USA > Iowa > Audubon County > History of Audubon county, Iowa; its people, industries, and institutions > Part 55
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John Feltner was married in 1873 to Mary Hunt, daughter of Jonathan and Mary (Fletcher) Hunt, both of whom were natives of Lincolnshire, England, and who, after their marriage in their native land, came to the United States, locating temporarily in New York, where they remained only one year. They then came west to Grant county, Wisconsin, where they remained for six years, after which they moved to Lafayette county, Wis- consin, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Both died of typhoid fever just one month apart, the father passing away on August 26, 1862, and the mother on September 26, 1862. Jonathan Hunt was a farmer
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during his entire life, and was the father of seven children, James, Mary, Robert, John, William, Albert and George, the latter of whom is deceased.
To John and Mary (Hunt) Feltner twelve children have been born, nine of whom are living, as follow: Frank, Abe, Elizabeth, Stella, Laura, Bob, John; James and William.
Though a Republican in politics, Mr. Feltner never has taken an espe- cially active part in political matters in the community where he lives. Nevertheless he always has been vitally interested in matters affecting the public welfare, and has always been rated as a good citizen, upright in his dealings with his neighbors; a man of charitable and kindly impulses, who has left the impression of his individuality upon the agricultural life of this county, it being but fair to say that his acquaintance and friends are the better for having associated with him.
HANS P. HANSEN.
Few residents of Exira, Audubon county, Iowa, are so well and favor- ably known as the enterprising business man and representative citizen whose life story is here briefly told. None stands higher than he in the esteem and confidence of the community in which he resides and for the material advance- ment of which he has devoted so much of his time and influence. Hans P. Hansen is the proprietor of a large garage in Exira and enjoys a large busi- ness which he has built up himself-a business to which he is justly entitled, because of his correct methods of dealing with the public. He has been honored in a political way by the people of his township and has worthily discharged every trust and responsibility imposed upon him.
Hans P. Hansen was born on August 3, 1871, in Denmark. He is the son of Andrew and Catherine ( Peterson) Hansen, both natives of Denmark. Andrew Hansen was a gardener in Denmark and followed that business up to the time of his death in 1912. His wife, the mother of Hans P. Hansen, is still living in Denmark, and was the mother of four children: Hans P., the subject of this sketch; Mary, Rasmus and Jacob. Hans P. Hansen is the only member of the family who came to America.
Mr. Hansen attended school in Denmark and after leaving school, took up the blacksmith's trade. He followed that trade in Denmark and also in this country. In 1892 he came to America and located at Omaha, Nebraska, where he remained for a short time. Two years later, in 1894, he came to
HANS P. HANSEN
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Audubon county and located at Exira, working in a blacksmith shop for some time, but in 1895, he purchased a shop of his own and operated it until 1907, a period of twelve years. In 1907, Mr. Hansen sold out the black- smith shop and engaged in the implement business, and had been engaged in this business for five years, when he took up the automobile trade and he now devotes all of his time to the garage. At the present time, Mr. Hansen has the agency for the Studebaker car and also the Abbott-Detroit car. He has sold a great many of these motor cars to the people of Exira and the people of the surrounding country and today is well-known as a prosperous business man.
Hans P. Hansen was married on September 21, 1896, to Mary Estella Herrick, the daughter of Oben Herrick. Five children have been born to this marriage : Georgia, Eva, Charles, Helen and Lillian. All of these chil- dren are living at home. Mrs. Hansen was born in Exira, her parents being early settlers in Audubon county. Her father was very prominent and was first justice of the peace in Audubon county.
Mr. and Mrs. Hansen are members of the Danish Lutheran church. Fraternally, Mr. Hansen is a member of the Masonic order, the Knights of Pythias and the Danish Brotherhood. In politics, he is identified with the Democratic party and at present is serving as the efficient and capable town- ship trustee.
CONRAD MILLER.
Holding high prestige among the successful farmers of his generation in this county, Conrad Miller had much to do. in advancing the material interests of Viola township. He had much to do with making it one of the commercial and agricultural centers of the state. The study of such a life cannot fail to interest those young men of the present generation whose careers are yet in the process of formation. He was singularly a representa- tive farmer and contributed in no small measure to the prosperity of Viola township, which was his home and the field of his endeavors for so many years. During his life he established a lasting reputation for honor and integrity and his memory is revered today not only by his family but by all the people who knew him.
