Cocklin, and has one child, Harvey Ross.
The subject of this sketch is conscientiously and sincerely devoted to the ministry of the Gospel. He is a forceful preacher and a man of genial personality, two factors that have contributed to make his career a success. He takes no active part in politics but votes independently of parties and party emblems and the candidates of parties. Rev. Henry Phillips Grinyer in the several localities in which he has labored has proved himself to be an efficient, upright and honorable citizen, and is held in the very highest esteem by all who know him.
JAMES C. STRAHL.
James C. Strahl, who owns a splendid farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Viola township, this county, was born on August 13, 1875, in Ogle county, Illinois, the son of Mead and Alice Strahl, the former of whom was born in Columbus, Ohio, and the latter of whom was born in Ogle county, Illinois, where their marriage took place and where they were engaged in farming until 1884, when they came to Audubon county. Mead Strahl was reared by his grandfather, and worked for him in the transfer business in Columbus, Ohio, until the Civil War broke out, when he enlisted as a private soldier in Company E. Fifteenth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. After the war he worked by the month for five years, or until his marriage. Upon coming to Audubon county he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 17, Viola township, and lived in that township until in 1899. when he retired to Dedham, Iowa, where he now lives. Mead Strahl and wife were the parents of eleven children, Eva, Ida, James C., Ella, Fred, Will, Myrtle, Pearl, Verna, Bessie and Frank, the latter of whom is deceased.
Educated partly in the public schools in Illinois and partly in the public schools of Viola township, this county, James C. Strahl quit school at the age of seventeen, and began working for his father, continuing this form of
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employment until he reached his majority, after which he rented land in Viola township, where he lived for nine years, after which, in 1904, he bought one hundred and twenty acres of his father's farm, on which he now lives. Mr. Strahl feeds all his grain to live stock, raising a few head of cattle and about fifty head of hogs annually. He has spent about four thou- sand dollars in buildings, fences and drains, improvements which have been added to the farm since he purchased it.
In 1897 James C. Strahl was married to Mary Alice Winters, daughter of Thomas Winters, of Viola township, and to this union three children have been born, Bonita Alice, Dorothy Lelia and Margaret Almyra, all of whom are now attending school.
Mr. Strahl is a Democrat and served as a school director for five years. Although not members of any church, Mr. and Mrs. Strahl and family attend the Methodist Episcopal church, and are liberal contributors to the support of that denomination. His father, having given three years of his life to the service of his country, James C. Strahl may well be considered one of the heroes of peace, who in the community in which he lives is known as as a good citizen, thoroughly in sympathy with our republican institutions, and whose support in behalf of law and order may always be depended upon. Mr. Strahl has a host of friends in Viola township, where he is well known and where he and his family are held in high esteem.
THOMAS HENRY TURNER.
A representative of one of the very oldest families of Audubon county and himself a resident of this county for many years, no citizen enjoys to a higher degree the genuine esteem and confidence of the people at large than Thomas Henry Turner, who, until February 1, 1915, was a well-known farmer of Cameron township. On that date, Mr. Turner had a large sale and moved to Audubon. A public-school teacher with a notable record and for many years an incumbent of public office, the duties of which he dis- charged with eminent ability, with honor to himself and satisfaction to the people who elected him, he has in his personal life met with eminent success, standing very high as a business man and farmer.
Thomas Henry Turner was born on July 14, 1856, in Cedar Ford, Jeffer- son county, Iowa, the son of Thomas N. and M. Margaret (Mckinney) Turner, natives of Kentucky, of Scottish descent, the former of whom was
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born in 1826 and died in October, 1910, and the latter of whom was born in 1832 and died in 1872. The paternal grandfather of Thomas H. Turner came from Scotland and settled in Virginia. Mr. Turner's parents moved to Henry county, Iowa, in the spring of 1857 and there spent the rest of their lives. Thomas N. Turner was twice married. By his first marriage ten sons were born, William L., John F., S. Mitchell, Thomas Henry, Perry M., Z. Charles (deceased), David F. (deceased), J. Oscar (deceased), B. How- ard and M. Luther. Following the death of the mother of these children in 1872, Thomas N. Turner married, secondly, Mary Hawk.
Thomas H. Turner was reared in Henry county, Iowa, and attended Howe's Academy. After completing his education, he entered upon his remarkable career as a school teacher, farming during the summers and teaching during the winters. He came to Audubon county in the winter of 1880, continuing his calling as teacher here, and has probably had more experience in the school room than any other teacher in the county, he hav- ing fifty-four terms of school to his credit, a most notable record. His children were taught by him in the public schools which he conducted and hundreds of the youth of this community have been influenced for good by his competent instructions.
In 1900 Thomas H. Turner purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Melville township at forty dollars an acre. He sold it in 1909 for one hundred and twenty dollars an acre and bought two hundred and eighty acres in sections 25 and 26, Cameron township, at one hundred and twenty dollars an acre. He keeps thoroughbred stock, makes a specialty of Dur- ham and Shorthorn cattle as well as Duroc-Jersey hogs and is very well circumstanced as to world's goods, being regarded as one of the county's most substantial citiens.
On November 26, 1889, Thomas H. Turner was married to Eva R. Fancher, who was born in Keokuk county, Iowa, July 12, 1862, the daughter of William N. and Rebecca Fancher, natives of New York and Indiana, respectively, who came to Audubon county in 1880 and spent the rest of their lives here. To this happy union the following children have been born : Clarence C., who owns a bakery in Audubon; Earl A., who is a grain and live-stock merchant at Ross, Iowa; Nellie B., who is in partnership with Clarence C .; Lloyd M., who is a farmer and lives at home; T. Glen, who is a student in the law department of the state university at Iowa City, and Bessie C., who is attending the high school at Audubon.
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