USA > Iowa > Audubon County > History of Audubon county, Iowa; its people, industries, and institutions > Part 54
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Though Mr. Baker is a Democrat, he is somewhat independent in his voting, being inclined, for it is a question between measures and parties, to support men of high principles rather than political party emblems. He attends the Eaton Valley United Brethren church. Mr. Baker has never married.
FRED SUNBERG.
Among the enterprising and progressive men whose activity in agricul- tural circles, and private circles as well, has made Audubon county one of the thriving counties of the great Hawkeye state, and an important center in the commerce and industry of the state, is Fred Sunberg, a well-known farmer of Melville township, and the proprietor of eighty acres of land in section 33 of that township. Mr. Sunberg is a native of Germany, but has resided in this country practically all his life.
Fred Sunberg was born in Mecklinburg-Schwerin, Germany, on August 10, 1869, the son of Henry Sunberg, who came to America in the spring of 1871, first settling in Johnson county, Iowa, coming to Audubon county in the spring of 1887, and renting land in Melville township, later retiring to Audubon, where he now lives.
Fred Sunberg began doing farm work for himself in 1894, previous to his marriage in that year he having worked out by the month for neighbor- ing farmers. On March 15, 1894, he was married to Minnie Tunman,
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daughter of Charles Tunman, and to this union four children have been born, namely : May, who lives in Audubon with her grandparents; Carl, Mildred and Lowine, at home.
Mr. Sunberg is a Democrat, but his extensive agricultural interests have prevented his taking a very active part in public affairs. Fraternally, he is a member of the Modern Woodmen and the Ancient Order of United Work- men, and is active in the affairs of both lodges. Mr. Sunberg is well known in Melville township as one of the industrious, enterprising and progressive citizens of that favored locality. He is very keenly interested in the people of Melville township, and they are his very good friends.
WILLIAM J. CALLOW.
It is proper to judge the success of a man's life by the estimation in which he is held by his neighbors and fellow citizens. They see him at his work, in his family circle, in church, hear his views on public questions, observe his code of morals, witness how he conducts himself in all of the relations of society and civilization, and are, therefore, competent to judge his merits and demerits. After a long course of years, it would be out of the question for his neighbors not to know of his worth for, as has been said, "Actions speak louder than words." In this connection it is not too much to say that William J. Callow, a prominent farmer of Viola township, this county, who is the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 29, and who has lived on that farm for nearly twelve years, has passed a life of unusual honor in the community where he has lived. He has been industrious and has the confidence of all who have had the pleasure of his friendship.
William J. Callow was born on February 24, 1861, in Iowa county, Wisconsin, the son of James and Ann ( Skillicorn) Callow, both natives of the Isle of Man, the former of whom was born in 1824 and died in 1895, and the latter of whom was born in 1843. James Callow emigrated to this country in 1852 and was married in Wisconsin. His widow is now living in that state.
William J. Callow was reared on a farm and educated in Wisconsin, during which period he performed the usual work which falls to the lot of the country boy. He was married in Wisconsin in 1885, and three years later, in the spring of 1888, he moved to Furnas county, Nebraska, where he
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remained for nine years. In 1897 he moved to Iowa and settled in Melville township, this county. The next year he moved to Viola township and in 1902 he purchased his present farm, moving to the same in the spring of 1903. Mr. Callow has improved the place with splendid buildings, excel- lent drains and good fences and now has a fertile and highly productive farm.
In December, 1885, William J. Callow was married to Susanna Matthews, a native of Norway, and to this union were born six children, namely : Stans- more James, who lives at home; Myrtle Anna, the wife of Wilbur Daniel Sampson, of Viola township; Lillie Maude, Beulah May and Harold Gordon, all of whom are at home and one who died in infancy, unnamed.
Mr. Callow for many years has been an ardent opponent of the saloons and is politically identified with the Prohibition party. He is bitterly opposed to the liquor traffic in any form and has given his best energy to the cause of state-wide and nation-wide prohibition. Mr. and Mrs. Callow are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in the faith of which their children have been reared, and are liberal contributors to the support of this denomination. This is an excellent family and is held in high regard throughout that whole section of the county.
WILLIAM S. OWEN.