The late Conrad Miller was born in Germany on September 7, 1865, the son of Henry Miller, and died at his home in this county on September I, 1914. He came to this country at the age of fifteen and settled in Illinois,
(37)
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where he remained for eight years. He then came to Audubon county and settled near Hamlin, where he remained for four years. Later he located in Douglas township and remained there for four years, after which he moved to Leroy township, where he lived for four years, at the end of which time he finally settled in Viola township, where he spent the rest of his life, own- ing at the time of his death two hundred and forty acres of land in that township.
On March 14, 1889, Conrad Miller was married to Bertha Dittman, who was born in Iowa on April 25, 1875, daughter of William and Minnie (Crockom) Dittman, both natives of Germany, where they were married. In 1873 William Dittman and wife came to America and settled in Atlantic, Iowa, where he began working on the railroad as a section hand. He and his wife were the parents of ten children, William, Henry (deceased), August (deceased), Albert, Herman (deceased), Augusta, Bertha, Lena, Anna and Lottie. William Dittman is still living and is now making his home with his daughter, Mrs. Miller.
To Conrad and Bertha (Dittman) Miller were born ten children, Will- iam, Henry, Lenny, Harvey, Mabel. Walter, Marie, Bertha, Leone and one who died in infancy.
Politically, Mr. Miller was identified with the Democratic party. He was a member of the Lutheran church. Fraternally, he was a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and also of the Yeomen of America. The late Conrad Miller is remembered as a useful citizen, one who gave his strength and energy and the best years of his life toward building up a happy and prosperous life in the neighborhood in which he lived.
WILLIAM C. YAGER.
There could be no more comprehensive history written of a city or county, or even of a state and its people, than that which deals with the life work of those who, by their own endeavors and indomitable energies, have placed themselves in positions entitling them to be called progressive citizens. In this sketch will be found the record of one who has outstripped those less active and less able on the highway of life : one who has not been subdued by the many obstacles and failures which come to everyone, but who has made them stepping stones to higher things, and one who at the same time that he was winning his way in the material affairs of life gained a reputation for uprightness and honor.
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William C. Yager was born on April 4, 1848, in Highland county, Ohio, the son of Albert T. and Sina (Tyler) Yager, both natives of Virginia, who moved to Ohio during their youth with their respective parents and there were married. Subsequently, they moved to Iowa, settling in Jefferson county in 1848. They were the parents of nine children, of whom William C., the subject of this sketch, was the eldest. The other children were Joseph E., John M. (deceased), May M., Sarah F., Ella F., James Franklin and Clayborne. Albert T. Yager was a coach-maker by trade early in life, and in later years studied medicine and became a practicing physician. He came to Audubon county in 1876 and practiced medicine here until his death. His son, William C. Yager, the subject of this sketch, is now the owner of one hundred and twenty acres of fine land in Viola township, where he makes his home.
In September, 1872, William C. Yager was married to Margarette Booton, who was born on January 14, 1852, the daughter of Vamzyl G. and Catherine (Brant) Booton, the former of whom was born in Gallia county, Ohio, October 28, 1828, and the latter of whom was born on September 18, 1828. Vamzyl G. Booton moved from Ohio, where he remained for six years working as a day laborer. In 1861 he moved to Jefferson county, Iowa, and in that same year enlisted in Company D, Nineteenth Regiment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry, for service in the Civil War. He served three years, being mustered out at Davenport, Iowa, in July, 1865. He returned to Jefferson county, Iowa, and lived there for four years, at the end of which time he moved to Jasper county, Iowa, where he lived four years. He then, in 1876, came to Audubon county and located in Viola township, where he was engaged as a farmer and carpenter until he retired and moved to Coon Rapids, where he lived for twenty years, after which he returned to this county and is now making his home with William C. Yager and wife. Vamzyl G. and Catherine (Brant) Booton were the parents of eight chil- dren, Margarette, Ella, Dora (deceased), Minnie, Charles, Frank (deceased), William and Albertus.
To William C. and Margarette (Booton) Yager there has been born one child, a son, Fred M., who married Ella Campbell. They live in Viola township and have four children, Gretta, Gifford C., Winifred C. and Erma.
