USA > Iowa > Audubon County > History of Audubon county, Iowa; its people, industries, and institutions > Part 67
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Mr. Andersen has enjoyed reasonable success as a farmer, stock raiser, and during his comparatively brief residence in Audubon county has man- aged to establish a comfortable home and acquire a splendid farm. He is industrious, foresighted and honorable in the relations of life, a very worthy citizen of Oakfield township.
GEORGE JESSEN, JR.
George Jessen, Jr., a farmer of Oakfield township, Audubon county, Iowa, the son of a veteran of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, was born on October 22, 1878, in Schleswig, Germany. His parents, George and Elizabeth (Christensen) Jessen, after coming to America in 1881, located at Atlantic, Iowa, where the father worked on the railroad for two years, and then moved to Audubon county, locating upon the farm where his son, George, now lives. He began with a small tract of land and gradually increased his holdings until he owned six hundred and forty acres of fine farming land. Although he had very little when he came to this country, . by earnest and unceasing toil, by careful management and frugal living, he has come to be very prosperous as a farmer and stockman. George and Elizabeth (Christensen) Jessen were the parents of four children, Chris, Mary, George and Theodore.
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Educated in the public schools of Oakfield township, Audubon county, George Jessen, after leaving school, farmed with his father until twenty- eight years old, when he rented the farm upon which he now lives, and where he has remained since that time. Mr. Jessen raises on an average eighty acres of corn, eighty acres of small grain, and feeds most of the grain raised to live stock. He sells about one hundred and twenty-five head of hogs every year and three carloads of cattle. He is well known in this township as a breeder of Shorthorn cattle, and has been extensively engaged in this business for a number of years. Approximately ten thousand dol- lars has been invested in various kinds of improvements upon this farm, and it is one of the highly productive farms of the township.
On July 8, 1900, George Jessen, Jr., was married to Bertha Marie Jen- sen, the daughter of Klaus Jensen. Bertha Marie Jensen was a native of Denmark, as were her parents. To Mr. and Mrs. Jessen have been born six children, George, Nannie, Clara, Theodore, Bertha and Alice, all of whom are living at home with their parents.
George Jessen, Jr., is not identified with any particular political party. He is an independent voter, and has little faith in the platforms of political parties or the pledges of party candidates. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and also of the Danish Brotherhood. Mr. Jessen has always been deeply interested in the civic life of his township, and has filled the position of school director and also that of a member of the school board of his township, and discharged the duties of these offices to the entire satisfaction of the community which he served.
Mr. Jessen is a man who uses only the most improved modern methods in his farming operations, and has been very successful in his chosen voca- tion. He is a popular young citizen of Oakfield township, and already is recognized as having made a good start in life.
JOHN N. ESBECK.
A prominent farmer and an influential citizen of Exira township, and a native of the little kingdom of Denmark, is John N. Esbeck, who owns one hundred and forty-five acres of land in Exira township, and who was born in Denmark on July 29, 1867, the son of Chris N. and Catherine (Mortensen) Esbeck, both natives of Denmark. The former was a farmer in his native land, and came to the United States in 1868, one year after
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the birth of John N. Chris Esbeck located first in Illinois after arriving in America, but only lived in that state for one year, when he removed to Guthrie county, Iowa, where he was employed on the Rock Island railroad, helping to construct the road from the east through to Council Bluffs, Iowa. In 1873, he removed to Missouri, where he was engaged in railroading, and in 1881 he came to Audubon county, and after locating in Oakfield town- ship, purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, and farmed in this township until his death in 1888. His wife died in 1887, after having reared a family of ten children, three of whom are living, Mary, Alfred and John N. Mary is the wife of Jens P. Hanson. Alfred married Grace Huyck.
Educated in the public schools of the state of Missouri, John N. Esbeck removed to Audubon county with his parents about the time he finished school, and engaged in farming with his father until he was twenty years of age. Beginning at the age of twenty years, he worked in the implement business at Kimballton, Iowa, for four years, after which he purchased eighty acres of land in Oakfield township, where he farmed for five years. Disposing of his farm in Oakfield township, he purchased one hundred and twenty acres in Douglas township, and farmed there for about eleven years, when he again sold out and purchased the place upon which he now lives. Since acquiring possession of this farm in 1910, Mr. Esbeck has invested about six thousand dollars in buildings, fences, drains and other forms of improvement on the farm. He raises on an average of fifty acres of corn, thirty acres of small grains and feeds out fifty head of hogs each year.