The gentleman whose name appears at the head of this biographical review needs no introduction to the people of Audubon county, since his entire life has been spent in this community. Though his life has been devoted to fostering his own interests primarily, he has not neglected to promote the welfare of his neighbors and friends as well. He is an honorable representa- tive of one of the esteemed families of this section and a gentleman of high character and worthy ambition. He has filled no small place in the public life, and is a splendid type of the intelligent, up-to-date, self-made American. As a citizen he is progressive, abreast of the times in all that concerns the ' common weal and has the unqualified respect and confidence of everyone.
William S. Owen was born in this county on September 14, 1870, the son of William and Mary (Clifton) Owen, both of whom were natives of England. They were married in England and soon afterward came to the United States, settling in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1865, later coming to this county, filling no small part in the early life of the people of this part of the state.
William S. Owen received his education in the common schools of
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Audubon county, and after leaving school took up farming in Leroy town- ship, continuing to live there until 1909, when he purchased two hundred and sixty acres of land in Viola township, where he is now living, engaged in general farming and stock breeding. Mr. Owen has a fertile farm and has been very successful in its operation.
On March 25, 1897, William S. Owen was married to Minnie Sunberg, the daughter of Henry Sunberg, an account of whose life is presented else- where in this volume, and in whose biographical sketch is found the history of Mr. Sunberg's family. To this union four children have been born, Henry, Grace and Helen, all of whom are living at home with their parents, and Clarence, who died at the age of three years.
William S. Owen is a Republican and has served as township trustee for two years, besides having been for many years a school director in his home township. He has been active in educational affairs in Viola township and is keenly interested in the educational progress of Audubon county. Mr and Mrs. Owen and family are earnest and loyal members of the Presbyterian church. Aside from the educational interests to which he is devoted, Mr. Owen devotes all his time to his family and to his farm. He is a man of domestic temperament and has set a worthy example to the young men of Audubon county.
EDWARD B. BAKER.
In placing the subject of this sketch in the front ranks of Audubon county's farmers and business men, simple justice is done to Edward B. Baker, a man of excellent judgment, sound discretion, thorough technical knowledge and business ability of a high order. Mr. Baker manages his affairs with splendid success and has so impressed his individuality upon the community in which he lives as to gain recognition among the leading citi- zens and public-spirited men of affairs. He is the owner of one hundred and twenty acres of land in section 9, of Viola township. Edward B. Baker was born on April 1, 1886, a native of the township where he lives, and was born on the Baker homestead east of Viola Center, the son of John T. Baker, who was born in 1856 in Davenport, Iowa. John T. Baker, son of Robert Baker, one of the earliest settlers in Audubon county, came to this county with his parents and married Minnie Booton. After his marriage he settled on a farm east of Viola Center. He moved to Spirit Lake in the spring of 1907 and lived there for two years. In 1909 Edward B. Baker, who also
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lived at Spirit Lake, returned to Audubon county and purchased his present farm, and is now accounted one of the successful young farmers of this section of the state.
On March 17, 1909, Edward B. Baker was married to Mazel Yager, daughter of C. A. Yager, of Coon Rapids, and to this union two children have been born, Geneva and Daryl.
Mr. Baker is a Democrat and an active member of the Yeomen of America.
JERRY S. HOOVER.
Jerry S. Hoover, a farmer of Greeley township, and a resident of this county for nearly thirty years, was born on August 18, 1865, in Racine county, Wisconsin, the son of Jerry M. and Fannie (Foreman) Hoover, natives of Pennsylvania, and of England, respectively. The mother came to the United States when a child, her parents having emigrated to America at that time. Jerry M. and Fannie (Foreman) Hoover were the parents of eleven children, of whom Jerry S., the subject of this sketch, was the fifth and the only one who has ever lived in Audubon county.
After living at home until he was twenty-three years old, Mr. Hoover came to Audubon county in 1888 and rented land for five years. He then purchased eighty acres of land in section 33, of Greeley township, and began his career as a farmer, a career in which he has been very successful. The eighty-acre farm was very slightly improved when Mr. Hoover purchased it. having only a small two-room house and a hay-shed barn. He has since built an addition to the house and now has a nine-room house, a good barn, cribs, granaries, garage and well-kept out-buildings. He is engaged in general farming and stock raising and milks on an average thirteen head of cows. He has added forty acres to his original holdings and also rents from forty to eighty acres additional.
