USA > Iowa > Audubon County > History of Audubon county, Iowa; its people, industries, and institutions > Part 70
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FRANK L. MILLER.
The prosperity and substantial welfare of a community are in a large measure due to the enterprise and wise foresight of its farmers and business men. It is the progressive, wide-awake men of affairs who make the real his- tory of a community. Their influence in shaping and directing its various interests is difficult to estimate. The well-known gentleman whose name appears at the top of this sketch, has for many years ranked among the leading farmers and business men of Audubon county. It is to such enter- prising spirits as he that the locality is indebted for its recent substantial growth and for the high position it occupies as a center of agricultural activities.
Frank L. Miller, a well-known farmer of Melville township, Audubon county, Iowa, and the proprietor of three hundred and fifty-six acres, com- prising the Miller estate, was born on May II, 1867, in Audubon county, two miles south of Exira on the Dick Gault farm. Mr. Miller lives in the second house built in Melville township and the Miller estate, of which he is the proprietor at present, originally consisted of two hundred and eighty acres, but Mr. Miller has added eighty acres to that tract.
Frank L. Miller is the son of Benjamin F. and Hannah (Wheeler) Miller. Benjamin F. Miller was the son of Robert Miller, who was born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, on June 9, 1807, and died in Leroy town- ship, Audubon county, on July 28, 1886. He learned the miller's trade and was a farmer. He was married on April 2, 1834, to Elizabeth Woodburn, who was born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, the eldest daughter of William and Elizabeth (Veasy) Woodburn. They were of Irish descent,
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being the second generation of their family living in America. In the fall of 1856 Robert Miller moved to Audubon county and settled three miles south of Exira on the Gault homestead, which he farmed for two years. He then purchased a farm in section I of Leroy township, consisting of one hundred and thirty-three acres, and here he carried on general farming and live-stock breeding. He and his wife had ten children, eight of whom grew to maturity : William, who died at the age of eight years; Martha W., who is the wife of Perry Roberts; Benjamin F., who died in November, 1886; Elizabeth, who died at the age of eleven; James, who died in January, 1884; Thomas, who is a farmer; Samuel; John A .; Mary J., who died on Febru- ary 3, 1874; and Sarah A., who died on December 5, 1879. Robert Miller was appointed postmaster during President Hayes' administration and kept the postoffice in his home. He was a Democrat of the old school. Benjamin F. and James Miller served in the Civil War. The former was a member of the Thirtieth Volunteer Infantry and was orderly sergeant in Company G. James Miller was a member of Company E, Ninth Illinois Mounted Infantry, and served four years, during which period he enlisted twice.
Frank L. Miller was one year old when his parents moved to the farm where he now lives. He has lived longer in Melville township than any other citizen. His parents settled on the prairie when there was not a house in sight. Benjamin F. Miller first purchased ninety-six acres of land and built the second house in Melville township. Frank L. Miller lived five years in Audubon, operating a corn sheller and doing other work. He lived five years in Ross and two years on the Eddy farm near Ross. In 1907 he moved to the old homestead farm. Mr. Miller's education was very limited. He attended the small school on the Doc Stearns place and was a student at the same time Ella Stearns attended this school.
Frank L. Miller was married, on June 25, 1891, to Flora Carper, who was born on June 21, 1871, near Trenton, Henry county, Iowa, and who is the daughter of Martin Luther and Jane (Colista) Carper, natives of Vir- ginia and Henry county, Iowa, respectively. They came to Audubon county in 1878 and settled in Melville township. Martin Luther Carper was born in 1841 and now lives in Ross. His wife, who before her marriage was Jane Colista, was born in 1850 and died in June, 1908. To Mr. and Mrs. Frank L. Miller have been born four children: Bessie Vera, who is a graduate of the Audubon high school; Nellie May, Benjamin Franklin and Chester Ful- ton, all of whom are living at home.
