USA > Iowa > Audubon County > History of Audubon county, Iowa; its people, industries, and institutions > Part 64
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Mr. Rasmussen has invested about four thousand dollars in improvements to the farm. His principal crops are corn and small grains, the corn averag- ing about sixty bushels to the acre and the small grain about forty bushels.
In 1886 Hans P. Rasmussen was married to Mary Matilda Rasmussen. The marriage took place at Atlantic. To this marriage have been born six children, Clarence, Nora, Albert, Martin, Martha, and Marinus, who is deceased. Mrs. Rasmussen died in 1898 in Douglas township. In 1900 Mr. Rasmussen was married to Matilda Knudsen, daughter of Christ Knudsen, a native of Denmark. Three children have been born to the second marriage, Joshua, Rudolph, and one who died in infancy.
A Republican in politics, Mr. Rasmussen has served as school director in Douglas township for fifteen or seventeen years. He and his wife and family are members of the Danish Lutheran church, in which he has served as trustee.
Hans P. Rasmussen is a well-known farmer of Douglas township, an enterprising citizen and a good neighbor. He is popular in the locality where he lives.
NELS CHRISTIAN NELSEN SCHMIDT.
One of the most valuable farms in Douglas township, Audubon county, Iowa, is that owned by Nels Christian Nelsen Schmidt, a well-known farmer and stockman of this township. Mr. Schmidt was born on June 22, 1861, in Denmark, and is the son of Nels Nelsen and Maria Schmidt, both of whom were natives of that country, where the former was a farmer and a laborer. . He died in Denmark in 1881 and two years later his widow, the mother of Nels Christian, came to America and lived with her son. They had four children, Peter, Else, Nels C. N. and Hans N. Peter and Else are deceased. Hans N. is a farmer in Douglas township, Audubon county.
Nels C. N. Schmidt received practically all of his education in the schools of his native land, having quit school at the age of fifteen, after which he worked on a farm for five and a half years. He then served his time in the Danish army. In 1882 he came to America, landing in New York and remaining there for one year. From New York he went to Shelby county, Iowa, where he worked for three years on a farm. From Shelby county he moved to Audubon county in 1887 and rented land for two years. He pur- chased eighty acres of land in 1889, for which he paid seventeen dollars an acre. This farm was located in section 22, in Douglas township. In 1901
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Mr. Schmidt bought fifty acres adjoining the original eighty, for which he paid forty dollars an acre. In 1914 he bought sixty acres for one hundred and forty dollars an acre. In all he now owns one hundred and ninety acres. His principal crops are corn and small grains. The corn averages in excess of fifty-five bushels to the acre and the small grains about forty bushels. Most all of the grain is fed to live stock. Mr. Schmidt sells about fifteen head of cattle and from fifty to sixty head of hogs every year. He raises an extra good grade of stock and will have no other kind on the place.
In 1888 Nels C. N. Schmidt was married to Maren Ludwig, the daughter of Soren D. Ludwig, a native of Denmark. Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt were married in Shelby county. They are the parents of four children, as follow : Karsen E. M., lives at home; Soren N., married a daughter of George Jen- sen and lives in Douglas township; Elena, Sr., died in 1894, and Elena, Jr., lives at home.
Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt belong to the Danish Lutheran church. Mr. Schmidt served as secretary of this congregation for a great many years and is also trustee. For one year he was school director in Douglas township. He is a Republican.
Mr. Schmidt is one of the well-known citizens of this section of Audu- bon county. He is known to be a man who pays strict attention to his own business, who is scrupulous in his dealings with others and whose word is as good as his bond. Naturally, Mr. Schmidt is a popular citizen of Douglas township.
ISAAC PERCY HALLOCK.
In 1866, when the Hallock family was established in Audubon county, the very first settlers were arriving here, so that it is safe to say that the family has been connected with the history of Audubon county, and especially the agricultural life, practically ever since it was occupied by white people. It is true that there were settlers in Audubon county before 1866, but they were very few, and the county had made no considerable progress in any line before that time. The remarkable success of this family in agriculture is to be attributed, not only to the fact that the family was established in the county when land was cheap, but to the peculiar genius which the two generations here have shown for the business of farming.