On February 29, 1888, Jerry S. Hoover was married to Katherine Bauer, of Audubon, who was born on July 22, 1869, in Baden, Germany, the daughter of Christian and Susan (Frankenberger) Bauer. The mother died in the old country, when Katherine was eight years old, and her father again married. She came to the United States with her father and step-mother, and after landing in New York, in March, 1884, they went to Racine county, Wisconsin, where they lived for three years, and then came to Audubon county.
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To Jerry S. and Katherine (Bauer) Hoover have been born eight chil- dren, as follow: Alice, born on May 4, 1889, married F. A. Bartelt, and has one child, George; Elizabeth, November 20, 1890, married Earl Griffin, and has four children, Edith and Elsie (twins), Myrtle and Arnold; Emma, May 13, 1892; Chris, August 26, 1894; Fannie, April 11, 1897; Nora, December 18, 1899; George, September 16, 1903, and Ellowene, April 25, 1907. All of the unmarried children live at home with their parents, except Emma, who stays with her sister, Elizabeth, near Anita.
For many years Mr. Hoover has been a prominent Republican in Greeley township, having served as justice of the peace for three terms and as a school director for eight years. The Hoover family are members of the Christian church, and Mrs. Hoover especially has been an active church worker for many years. The family is well known in this part of the coun- try. Fraternally, Mr. Hoover is a member of the Ancient Order of the United Workmen.
Jerry S. Hoover is a man of wide intelligence, a skillful and scientific farmer, who has followed closely the modern development in farming, and who has used only the most improved processes in farm operations. He believes in good machinery and his place is well equipped with most of the modern farm inventions. Not only is Mr. Hoover well known but he is popular in Greeley township and is held in high esteem by all who know him.
SOREN R. NELSON.
Left an orphan at the age of fifteen years, his mother having died when he was fourteen, and his father having died a year later, Soren R. Nelson came to this county, on money borrowed from relatives, with his sister and three brothers. After the estate of his parents had been settled, and he had received the two hundred and fifty dollars which he had pledged to his relatives in repayment for an advance made to pay the passage of himself and his sister and three brothers to America, the bank in which the money was deposited failed and most of the money was lost. Undaunted by this early misfortune, Soren R. Nelson applied himself diligently to make the most of his opportunities in the new world. As a consequence he is today regarded as one of the substantial and influential business men of Exira, this county, where he owns a garage and where he is extensively engaged in dealing in automobiles and implements.
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Soren R. Nelson's parents, Rasmus and Catherine (Sorenson) Nelson were farmers in their native land, the little kingdom of Denmark, but when Soren R. was a year old they moved to Germany and there the elder Nelson farmed until his death in 1892. His wife died one year previously, in 1891. They left a family of five children, of whom Soren is the eldest, the others being Agnes, Nels, Robert and Hans. Agnes is living in Colfax, Iowa; Nels and Robert are in the implement business at Brayton, Iowa, and Hans is deceased.
Soren R. Nelson was born in Denmark on October 24, 1876. Follow- ing his father's death, his mother having passed away the year before, he persuaded his relatives to loan the five children enough money to come to America. He promised to pay them when their parents' estate was settled. Arrangements were made and thus the five orphans came to America and located in Audubon county with an aunt. When the estate was settled the modest sum of two hundred and fifty dollars was left, and out of that it was necessary to repay the money they had borrowed from relatives. The money was sent to this country and was placed in a bank at Chicago, Illinois. While the money was on deposit the bank failed, and Soren R. and his brothers and their sister lost almost all of the two hundred and fifty dollars. This was their first financial experience in America. Fortunately, Soren R. Nelson had received an excellent elementary education in Germany and after leaving school he taught for a short time.
Upon arriving in this country the five Nelson children located first near Brayton, this county, where the boys worked as farm hands. Soren R. Nelson was thus engaged for three years, after which he was engaged to teach school in this county and was thus employed for twelve years, after which he engaged in the hardware and implement business at Brayton. He remained at Brayton for four years, and then engaged in the implement and automobile business at Atlantic, and is proprietor of the Cass County . Implement Company, which was incorporated for five thousand dollars in 1912. In the year 1911 he purchased a half interest with H. A. Nelson & Company, implement dealers, of Exira, which interest he later sold and in February, 1913, started in the garage and automobile business. Mr. Nelson has the agency for the Ford automobile in this county and also handles a complete line of implements.