Frank L. Miller is an ardent Democrat, but has never been especially active in politics. Fraternally, he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and is influential in this organization.
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ORRIN SCOTT WELCH.
The examples furnished by the biographies of steadfast men serve as a stimulus to others, spurring them on to success. In the case of the successful citizen of Lincoln township to whom the following pages are devoted, he had seen others of his class rise to positions of influence in the township in which he lived, and he made a mental resolution to exert his own force and will- power to the utmost, and win for himself a position equal to those occupied by others, who served as guides to his final success.
Orrin Scott Welch, general farmer and stockman, Lincoln township, Audubon county, Iowa, was born in McHenry county, Illinois, October II, 1855, the son of David and Matilda (Shields) Welch. At the age of six he came with his parents to this state and started to school at McGregor, where he attended until he was nine years old. They then moved to Clinton county, Iowa, where he attended school for nine years, coming later to Crawford county. In 1878 he came to Audubon county, locating in Lincoln township, where he invested his surplus funds in a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which he purchased from the Rock Island Railroad Company for nine dollars per acre. This he cultivated to such a degree of success that he was enabled later to purchase from his neighbors the balance of his pres- ent splendid property of four hundred and twenty acres in this county. On this farm he has placed about ten thousand dollars worth of substantial improvements, including six hundred rods of tiling. The crops to which he principally devotes his attention are corn and small grain, the corn aver- aging about forty-five bushels to the acre and the oats about thirty-five bush- els, all of which is fed to the stock raised on the place, amounting to about two cars of cattle and one car of hogs each year. Mr. Welch is especially interested in the breeding of thoroughbred Hereford cattle and Poland China hogs. He has not escaped all the township offices, having served as school director and trustee for a number of years. Fraternally, he is a mem- mer of the Knights of Pythias, in which he has held several offices. In religion, the family are attendants of the United Brethren church, contributing their share to its support. In politics, Mr. Welch is a never-failing voter on the Republican ticket.
David Welch, father of the subject, lived in Ohio, where he owned and cultivated a farm, which he later sold and moved to Illinois. Here he bought another farm, on which he lived until 1859, and, still not being satisfied with his location, he again sold out, and came to Iowa, where he went into the
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lumber business at McGregor, remaining in that work until the time of his death, which occurred in 1863. The children born to him were as follow : Amanda, Thomas, Ellen, Martin, Phoebe, Cynthia, Orrin, and two others who are deceased.
Orrin Scott Welch was married on May 16, 1879, to Matilda Oddy, the daughter of Joseph Oddy, of Guthrie county. To this couple were born the following children : Willie is married and lives near Dale City, in Guthrie county ; John and Frank are married and reside three miles east of Audubon ; Myrtle died in 1893. About two years after the death of his first wife, Mr. Welch was married to Belle Arnold, of Ohio, by whom he had ten children, namely : Clint, Ben, Orrin, Lyle, Mabel, Elsie, Hazel, Earl, Ivan and Lloyd. The three latter children are deceased. All of the other children are at home with the exception of Ben and Mabel. Ben is married and resides northeast of Manning, and has one child. Mabel is married and resides at Gray.
Mrs. Welch is a daughter of Benjamin and Ellen (Toothman) Arnold, the former a native of Illinois and the latter of Ohio. They were married in Ohio, where they lived for a time, and then came to Ringgold county, Iowa, where they remained for a time and then moved to Missouri. Here they lived until Mrs. Welch was fourteen years old, when they again moved to Ringgold county, where they lived until the father's death. They were the parents of eight children, as follow: Ida, Sam, Florence, Belle, Dora and Cora, twins, Willie and one who died in infancy.
CHRISTIAN C. MOLLER.
Many prominent residents of this county have braved the dangers of a sea voyage in order that they might build their homes in a new country, with- out having the restrictions of the Old World to hamper their progress; but few on their westward journey passed through as hazardous experiences as did the subject of this review. There is little in the conditions now surround- ing Christian C. Moller to indicate the tempestuous nature of his advent to America, but, in order to realize his dream of life in a vast, untried land, he passed through experiences more varied than those which fall to the lot of the average voyager.