Mr. Yager served one term as township trustee of Viola township and has also served as road supervisor. He is not a member of any lodge and has never been identified with any fraternal organization. He and his family are members of the Methodist church and liberal contributors to its support. Mr. Yager is an ardent Democrat, though he has never held any important political office, and has never been a candidate for office.
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PLENNY ANDREW HOLLENBECK.
Plenny Andrew Hollenbeck, now a well-known farmer and a progressive, broad-minded citizen of Melville township, this county, was born in Linn county, Iowa, on November 27, 1859, one of the eight children of Andrew J. and Susanna (Yates) Hollenbeck. Andrew J. Hollenbeck was a native of Indiana and his wife of Maine. He was a young man when he came to Iowa and located at Cedar Rapids, then a very small town, and there he operated a cooper shop. Subsequently, he engaged in the mercantile business at Cedar Rapids, and after being engaged in that business for a number of years, moved to Paoli, Iowa, where he engaged in farming. After remaining at Paoli for some time, he moved to Dallas county, Iowa, and farmed there until his removal to Audubon county, where he homesteaded one hundred and twenty acres of land. He broke the sod and put many improvements upon the farm, where he lived until 1880, in which year he moved to Kansas, locating near Scanda, where he spent the rest of his life.
Plenny A. Hollenbeck received his education in the schools of Dallas county, Iowa, and after leaving school, took up farming with his father. He was associated with his father during a period of nine years and at the end of that time rented a farm and farmed it for a period of four years. In the meantime, Mr. Hollenbeck had saved considerable money from his labors and was able to buy the place upon which he now lives. His first purchase, how- ever, consisted of only eighty acres, for which he paid twenty-two dollars and fifty cents an acre, but he has enlarged his original holdings, from time to time, until now he owns two hundred and forty acres, on which he raises eighty acres of corn each year and feeds about eighty-five head of hogs.
In 1880, Plenny A. Hollenbeck was married to Ella Wilgus, the daughter of John and Deborah (McFadden) Wilgus, to which union eight children have been born, Irene, Edna, Mary, Carlos, Earl, Elsie, Bessie and Joe. Irene married John Griffith and has two children, Myron and Louis. Edna, now deceased, married William Griffith and left three children, Harold, Donald and Grace. Mary married William Martins and has three children, Mabel, Merrill and Elsie Mae. Carlos married Flay Searls. The remainder of the children are unmarried.
Mrs. Hollenbeck's father, John Wilgus, was a shoemaker by trade. His wife was the daughter of Joseph and Mary (Jamison) McFadden, and to their union were born but two children, Ella and Adeline. Mrs. Hollenbeck's mother having died in 1867, she was reared by her Grandfather McFadden.
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Mrs. Hollenbeck's father died in 1913. Her grandparents, Joseph and Mary McFadden, were natives of Ohio and Pennsylvania, respectively. They were married in the Keystone state, where he was a blacksmith by trade. Later they settled in Illinois, where the grandfather took up farming and where he lived for six years, or until 1872. In January, of that year, he located in Leroy township, this county, where he purchased forty acres of land and farmed until his death, in 1886. His wife, the grandmother of Mrs. Hollen- beck, died in 1889. They were the parents of fourteen children, all of whom are now deceased.
Mr. Hollenbeck has served a term as township trustee of Melville town- ship and is identified with the Republican party. Mr. Hollenbeck is a man of strong convictions and no man in Audubon county has warmer friends than he. Being a man of strong convictions, he is possessed of natural powers of leadership and is recognized as one of the leading farmers of the county. He gives liberally, though wisely, to the support of all worthy public movements and enterprises. Mr. Hollenbeck has worked hard for the snug fortune of which he is possessed and well merits the respect of his neighbors.
JOHN BUTTERTON.
John Butterton, now and for many years a well-known farmer in Leroy township, this county, was born at Puckville, Canada, on March 20, 1872, the son of Fred and Emma (Lee) Butterton, both natives of England. Fred Butterton spent six years in the English army, and four years as a sailor on a merchant ship, besides working for some time in London before emigrating to Canada. In Canada he worked as a farm hand for about nine years, and in 1879 came to Audubon county, locating in Leroy township, where he purchased forty acres, to which he later added an adjacent tract of eighty acres, and engaged in general farming until 1901, in which year he moved to Oklahoma, where he purchased a farm, on which he lived until he retired to Briton, Oklahoma. Of the eleven children born to Fred and Emma (Lee) Butterton, only seven are now living, and only two, John and Mat, are living in Audubon county.