Isaac Percy Hallock, one of the most extensive farmers of Exira and Oakfield townships, who is a representative of the third generation in Audu-
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bon county, but who really is a representative of the second generation of large landowners, is one of the few well-known farmers who is a native of the county. He was born on February 13, 1883, on the farm where he now lives. His parents, Isaac and Malinda Ann (Norton) Hallock, came here in a very early day. The former, who was born in Illinois in 1840, came to Audubon county with his parents when sixteen years old. They located on the farm where Isaac Percy Hallock is now living, entering the land from the government. Coming from Illinois in a prairie schooner they engaged in general farming, and while Isaac and Malinda Ann (Norton) Hallock started in this county with a hundred and sixty acres of government land, they increased their holdings gradually from year to year until they owned twenty- five hundred acres at the time of Mr. Hallock's death. He was known to be the largest stock feeder in the county. When the family first came to Audubon county they were compelled to haul their produce to Omaha and Des Moines by wagon. Isaac and Malinda Hallock were the parents of seven children, Harriett, Clarence, Alice (deceased), and Isaac Percy. Charles, Mary and Irene died in infancy.
Educated in the schools of Exira township, Isaac Percy Hallock saw the opportunities for farming in this section, and after quitting school took up this occupation with his father, with whom he was engaged until he was twenty-one years old. When he had reached his majority he began farming for himself by renting land from his father, and at the latter's death he received a part of the estate, and now controls about eight hundred acres of the best land to be found in Audubon county. Ordinarily, Mr. Hallock keeps about two hundred head of cattle on his farm and feeds out two hundred and fifty head of hogs every year. His farm is exceptional in one respect, in that he has about one hundred acres of timber on the land. Naturally, this timber is very valuable in a prairie country, and Mr. Hallock is conserving it to a time when its value will reach a maximum, and when he can enjoy the full benefit of the policy he has followed.
Mr. Hallock is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He belongs to the latter order at Atlantic. He is a Republican.
It can hardly be expected that a young man who has under his care and supervision eight hundred acres of land can find much time for political or civic activities, and Mr. Hallock has shown rare wisdom in devoting his time, his energy and his ability to his own private business. In developing his farm to the maximum point of production he is perhaps doing more for the com- munity where he lives than he might possibly do by neglecting his farm and .
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devoting his time to public interests. This is especially true since Iowa's pros- perity depends for its permanence upon the volume of agricultural production. Having reached the real crisis in this country, when the population has caught up with and passed the production and supply of food, it is a potent truth that farmers may serve their country best by doing everything in their power to augment the production and conserve the fertility of their farms. In this respect Isaac Percy Hallock deserves to rank as a young man, whose good work is growing year by year.
PETER ANDERSEN.
One of the old-time residents of Audubon county, Iowa, and a man who has contributed much to the success of farming in Douglas township, is Peter Andersen, a well-known farmer and stockman.
Peter Andersen was born in Denmark, April 14, 1846, and is the son of Lars and Martha Andersen, both of whom were natives of Denmark. The father was a shoemaker in his native land and came to America in 1853. After landing in New York he went directly to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he worked on various farms. Subsequently he was able to purchase a farm in Wisconsin, and after having bought eighty acres, farmed in that state for eighteen years. He and his wife had four children, L. N., Morris, Anna and Peter. L. N. Andersen lives in Chicago. Peter is the subject of this sketch. Morris is farming in Missouri. Anna lives in California.
Peter Andersen came to America at the age of seven years. He, remained with his father until the latter's death, working on the farm during this period. After his father's death, Peter took the farm in his own hands and managed it for eleven years. Eventually, he sold the farm and moved to Cass county, Iowa, where he worked on a farm for one year. He then came to Audubon county in 1884 and purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land in Douglas township, in sections 26 and 35. Fourteen years later Mr. Andersen purchased two hundred and forty acres adjoining and kept on adding land until he owned four hundred and forty acres. Some time ago, however, he began selling his land and has now sold all but one hundred acres, the farm upon which he lives.
Peter Andersen was married in 1873 to Dortha Jorgensen, a native of Denmark. They were married in Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Andersen are the parents of six children, as follow: G. J., married Mary Nelsen, lives in
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Douglas township and has five children; W. M., married a Miss Petersen and lives in California; F. G., married Mary Jensen and lives in Canada ; Amanda, died in 1903; Bertha, married John Jensen and lives in Douglas township: Edna, married Peter Hansen and lives in Carroll county.