Born in Ringkoving, Jutland, Denmark, on February 2, 1870, he lived the usual life of the farmer's boy until his nineteenth year, when he decided to cross the ocean and work out success for himself. Mother and father,
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brothers and sisters, were all left at home. Christian C., his father, for whom he was named, was a farmer, and early taught his boys the principles upon which they could build successful careers in that occupation. The mother, Mary (Christiansen) Moller, lived a quiet life, but took great interest in the welfare of her five children. Both lived in their native country until they passed away, he in 1880, and she thirty years later. Both were members of the Lutheran church. Their children were: Christian, a merchant in Aar- huus, Denmark; Martin, a farmer near the same place; Peter, who continues farming on the old home place; Mette, who married Christian Sorensen after coming to America, and whose home is in Hamlin township, this county; and Christian C., the subject of this biography.
Christian availed himself of the opportunity of attending school as long as he could, receiving a common-school education. Presently there came the inspiration to seek America, and he set sail in a vessel called the "Denmark." The boat was wrecked in mid-ocean, the crew and passengers being picked up by a German vessel, which landed them safely on the Azore islands. The castaways remained there for two weeks, and then took passage to New York, the journey requiring two months. Christian had lost all that he had, and when he found himself in the great metropolis he had just fifty cents in his pocket.
From New York Christian C. Moller soon immigrated westward, work- ing as a farm hand for four years, at the end of which time he settled in Audubon county and rented the farm he now owns in section 38, Sharon township. After living here four years as a tenant he bought eighty acres, and then later added forty acres and then eighty acres more. Now his farm is considered one of the most valuable in the county, being located on the ridge road between Audubon and Kimballton. On the original eighty acres, there was a small house and barn, but these have been replaced by splendid new buildings.
Lizzie Olsen became the wife of Christian C. Moller on February 9, 1893. The bride was a native of New York state, and the daughter of Hans Olsen and Annie Christina Carstensen, both of Denmark. The parents of Mrs. Moller first lived in the Empire state and later went to Iowa City to reside, following this by a residence in Shelby county, and then moved to Sharon township, Audubon county. They owned part of the land which Mr. Moller bought, and were engaged there in farming. The father and mother both worshipped in the Lutheran church, and were pious, God-fearing people. The mother passed away in 1907, and the father, three years later. Mrs.
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Moller has an elder brother named Peter living in Atlantic, Iowa, and a younger brother, Ole, of Sharon township.
While Mr. and Mrs. Moller took up their residence on the present farm in 1893, it was not until 1912 that they drew the plans for the fifteen-room house in which they have since lived. No home in the vicinity is more beau- tiful or more comfortable than is this; equipped as it is with hot and cold water, bath, furnace heat and gas. Improvements amounting to over twelve thousand dollars have been added to the farm, these including a fine barn built in 1902. The stock bred by Mr. Moller is similar to that of the other stock raisers of the vicinity, consisting of Shorthorn cattle, Belgian draft horses and Duroc-Jersey hogs, of which he usually has from one hun- dred to one hundred and twenty-five head. His average planting of corn is seventy acres.
Mr. Moller has been identified with other enterprises than farming, having been secretary of the Sharon Creamery Company for six years, and a stockholder in the same business, and a stockholder in the telephone com- pany and also in the Atlantic Northern railroad.
Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Christian C. Moller, the eldest being Annie C. The next daughter, Maria, married Simon Lykke, of Popular, Iowa. The others are, in the order of their birth, Olga C., Hans C., Clara C., Juel C. and Thora C. 'All were educated in the common schools and also in the Danish schools of the county.