John Butterton received his education in Audubon county and after leaving school worked out as a farm hand for seven years, and rented land for another seven. In 1901 he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land in Leroy township, later increasing this farmi, by additional pur-
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chases, to one hundred and sixty acres. In 1906 Mr. Butterton moved to Audubon and engaged in the hardware business for four years, or until 1910, when he returned to the farm and remained three years, at the end of which time he returned to Audubon and since that time has been living retired in that city. He still owns the farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Leroy township and devotes considerable time to looking after the operation of the same.
On August 30, 1893, John Butterton was married to Millicent Sheets, daughter of W. C. and Eliza Sheets of this county, which union has been without issue. Mr. and Mrs. Butterton are life-long members of the Evan- gelical church and Mr. Butterton has been superintendent of the Sunday school of that church for more than twenty years. He is also a trustee of the church and he and his wife are devoted to all good works. In politics Mr. Butterton is identified with the Republican party.
In a material way Mr. Butterton's life has been a conspicuous success, but more than this, his career has been honorable and upright and he is popu- lar among his fellow townsmen in Audubon, as he was popular among his neighbors in Leroy township. He is a good citizen of this great county and has well earned the respite from the arduous labor of his earlier years.
NELS J. ANDERSEN.
Nels J. Andersen, now a prominent citizen and a successful farmer of Sharon township, this county, the owner of one hundred and twenty acres of fine farming land in that township, was born on July 14, 1852, in Den- mark, the son of Anders and Anna (Larson) Nelson, the former of whom was a laborer all his life, and passed away in his native land in 1890. He had served valiantly in the Danish War of 1848, and had lived to rear a family of nine children, five of whom still survive, namely: Rasmus, Dor- othy, Mary, Lena and Nels J.
Nels J. Andersen received his education in the schools of Denmark, and after leaving school worked out as a hired hand. He also served in the Danish army and when he was twenty-nine years old, and after his term of military service had expired, came to America and settled at Elk- horn, Iowa, where he worked out by the month for farmers in the vicinity of Elkhorn for four years, after which he rented the farm upon which he now lives in Sharon township, this county. After a short time he bought
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the farm at nineteen dollars and fifty cents an acre. Since Mr. Andersen obtained possession of the farm he has invested in the neighborhood of seven thousand dollars in improvements on the place. He is accustomed to raise about fifty acres of corn every year, and he feeds about sixteen head of hogs annually. While the number of cattle he keeps on the place varies from month to month, he has on the average of perhaps forty head the year round.
Nels J. Andersen was first married to Anna Nielson, daughter of Niels Bollsen, but there were no children by this marriage. After her death Mr. Andersen married, secondly, in 1890, Christiana Chistensen, daughter of Chris and Anna (Larson) Larson. The three children born to this union- Christena, Sophia and Andrew-are all unmarried and live at home with their father and mother, Andrew assisting, his father in the farm work, and the daughters ably assisting their mother in the hospitalities of the home. Mr. and Mrs. Andersen are prominent members of the Danish Lutheran church and their children have been reared in that faith. Mr. Andersen is a liberal contributor to the support of the church, of which he a trustee.
Mr. Andersen is a Republican, but he has never held office or cared to do so. Nevertheless he is man who takes a keen and active interest in questions involving the public welfare and his influence is always to be found on the right side of public questions. He has proved to be a good citizen in his adopted country and today is a patriotic, liberty-loving and sincere American citizen. He has been honorable and upright in his dealings with his neighbors and is honored and respected by them.
JACOB F. MILLER.
Jacob F. Miller one of the most extensive farmers in Viola township, this county, has lived in Audubon county for thirty-five years, or ever since he was twenty years old. Since coming to Iowa, he has applied himself in- dustriously to farming and, as a consequence of his years of struggle and good management, he has accumulated a snug fortune which is invested in Audubon county real estate. The Miller family is one of the best known families in that section of Audubon county. Of German descent, Jacob F. Miller seems to have inherited all of the worthy traits of his German ancestors.