On March 22, 1895, John N. Esbeck was married to Ingeborg Nissen, the daughter of Nis and Johanna Nissen, and to this union have been born six children, Edna, Esther, Catherine, Lela, Agnes and Arnold, all of whom are living at home with their parents.
A charter member of the Knights of Pythias lodge at Kimballton, Iowa, Mr. Esbeck has been prominent in this organization. He and his wife and family are earnest and faithful members of the Danish Lutheran church. A Republican in politics, he has served as assessor of Oakfield township for four years, as township clerk of Douglas township for seven years, and also as a school director at various places. As one of the leading citizens and farmers of Exira township, Mr. Esbeck is known to be keenly interested in educational affairs, and in the public positions which he has held, he has acquitted himself with credit, and has won honor by his effi- cient service. He is known to be honorable and straightforward in all of the private relations of life.
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HANS NYMAND.
A successful farmer of Oakfield township, Audubon county, Iowa, and one who owns two hundred and twenty-seven acres of fine farming land, Hans Nymand was born on February 9, 1862, in Schleswig, Germany, the son of Hans and Katherine (Miller) Nymand, both natives of Schleswig, Germany. Hans Nymand, Sr., was a farmer by occupation and owned eighty acres of land in his native country. Of his ten children, six, Jesse, Chris, Christina, Mettie Marie, Mary and Hans, are still living.
Hans Nymand, the immediate subject of this sketch, who has become a prosperous farmer in this country and a leader in public thought in the community where he lives, worked as a farm hand, mostly with his father, after leaving school. In 1881 he came to America, and after locating in Audubon county, worked as a farm laborer for one year, after which he rented the place where he is now living. After renting for one year he pur- chased one hundred and twenty acres, and has since increased his land hold- ings until he now owns two hundred and twenty-seven acres. Mr. Nymand has invested about seventy-five hundred dollars in improvements on his farm, which consist principally of out-buildings, fences and drainage. He feeds about one hundred head of hogs every year, and raises a good grade of live stock of all kinds. Ordinarily he raises forty acres of corn and thirty acres of small grain. On the farm where he lives he has built two large silos, which hold one hundred and sixty tons of ensilage.
On March 7, 1883, Hans Nymand was married to Mary Knudson, the daughter of Knud and Caroline Knudson, and to this union have been born three children, Harry, Walter and Ella. Harry married Nannie Nelson, and they have two children, Olivia and Imo. Walter and Ella are unmar- ried and are still living at home with their parents.
Mary Knudson was a native of Denmark, as were her parents before her. They came to America in 1873 and located at Atlantic, Iowa, and here her father worked as a section hand on the railroad for one year. He then removed to Audubon county and purchased eighty acres of land and began farming for himself. Mrs. Nymand's father and mother are now deceased. Of their children four are still living, Chris, Peter, Carolina and Mrs. Mary Nymand.
Mr. and Mrs. Hans Nymand and family are faithful and earnest mem- bers of the Danish Lutheran church, and take a great interest in the wel- fare of this congregation. A Democrat in politics, he has served as assessor of Oakfield township, and was also a school director. He is a member of
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the Danish Brotherhood, in which he formerly served as president and sec- retary of the lodge. He is also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and in the last named lodge he has filled all the chairs and is now a past grand.
Hans Nymand is not only a good farmer, but he is a good citizen, intel- ligent, progressive, broad-minded, courteous and considerate of the rights of others, and naturally he is well liked in the neighborhood and is popular in religious and fraternal circles in this township.
WILLIAM AND HENRY ONKEN.
William and Henry Onken, well-known farmers of Oakfield township and sons of the late George Onken, are at present managing their father's farm of two hundred acres in Oakfield township, and have made a very commendable success of farming.