Mr Andersen has about seven thousand dollars invested in improve- ments on his one hundred-acre farm. His principal crops are corn and oats. His corn averages about fifty bushels to the acre and his oats about thirty- five. Ordinarily, Mr. Andersen sells a carload of cattle and fifty head of hogs every year. His farm has about four hundred rods of tiling upon it. In 1907 he built a new house, which cost three thousand dollars. This house is thoroughly modern in every respect and is a credit to Mr. Andersen's ability as a farmer.
Mr. Andersen is a Republican and has served as township school director and road supervisor. The Andersen family are members of the Danish Lutheran church. Mr. Andersen was president of the church for twelve years. Not only is he prominent as a farmer and in the church of which he and his family are devoted members, but he also takes a keen interest in all civic matters.
TED S. THYGESEN.
Ted S. Thygesen, a general farmer and stock raiser of Douglas town- ship, Audubon county, Iowa, who owns one hundred and sixty acres of fine farming land in this township, was born March 22, 1869, in Denmark, the son of Soren K. and Mary Thygesen, both natives of Denmark, where the former was a day laborer. Soren K. Thygesen served in the War of 1864, assisting principally in hauling the wounded to headquarters. He and his wife were the parents of six children, George, Ted S., Soren, May, Katie and Anna, all of whom except Anna have come to the United States. George and Soren are farmers in Sharon township. Katie lives in Cameron township. May died in infancy.
Ted S. Thygesen, after having received a limited education in the schools of the old country, quit school at the age of fourteen to work on the farm. From the time he was fourteen until the time he was twenty, he was engaged as a farm worker and then came to the United States, in the meantime having accumulated five hundred dollars. After landing at New York City, he went to Brayton, Iowa, and worked on a farm in the vicinity of Brayton for three years. After this he rented a farm in Cass county, Iowa, for three
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years and then moved to Adams county, where he rented a farm for six years. Finally, he located in Audubon county in 1894 and purchased one hundred and twenty acres in sections 15 and 22, in Douglas township. Three years later he bought forty acres adjoining his original farm and here he now lives. Mr. Thygesen has invested about five thousand dollars in various kinds of improvements on the farm, including ditches, drains, fences and outbuild- ings. He feeds most of the grain he raises to stock which he keeps on the farm. He sells from sixty to seventy head of hogs each year.
Ted S. Thygesen was married in 1897 to Mary Jensen, daughter of Lars Jensen, a native of Denmark. To this union eight children have been born, Anna, Laura, William, Katie, Bertha, Christ, Minnie and Lydia. All of these children are living at home.
A Republican in politics, Mr. Thygesen has served as director of the township schools and has filled this office for two terms, a period of six years. Religiously, the Thygesen family are members of the Danish Luth- eran church of Douglas township.
Mr. Thygesen is entirely unassuming and wholly unaffected by the suc- cess which he has achieved in his adopted country. Like so many of his countrymen who have come to America, he has succeeded, no doubt, far beyond what he would ever have been able to accomplish in his native land. He is a man who takes a patriotic pride in the institutions of this country and who believes thoroughly in the American spirit of industry and who him- self has labored hard and unceasingly for the fortune he has accumulated. Mr. Thygesen is well liked by all his neighbors.
GEORGE LEE WULF.
George Lee Wulf, who owns an excellent farm in Exira township, Audubon county, Iowa, is a comparatively young farmer, who was born April 25, 1881, at Davenport, Iowa. He is a son of Wilhelm and Sophia (Henning) Wulf, both of whom were natives of Germany. William Wulf came to America when he was quite a young man, and after arriving in this country, located temporarily in Davenport, Iowa, where he worked in a saw-mill most of the time. He also worked as a farm hand in the vicinity of Davenport. After his marriage in the latter city in 1883 he moved to Audubon county, settling in Audubon township, where he rented land for five years. At the end of this period he purchased two hundred and forty
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acres of land in Exira township and began farming for himself. Later he became an extensive stock raiser and farmer, which occupation he followed until about 1900, when he retired from active farm life. He is still living on his farm in Exira township. His son, Henry, has managed the home farm practically ever since his father's retirement in 1900. William and Sophia (Henning) Wulf were the parents of eight children, Carrie, Mattie, Minnie, Henry, William, Fred, John and George.