The community in which Mr. Moller lives has shown its confidence in his judgment and integrity by honoring him with the office of school director, in which capacity he has served for several years. He is also at this time trustee of the Sharon township schools, and gives his time and attention in a spirit of unselfish interest that secures the appreciative recognition of all who know him. Mr. Moller is interested also in politics, and has always cast his lot with the Democratic party. Mr. and Mrs. Moller are adherents of the Danish Lutheran church.
Mr. Moller is a man of refined tastes and intellectual accomplishments. Beauty in all its forms makes a strong appeal to him, and he and his wife have surrounded themselves with artistic environments. Many exquisite paintings, as well as the furnishings of their home, create an artistic atmos- phere which makes a visit with them a pleasant experience.
Some time ago, Mr. Moller visited his old home in Denmark and brought back with him many attractive pictures of his native country, including views of his own boyhood home. The influence of such a man as has been described very briefly is not bounded by the circle of his daily activities and acquaint-
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ances. One whose chief interests are along the line of mental and moral well- being is a constant source of strength and inspiration to his family, to his neighbors, and to all who come within the range of his influence. While successful as a farmer and business man, he has not allowed material affairs to usurp all of his thought, but all the time that he was getting ready to live, he has really lived. All of his joys and sorrows have been shared by his faithful, genial and capable wife, whose industry and encouragement has been a leading factor in his success.
HANS MORTENSEN.
Hans Mortensen has attained pronounced prestige in Hamlin township, Audubon county, Iowa, by reason of natural and acquired ability and also because of his prominence in the commercial and financial life of this town- ship. Mr. Mortensen takes a deep and abiding interest in everything which pertains to the material advancement of Hamlin township. Every enterprise intended to promote the advancement of Audubon county is certain to receive his hearty support. He is rated as one of the progressive citizens of the community in which he lives and the high respect in which he is held by all classes of people is a deserving compliment to an intelligent, broad-minded and most worthy man.
Hans Mortensen was born on May 13, 1877, in the province of Schles- wig, Germany. He is the son of Nels and Carrie (Rattenborg) Mortensen, who were natives of Denmark and farmers. They were the parents of ten children, of whom Hans was the third. He received a good common-school education but, being the eldest son, he was, to his regret, compelled to quit school and go to work before he had proceeded far with his education.
When Hans Mortensen was three years of age, the family came to the United States, landing in New York City. After landing in this country, the family proceeded to Cass county, Iowa, locating near Atlantic, where they remained for nearly two years. Then they came to Audubon county and located near Gray. Later they moved to Sharon township and after that to Hamlin township, where the parents died.
Mr. Mortensen lived at home until he had reached his majority and then worked out by the month for one year. He was then married and rented land for three years, later purchasing one hundred and twenty acres in Sharon township. After five years, he sold this farm and purchased
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eighty acres in Hamlin township. He lived upon this farm for four years. In 1910 Mr. Mortensen purchased one hundred and sixty acres in Hamlin township. This farm was without any material improvements at the time Mr. Mortensen acquired possession of it. Subsequently, he built a large ten-room' house, with a bath, pantry, closets and all of the modern equip- ments for the up-to-date country house. It it a most modern home and has furnace, gaslights, waterworks, etc. Mr. Mortensen also built good barns, sheds, silos, etc. His silo holds one hundred and fifty tons of ensilage. The barn is a very large structure, fifty-two by sixty feet, and has a basement and a brick foundation.
On September 5, 1900, Mr. Mortensen was married to Elizabeth Juel, who was born on March 18, 1884, in Schleswig, Germany. She is the daugh- ter of Nels and Mary (Carstensen) Juel, who came to the United States about 1894. Mr. and Mrs. Mortensen have one daughter, Valborg, who was born on October 26, 1904.
Mr. Mortensen has the most modern improvements on his farm that may be found in this section of the state of Iowa and he has a reputation of having the best set of buildings in Audubon county. The improvements cost approximately ten thousand dollars, outside of Mr. Mortensen's own work and other incidental expenses. He also has a splendid orchard. Mr. Mort- ensen helped to organize the Farmers Savings Bank and is a director of this bank at the present time. He is also a stockholder in the Farmers Thresh- ing Company.