William and Henry Onken are sons of George Onken, who died on October 27, 1913. He was the son of Hoegh and Mary Onken, natives of Germany, who lived and died in their native land, where they were farmers. Upon coming to America, George Onken first located at Marne, Iowa, where he remained with his uncle on a farm for two years. Coming to Audubon county in 1873, he purchased two hundred and eighty acres of land on Buck creek and was engaged in farming there for sixteen years, when he sold out and purchased two hundred acres near Brayton. Here he farmed until two years before his death, when he moved to Brayton and lived retired. George Onken and his wife had nine children: Mary, Anna, Amolia, Bertha, William, Henry, Kate, Fred and Lillie. William was born on October 12, 1883, and Henry was born on October 28, 1885. Several of the children are now married. The late George Onken was a member of the Baptist church. A Democrat in politics, he held several minor offices, such as road supervisor and school director. He was also president of Oak- field cry.
Educated in the public schools of Oakfield township, Audubon county, William and Henry Onken worked with their father on the farm until his retirement and removal to Brayton. At this time, they took charge of the farm and have been managing it since that time. They raise on an average of seventy-five acres of corn and thirty acres of small grain every year, and feed out one hundred head of hogs. William and Henry Onken are
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known among the most progressive and up-to-date farmers in Oakfield township.
On November 18, 1908, William Onken was married to Anna Ander- son, the daughter of Jesse and Lena Anderson. They have two children, Walter and Ethel.
On April 30, 1914, Henry Onken was married to Lena Anderson, also the daughter of Jesse and Lena Anderson. The wives of these two brothers are sisters.
Both families are members of the German Lutheran church. William and Henry Onken are Democrats in politics. They are well-known young farmers of Oakfield township, and, being well advised and well informed with regard to modern agricultural methods, their advice and counsel is freely sought by other farmers of Oakfield township. William and Henry Onken are popular in the neighborhood where they live.
PETER KNUDSEN.
Peter Knudsen, who purchased and now owns the fine farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Oakfield township, which his father before him owned, was born on January 28, 1866, in Denmark, the son of Knud C. and Caroline (Phillipson) Knudsen. A farmer in his native land until he came to America in 1874, Knud C. Knudsen located in Cass county, Iowa, and there worked as a section hand on the railroad for one year, after which he moved to Audubon county and located in Oakfield township. One year later he purchased a farm of eighty acres and subsequently added forty acres to the original tract. H efarmed this land until his death in 1906. His wife, the mother of Peter Knudsen, died in 1910. Knud C. and Caro- line Knudsen were the parents of four children: Chris, Peter, Mary and Caroline.
Eight years old when his parents brought him to America, Peter Knud- sen received all of his educational training at the schools of Oakfield town- ship, and after leaving school was engaged with his father in farming until the latter's death in 1906. When the estate was settled, Peter Knudsen pur- chased the farm, and since 1906 has invested about five thousand dollars in buildings, fences, drains and various processes to improve the fertility of the soil. He raises on an average of forty acres of corn and thirty acres of small grain every year. He also feeds out about seventy head of hogs. The
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high prices paid for hogs for the last few years has made it profitable to raise as many as possible.
On April 24, 1888, when Peter Knudsen was twenty-two years old, he was married to Minnie Nelson, the daughter of Martin Nelson. Mr. and Mrs. Knudsen have had eight children: Lillie, Henry, Christ, Esther, Anna, Theodore, Arthur and Marie. Lillie married Chris Jensen and has two children, Arthur and Harry. Henry married a Miss Hoegh and has two children, Ethel and Harry. The remainder of the family are unmarried and live at home with their parents.
The Knudsen family are prominent members of the Danish Lutheran church, in which Peter Knudsen is a trustee. He is also a school director in Oakfield township and is identified with the Republican party.
For his enterprise and industry, Peter Knudsen has established a com- fortable home in Oakfield township, and he and his wife are rearing a large family of children to honorable and useful lives. This is their greatest con- tribution to the happiness of the neighborhood where they live and where they have always been popular. Like so many of his fellow countrymen who have made commendable successes of farming in the new country, Peter Knudsen has become an enthusiastic and patriotic American, one who admires our institutions and appreciates the opportunities our country offers.
ROSCOE T. TURNER.