On November 24, 1898, Soren R. Nelson was married to Ida Nelson, daughter of L. P. and Marie Nelson, to which happy union four children have been born, Violet, Ralph, Perle and Marie. Mrs. Soren R. Nelson was born in Cass county, Iowa, her parents being natives of Germany and
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Denmark, respectively. Upon his arrival in America, L. P. Nelson located in Des Moines, Iowa, and there was married. For a time he worked in a brickyard. In 1878 he removed to Elkhorn, Iowa, where he took up farm- ing. Subsequently he moved to a farm three and one-half miles west of Exira, in this county, where he is now living. He and his wife are the parents of nine children, Anna, Rosa, Hans, Ida, Martha, Mary, Ray, Arthur and Albert, all of whom are living in this county.
Mr. and Mrs. Soren R. Nelson are members of the Danish Lutheran church. Mr. Nelson is a member of and active in the fraternal affairs of the Modern Woodmen of America, and of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks at Atlantic. He served for seven years as assessor of Oakland township, and was mayor of Brayton for two years. Politically, he is iden- tified with the Republican party. He is recognized as an enterprising and energetic citizen and is held in the highest regard by all who know him.
JENS LARSEN.
Among the highly-respected citizens and retired farmers of this county, is Jens Larsen, who formerly owned a splendid farm of a hundred and twenty-one acres in Sharon township, which he sold in 1912 for one hun- dred and fifty-five dollars an acre. After selling this farm he retired and is now living in Kimballton, this county, in a splendid modern home which he has lately built.
Jens Larsen was born in Denmark on June 9, 1849, the son of Lars and Kirsten Jensen, both natives of Denmark, who came to America in 1882, and spent their last days in the home of one of their sons in Sharon town- ship, this county. They were members of the Danish Lutheran church and reared a family of nine children, whose names follow in the order of their birth : Hans, a retired farmer of Kimballton; Jens and Maria (twins), the next born, of whom the former is the subject of this sketch, and the latter is the wife of Peter Rassmussen, of Elk Horn; Kirsten, who died in Chicago; Chris, who lives in Sharon township; Stena, deceased; Louisa, who mar- ried Hans Larsen, of Sharon township; Anders, a farmer in Sharon town- ship, and Anemaria, who married Anton Peterson, of Elk Horn.
After attending the common schools of his native land, Jens Larsen began to make his own living at the age of eleven by herding cattle. Later he worked as a farm hand and in 1872, at the age of twenty-three, he came
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to America. For several years he worked at various places. In Wisconsin, Canada, Mississippi and Louisiana he was employed in railroad work, and for five years was located in Chicago, Illinois, where he had charge of the horses for the street car company at the Cottage Grove avenue barns. In 1880 he came to Audubon county and located in Sharon township, where he purchased eighty acres of land to which he later added an adjoining tract of forty acres. It was this farm that Mr. Larsen sold in 1912 for one hundred and fifty-five dollars an acre.
In 1876, in Chicago, Jens Larsen was married to Hannah Rassmussen, a native of Denmark. Eleven years after their marriage she died, and Mr. Larsen married, secondly, Carenstena Hansen, also a native of Denmark. To this union no children have been born.
Mr. Larsen is a Democrat, but has never aspired to office. He and Mrs. Larsen are members of the Danish Lutheran church at Kimballton, and both take a lively interest in the church work, being held in high esteem by their neighbors. Having started in life as a poor boy, with no financial assistance and without help of any kind, Mr. Larsen has worked hard to achieve a competence and has supplemented personal labor by careful and wise management of his business. He is a fine man to meet; is well known and enjoys the confidence of a host of friends in Audubon county.
GEORGE AGNEW.