George Lee Wulf, after having received his education in the district schools of Audubon and Exira townships, left school and farmed with his father until the latter part of 1912, when he began farming for himself on the farm where he is now living. Mr. Wulf has invested some three thousand dollars in various kinds of improvements on his farm, and is known throughout the township as a very successful young farmer. Ordinarily he raises about thirty-five acres of corn and has about the same acreage in small grains each year. He also raises about twenty acres of hay annually, feeding all his grain and hay to live stock, and has been more than ordinarily successful in this branch of agriculture.
On February 4, 1912, George Lee Wulf was married to Kate Killen, the daughter of Robert Killen, and to this union two children have been born, Raymond and Olive.
A Republican in politics, Mr. Wulf has not been particularly active in the councils of his party, having devoted all of his time and attention to his agricultural interests. He has made many friends in his neighbor- hood and is well known as an industrious, honorable and broad-minded farmer and citizen.
CHRIST CHRISTENSEN.
One of the most active and successful farmers of Audubon county. Christ Christensen, one of the prominent citizens of Kimballton, Iowa, is now living retired. Born on August 15, 1847, in Vensyssel, Denmark, he is the son of Christ and Inger (Jensdetter) Christensen, who were both natives of Denmark and followed the occupation of farmers. They lived and died in their native land, rearing a family of four children, three of whom are now deceased. They are Kirstine Marie, deceased: Christina, who lives in Utalı; Caroline, who is deceased and Christ, the subject of this sketch.
Christ Christensen, who was educated in the schools of his native land, lived at home until seventeen years old, working out as a farm hand and serving as a soldier in the Danish army from April 25, 1870, to July 30, 1871.
CHRIST CHRISTENSEN AND FAMILY
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Three years later he came to America, locating in McLain county, Illinois, where he remained for three years. Moving to Rock Island county, Illinois, he remained there four years and in 1881 came to Audubon county, Iowa, locating in Sharon township, one mile south and one-half mile east of Kim- ballton. There has been nothing phenomenal in Mr. Christensen's success, but it has been attained by steady and consistent efforts. He first purchased forty acres of land at seven dollars an acre and later forty acres more at fifteen dollars an acre. From time to time he added land until he now has one hundred and sixty acres of well-improved land, with many improvements which Mr. Christensen himself has made. During his active career as a farmer he made a specialty of stock raising and was very successful.
In March, 1878, Christ Christensen was married to Ansine Christensen, of Denmark, who came to America in 1873. To this union have been born six children: Inger, who lives one mile north of Elk Horn and who married Marinus Larsen ; Helena, who is the wife of Andrew Topp, of Sharon town- ship ; Peter, who is employed in the First National bank at Audubon, Iowa; Caroline, who is a teacher and lives with her brother on the farm; Anton and Martinus, who also live on the home farm. Mr. Christensen has been able to give all of his children a splendid education and has every reason to be extremely proud of their accomplishments. They have had the advantage not only of the home schools but also the high school, and the schools of Des Moines and Omaha. In 1911 he built one of the finest modern homes, con- sisting of eight rooms, to be found in the city of Kimballton and is now living retired in this beautiful home. A director and vice-president of the Lands- men's National Bank of Kimballton, he is also a director and vice-president of the Kimballton & Elk Horn Lumber Company, a director of the Farmers Shipping Union, a member and organizer of the Farmers Butchering Com- pany and treasurer of the Kimballton Creamery Company for two years, a concern which he helped to organize.
A stanch Democrat in politics, Mr. Christensen served as township clerk from 1884 to 1892. During the past two years he has been serving on the city council of Kimballton and was also treasurer of the Danish Lutheran church of Kimballton, of which all the members of his family are faithful and loyal adherents. Mr. Christensen takes a wide interest in the affairs of this church. Although he and his wife started in in a small way, they have reared and educated a splendid family of children and have also attained for themselves and their children a substantial competence. Mr. and Mrs. Christensen are well-known and popular socially in Kimballton and vicinity, and they have many warm friends in Audubon county.
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J. K. ANDERSON.