Roscoe T. Turner, an enterprising farmer of Audubon township, Audu- bon county, Iowa, enjoys the distinction of owning the highest assessed farm in Audubon township. Some years ago, having purchased a hundred and sixty acres of land in section 33 of this township, comprising a farm which was very poorly improved, Mr. Turner set to work diligently and within a few years has built a new eight-room house; a large barn, thirty-six by fifty- four by twenty-two feet ; a sheep shed, twenty-six by one hundred and twenty feet ; a hog house, twenty-two by forty-four feet, with a feeding floor, thirty- six by fifty-four feet ; a silo of a hundred and fifty tons capacity, and many rods of woven-wire fence. Not only is the Turner farm recognized as being the most valuable in Audubon township, but it is likewise one of the most attractive farms to be found in this township.
Roscoe T. Turner, the son of Nathaniel and Fannie (Richardson) Tur- ner, was born on May 13, 1878, in Exira township, Audubon county, on the
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old Dick Gault farm. Nathaniel Turner, who was born in Fulton county, Illinois, January 24, 1856, was the son of John and Nancy ( Miller ) Turner, natives respectively of Kentucky and Indiana. John Turner was a private in Company G, Eleventh Illinois Cavalry, during the Civil War. Soon after the war he moved with his family to Audubon county, arriving at Exira, October 28, 1868, having driven overland from Des Moines. After living until 1870 in Exira, where they kept a hotel for some time, they moved to Lewisville and rented a tract of land, known as the old Ingham farm, south of Exira. After farming for some time, John Turner and his wife retired and spent their remaining days with their son, Nathaniel, and family.
On January 4, 1877, Nathaniel Turner married Marguerite Frances Richardson, who was born in Jones county, Iowa, December 3, 1861, and who was the daughter of Samuel and Phoebe (Climer) Richardson, pio- neers of the section, the former of whom, at the time he was killed in the Civil War, left a widow and four children, of whom Mrs. Nathaniel Turner was the third in order of birth. Mrs. Richardson remarried and in 1870 the family came to Audubon county. Nathaniel and Marguerite F. (Rich- ardson) Turner had two children, Roscoe, the subject of this sketch, and Alice, born on February 7, 1894, who is a student in the college at Sioux Falls, South Dakota, but is now living at home.
Roscoe T. Turner lived at home until he was married, having received his education in the school at Greeley Center, in Greeley township. After he was married, he rented a farm in Melville township for a year, and then purchased eighty acres of land in section 22 of Greeley township, living on that farm for five years, or until he purchased the hundred-and- sixty-acre farm where he now lives. Mr. Turner feeds sheep in large numbers. In 1914 he fed about fifteen hundred head and in 1915 he had twelve hundred head. He also raised cattle and hogs, selling about one car load of cattle and two carloads of hogs every year. Mr. Turner's farm, in which he takes great pride, is well known as the Valley View farm and may be counted as one of the best in Audubon county.
On December 25, 1901, Mr. Turner was married to Edith Pine, who was born on December 27, 1878, in Iowa county, Iowa, the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Correll) Pine, early settlers in Audubon county. Mr. and Mrs. Turner have one child, Lois, born on March 16, 1907.
The Turners are members of the Congregational church. A Democrat in politics, Roscoe T. Turner has served as township clerk in both Greeley and Audubon townships, and faithfully discharged the duties of these offices.
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He is a young man of engaging personality, popular in the community where he lives, and honored and respected by those with whom he has come in contact.
REV. JOHN MAYER.
Audubon county has been the home and the scene of labors of many men, who have not only led lives which should serve as a lesson and an inspira- tion to those who follow them on the stage of life's activities, but who have also rendered important service in the civic and religious life of the com- munity. The honored and highly esteemed Rev. John Mayer, pastor of the Holy Trinity Catholic church at Exira, is a man well rounded in character, sincere, devoted and loyal. He has been pastor of the Holy Trinity church since September 18, 1913, and during the intervening period has gained many warm and ardent friends in this part of Audubon county.
Rev. John Mayer, pastor of Holy Trinity Catholic church, of Exira, lowa, was born at Goldshoefe, Germany, March 18, 1883, and is a son of Michael and Rosena (Klopfer) Mayer, both of whom were native-born Ger- mans. Michael Mayer was a German farmer and is still living in his native land on a farm of eighty acres, and is engaged in general farming.