George Agnew, a veteran of the Civil War, formerly a successful farm- er of this county and well known in this section, is now living retired at Audubon. Mr. Agnew was born in Erie county, Pennsylvania, on January I, 1839, son of Samuel and Anna (McKinley) Agnew, both natives of County Antrim, Ireland, both of whom passed away more than a half cen- tury ago. The former was born in 1784 and died in 1860, and the latter was born in 1799 and died in 1844.
Samuel Agnew was a shoemaker by trade, who learned the trade in the land of his birth, and who after coming to America and farming for a short time, resumed the shoe business and was engaged in the making of custom shoes in Erie county, Pennsylvania, for many years. In 1857, he sold the farm which he had previously owned, together with his shoe busi- ness and moved to Johnson county, Iowa, where he spent the rest of his life.
George Agnew began farming in the spring of 1861, and in September
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of that year enrolled his name among those from Johnson county who were offering their services to their country in behalf of the preservation of the Union. The recruits thus enrolled failed to fill a company and Mr. Agnew enlisted under Captain Castle, whose company went into quarters at Mt. Pleasant, where they organized, Mr. Agnew being elected sergeant. This squad then was ordered back to Iowa, with a view to having the company filled. This design failing, the recruits were given the privilege either to join other companies or to go home. Some of the men went home, but Mr. Agnew and thirteen others made a proposition to Company C, Fourth Iowa Cavalry, that if one of the squad should be given the position of orderly sergeant they would attach themselves to Company C. This proffer was accepted and Mr. Agnew thus began his military service as a member of Company C, Fourth Iowa Cavalry. He served first under Captain Miller, then under Captain Porter, following which he saw service under Captain Morrison and Captain Beckworth, but was attached to the same general command until the close of the war. He was engaged in the battle of Vicks- burg, and in fact all of the Vicksburg campaign; in Wilson's raid, and in the campaign around Atlanta, Georgia, as well as in numerous important expeditions. He was mustered out of service in August, 1865, and resumed the vocation of farming on his return home. In partnership with his brother, William J. Agnew, he rented a farm for two years, and then moved to Pawnee county, Nebraska, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, and engaged in general farming for seven years. The Nebraska farm comprised virgin soil and Mr. Agnew "broke" the land for the third time. In 1874 he returned to Johnson county, Iowa, and rented land there for seven years, after which he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres ten miles south of Iowa City, and remained there until 1891, when he came to Audubon county and purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in LeRoy township. During the active period of his career in this county Mr. Agnew was engaged in general farming, and during that time he invested upwards of four thousand dollars in improvements upon his LeRoy township farm. He was accustomed to feed out one hundred head of hogs every year, and also raised a great many cattle. In 1909 Mr. Agnew sold the farm and removed to Audubon where he has since lived in com- fortable retirement.
In 1867 George Agnew was married to Mary E. Marshall, daughter of Josiah and Mary Marshall. Of the six children born to this union only four are now living. The deceased children are Esther and Catherine. . Those living are Charles, Elmer. Mary E. and Carrie. Charles is unmarried.
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Elmer married Lucinda Frederickson and they have two children, Dorothy and Mary. Mary is unmarried and Carrie married George Kirby, to which union two children have been born, Helen and Russell.
Mr. and Mrs. Agnew are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and are interested in all good works. For many years Mr. Agnew has been a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and several times has served as commander of the local post. In politics he is, and has been for many years, identified with the Republican party.
George Agnew is a worthy citizen of this great county, and is honored and respected by his fellow townsmen. Having worked hard during the time he was able to work, he has the satisfaction now of enjoying the com- petence which he has accumulated for his declining years. He well deserves the confidence placed in him by his fellow citizens and the esteem bestowed upon him by his fellow townsmen.
JOHN FELTNER.
John Feltner, formerly a well-known farmer of Audubon county, now living retired at Audubon, was born on July 24, 1846, in Buffalo, New York, of German parentage, and after living there for twenty-four years, where he worked as a laborer, he moved to Wisconsin, where he worked on a farm for six years. He then moved to Booneville, Iowa, and worked in a saw-mill for a short time, after which he farmed in that county for eight years. At the end of that period he came to this county and farmed here until 1915, when he retired and moved to Audubon, the county seat, where he is now living. Mr. Feltner never owned land in this county, but he was a large stock raiser and farmer and directed the operations on as high as five hundred acres of land in Audubon county.
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