J. K. Anderson, one of the capable farmers of Douglas township, Audu- bon county, Iowa, who owns three hundred and eighty acres of land in this township, and who is one of its most enterprising and popular citizens, was born on June 24, 1865, in Denmark, the son of Andrew and Maria Sorensen, both of whom were natives of Denmark. Andrew Sorensen owned and cul- tivated a little farm of fifteen acres in his native land. He served in the War of 1864 between Germany and Denmark. Taken captive during that war he was held about three months and then sent back to Denmark. He came to America in 1879, traveling to Harlan, Iowa, where he worked in a brick-yard for one and a half years. He then rented a farm near Kimballton, Iowa, where he remained for three or four years. Subsequently, he pur- chased a farm two miles north of Kimballton and lived on this farm until his death, in 1907. Andrew and Maria Sorensen were the parents of seven children, of whom J. K. was the eldest. The others were Soren, Nels, Otto, Lawrence, Martin, Anna, all of whom are living in this country.
J. K. Anderson attended the public schools of his native land until four- teen years of age, when he came to this country with his parents. After working for a time in a brick-yard at Harlan, Iowa, he began working on a farm, and in 1887 rented a farm in Audubon county. In 1880 he purchased a farm in Shelby county, on the border of Audubon county, comprising eighty acres, and being industrious and economical in his habits he added to the farm until he was the owner of four hundred and sixty acres of fine land in the two counties. After living in this community for twenty-three years, he purchased eighty acres in Douglas township. Audubon county, where he built a modern home in 1914. During late years he has invested about four thousand dollars in various kinds of improvements on the farm. He feeds all the grain produced on the farm to live stock, and is also compelled to purchase grain to feed his stock. Ordinarily he sells about one carload of cattle, and approximately one hundred head of hogs every year.
In 1887 J. K. Anderson was married to Christena P. Christensen, daugh- ter of Jens C. Christensen, who lived west of Kimballton, Iowa, and to this union have been born nine children, Jens A., S. C .. Luella, Caroline, Mabel. Edith, Marie, Martin and Henry Lavern. Jens A. married Anna Petersen, and lives in Audubon county on his father's farm. Luella is the wife of Christ Nelson. The other children are unmarried and live at home with their parents.
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A Republican in politics, J. K. Anderson has been school director of his township for four years, and has also served as trustee of his home township for a short time. The Anderson family all attend the Danish Lutheran church.
It must be admitted that Mr. Anderson is and has been for many years one of the extensive and wideawake farmers in this section of Audubon county. By the skillful management of his farm property he has come to be well-to-do.
RILEY P. CLARK.
What a wonderful heritage a man gives his children when he leaves behind him a knowledge of a life well spent and evidence of the good he has accomplished for his community. To be considered the foremost man of his county in his day and a leader in all things pertaining to the welfare of the community does not fall to the lot of many men. Only those who are truly great in heart and mind, of indomitable energy and unfailing optimism are capable of winning the trust and confidence which place them in the leader- ship in matters of public good, especially in a new section. This knowledge is possessed by the children of Riley P. Clark, Sr., among whom is the subject of this sketch, Riley P. Clark, Jr.
Riley P. Clark, Jr., a well-known farmer and stockman of Exira town- ship, was born in Jasper county, Iowa, November 1, 1864. He is the son of Riley P., Sr., and Juliet C. (Davis) Clark, the former of whom was born in Ohio in 1830, and died in September, 1891.
Riley P. Clark, Jr., was educated in Audubon county. His parents came to Audubon county in March, 1865, and located on the Doctor Ballard farm in Oakfield township. After leaving school Riley P. Clark, Jr., farmed on rented land. Mr. Clark rented land until 1893. He purchased eighty acres of land in 1887, and increased his holdings from time to time, until he now owns five hundred and fifty-seven acres of land. At one time he was a rather extensive landowner in Guthrie county, but later he sold that land. He raises about two hundred acres of corn every year and about two hundred acres of small grain. Mr. Clark feeds about a hundred and twenty hogs every year, and about three carloads of cattle. He owns a herd of registered Hereford cattle, numbering a hundred and fifty-six, and has exhibited them at county fairs, where they have won valuable prizes wherever they have been shown. He has a sale every year of Hereford cattle, and the prices received average
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