Michael and Rosena (Klopfer) Mayer were the parents of eight chil- dren, John, George, Joseph, Kasper, Anthony, Michael, Ottilia and Mary. Michael is a soldier in the German army at the present time, and is attached to the German cavalry. Kasper is also a German soldier, and is serving in the infantry. All of the Mayer children are unmarried and are still living at home. Rev. John Mayer is the only member of the family who has come to America.
Rev. John Mayer received his early education in the state parochial school of Hofen, Germany. After leaving the parochial school, he attended the state college of Ewangen for five years, and then returned to his home, after which for four years he worked as a railroad clerk.
In 1905, when the Rev. John Mayer was twenty-two years of age, he came to America and located in New York City with an uncle, Rev. John Mayer, who was pastor of the St. Nicholas church, of that city. Subse- quently, the subject of this sketch attended Vincent College at Lathrop, Pennsylvania, for one year, and from Lathrop College he went to the Holy Ghost College, and was graduated from this last institution in 1908. Fol- lowing his graduation from Holy Ghost College, he entered St. Meinard's
REV. JOHN MAYER
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College, Indiana, where he remained for one year, after which he entered Mount St. Mary's College, at Emmettsburg, Maryland, where he remained for two years.
On July 17, 1911, Rev. John Mayer was ordained at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Davenport, Iowa, and subsequently, celebrated his first mass at the Sts. Peter and Paul church, at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After this he was appointed assistant pastor at the St. Ambrose church, of Des Moines, Iowa. He remained at Des Moines, however, but a brief time, when he was appointed to the parish at Rosemount, Iowa, where he remained for two years. On September 18, 1913, Rev. John Mayer was assigned to the Holy Trinity parish of Exira, Iowa, which he has served as pastor for nearly two years. He is well versed in several foreign languages, and is a profound student of history. He has enjoyed a large measure of success in the min- istry and altogether has made rapid progress in his work. He is not yet thirty-five years of age, and judging from his past work, he bids fair to become one of the leaders in his church in this part of the state.
Rev. Mayer is identified with the Democratic party, but his calling has prevented him from taking an active part in political affairs, although he is deeply interested in all public-spirited movements which have for their object the advancement of his community, and the welfare of his fellow citizens.
HANS R. HANSEN.
Among the native-born Danish farmers, meaning the younger farmers, of Oakfield township, who were born in Schleswig, Hans R. Hansen has made commendable progress since coming to America with his parents, and is now the owner of one hundred and twenty acres of land in Oakfield town- ship. He was born on April 15, 1880, in Germany, and is the son of Mathias and Anna Marie (Christensen) Hansen, who came to America to seek their fortune in the new world. After coming to America they located in section 9, in Oakfield township, Audubon county, Iowa, and here pur- chased seventy-nine acres of land, which Mr. Hansen farmed for one year, or until his untimely death. Mathias Hansen was killed by a horse, about a year after coming to this country. He left at the time of his death a widow and three children, Jesse (deceased), Walter, and Hans, the subject of this sketch. After his untimely death, the mother married Nels Peter- sen, and they had two children. Mathias Hansen was killed, November II, 1880. Mrs. Nels Petersen died, January 14, 1914.
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An infant when brought to America by his parents, Hans R. Hansen was educated in the schools of this country. He attended the public schools of Oakfield township and received a good common school education, which has been very helpful to him in his career as a farmer. After finishing school he worked on the home place for four years, and then did farm work on various farms for another four years. At the end of this time he rented a farm for two years, and was then married and moved to the farm upon which he is now living, and where he has invested five thousand dol- lars in various kinds of improvements. Mr. Hansen has found mixed farm- ing to be most profitable, and raises forty-five acres of corn, thirty acres of small grain, and feeds out about sixty head of hogs every year.
On April 20, 1904, when he was twenty-four years of age, Hans R. Hansen was married to Anna Hoegh, daughter of Niels P. Hoegh, whose wife was Catherine Knoss, the daughter of Christian Knoss. Niels P. Hoegh is one of the most prominent farmers and bankers of Audubon county, who, since coming to Audubon county, about 1875, has acquired a substantial interest in two of the leading banks of the county, a large lum- ber company, and who owns two thousands acres of land in Audubon and Cass counties. Anna Hoegh was one of eight children born to her parents. The others are George (deceased), William, Walter, Catherine, Benjamin, Edward and Arthur.
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