Jacob F. Miller was born on November II, 1860, at Moline, Illinois,
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the son of George H. and Margaret (Aster) Miller, both of whom were natives of Germany and the former of whom was only twelve years old when he came to America. The Miller family may be said, therefore, to be thoroughly domiciled in this country. George H. Miller came to America with his parents and located at Moline, Illinois, and there the Miller family was established for many years. George H. Miller was one of the first men who hauled logs to John Deere, out of which to make beams and handles for the John Deere plows which have become so well known through- out the country. He farmed five miles east of Moline until his death, at which time he had accumulated about two hundred and forty acres of land. Of the ten children born to George H. and Margaret ( Aster) Miller, only seven are now living, but Jacob F. and John, who reside in Dickinson county, are the only ones living in the state of Iowa. The other children are George W., William, Mrs. Cornelia Duncan, Mrs. Elizabeth Odenhall and Henry.
After receiving a good education in the public schools of Illinois, Jacob F. Miller took up farming and was engaged in that occupation with his father until he was about nineteen years old, at which time he began hauling coal for the Moline Plow Company and his earnings from this work assisted him in paying for the farm machinery which he purchased after coming to Audubon county in 1880. Mr. Miller located in Viola township, on eighty acres of land which his father had given him, and it is there that he now lives, but since that time he has increased his holdings in farm properties to six hundred acres. He broke the sod for the first time on the original eighty acres and has one of the most modern homes as well as one of the best-kept farms in Audubon county. The dwelling is strictly modern in every respect. Mr. Miller has invested upwards of seventy-five hundred dollars in various kinds of improvements and annually feeds about ten carloads of cattle and three carloads of hogs. He annually raises seventy acres of corn and thirty acres of small grain on the home farm, which com- prises a fine tract of two hundred and forty acres.
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In 1887 Jacob F. Miller was married to Sallie E. Smith, the daughter of Richard and Christena (Head) Smith, to which union eight children have been born. Roscoe. Vida. Hazel, Dalton, Versa Margaret, Jakey, Barbethe and Caldona. Vida married Edgar Carpenter and has one child. Raymond. Mr. Miller's daughters are all accomplished young women, all of them having received an excellent education and are well known and popular throughout Audubon county. Their mother having died on September 24, 1903, Mr. Miller's daughters have had charge of the household since her death and all
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are extremely skillful and efficient in household management. Mrs. Miller was born in Poweshiek county, Iowa, on June 23, 1867. Her parents came from Ohio and settled in Poweshiek county, this state, where they reared a family of ten children, six of whom are now living. Richard Smith now lives in Indianola. His wife has been dead for some years.
Mr. Miller and his sons and daughters are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. For years Mr. Miller has been prominent in the local con- gregation of that church and has served as trustee and as steward. Politi- cally, he is identified with the Republican party.
Jacob F. Miller deserves to rank among the most high-minded and hon- orable citizens of Audubon county. A man who has always taken a com- mendable interest in matters of public concern, he has added very much to the community spirit by his wise counsel and careful guidance. He well deserves the confidence and high regard of his neighbors and fellow citizens, for he has justly earned this confidence and regard by long and meritorious service.
J. C. JENSEN.
J. C. Jensen, a well-known farmer of Cameron township, who has lived in America less than thirty years, and who, in order to make the voy- age to America, was compelled to borrow money of friends, now owns a splendid farm of two hundred and eighty acres in Cameron township, this county, and is one of the highly respected citizens of that community. Mr. Jensen was born in Denmark on October 9, 1863, the son of Andrew P. and Mary (Jensen) Jensen, the former of whom was a farmer all his life, and the father of nine children, eight of whom are living. J. C. Jensen and his sister, Mrs. Kate Rasmussen, are the only members of the family who are living in America.
After having completed his education in the public schools of his native land, J. C. Jensen worked as a farm hand until he came to America in 1888. Upon arriving in this country he located at Walnut, Iowa, and there he worked as a farm hand until his marriage in 1894, after which he began farming for himself in Shelby county. For five years he was engaged in cultivating a rented farm, and at the end of that time came to Audubon county, and purchased eighty acres near Fiscus, where he farmed for four years, after which he removed to Cameron township, and purchased the farm where he is now living. Since purchasing and moving to. this farm
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