Politically, Hans Mortensen is a Democrat. He is at present the trustee of Hamlin township and is filling this office with credit to himself and to the people who elected him. The Mortensen family are members of the Danish Lutheran church and are active in the support of this denomination.
JAMES WILLIAM JENSEN.
Although James William Jensen, a successful farmer of Greeley town- ship, Audubon county, Iowa, is a native son of this country, his parents were natives of Denmark. They located in this country, however, more than a half century ago. For several years James William Jensen was a successful school teacher in Audubon county, but gave up this profession for farming. His valuable and highly productive farm in Greely township is an evidence of the wisdom of his choice in quitting the school room for the farm.
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Mr. Jensen's parents were Hans and Bertha (Frederickson) Jensen, both natives of Denmark. Hans Jensen was a farmer in his native land and served the legal period in the Danish army. He came to America in 1863 when he was thirty years old. He first located in Wisconsin, where he bought a farm and farmed until 1869, six years after his arrival in America. In 1869 he removed to Shelby county, Iowa, and assisted in building the Rock Island railroad through Walnut. He also helped build the first house in Walnut. Later he purchased a farm in Shelby county. He lived in Shelby county for twelve years, and in the spring of 1881 he moved to Audubon county and purchased a farm. He farmed in Audobon county until 1894, when he retired, and during the succeeding years lived with his son, James William.
James William Jensen was born on August 3. 1869, in Sheby county, Iowa. He received his education in the country schools and after leaving the common schools he attended high school at Atlantic, Iowa. Then he taught for several years. In 1895 he purchased one hundred and twenty acres in Sharon township, Audubon county, and was engaged in general farming there. He now has two hundred and forty acres, but it is located in Greeley township. He feeds about a carload of cattle every year, and seventy-five head of hogs.
Mr. Jensen was married on August 17, 1894, to Matilda Peterson, daughter of Peter and Johannah (Larson) Peterson. Three children have been born to this marriage, Harvey. Eleanor and Leonard; the last-named died in infancy. Mrs. Jensen was born in Denmark. Her parents, who were also natives of that country, came to the United States in 1890, and located in Atlantic, Iowa. After being there a short time, they rented a farm in Shelby county, and then purchased a farm in Audubon county. Mrs. Jen- sen's parents are now living retired in Exira. They had eight children, Law- rence, Marten, Chris, Louis, Anna, Matilda, Albena, and Peter, who is deceased.
Mr. and Mrs. James William Jensen are members of the Seventh Day Adventist church. Mr. Jensen has been an elder in the church for a number of years, and is now serving in this capacity. He is identified with the for- tunes of the Republican party, but has never been active in its councils. Nevertheless, he is interested in all civic matters and is considered a man whose support can always be depended upon when public improvements are proposed. He has done much to build up a wholesome and active com- munity spirit and enjoys the confidence of his neighbors and fellow citizens.
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CHRIS KNUTSEN.
The Knutsen family, which is well known in Oakfield township, Audu- bon county, Iowa, has as one of the representatives of the second generation, Chris Knutsen, who owns one hundred and forty acres of land in Oakfield township, and who was born on December 3, 1853, in Denmark, the son of Knud and Caroline (Phillipson) Knutsen. A farmer in his native land until he came to America in 1874, Knud Knutsen located in Cass county, Iowa, and there worked as a section hand on the railroad for one year, after which he removed 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. He farmed this land until his death in 1906. His wife, the mother of Chris Knutsen, died in 1910. Knud and Caroline Knutsen had four children, Chris, Peter. Mary and Caroline.
Chris Knutsen, who was educated in the public schools of Denmark, came to America when he was eighteen years old, arriving here in 1871, three years before the arrival of his parents. He located at Atlantic, Iowa, tempor- arily, and there worked as a section hand on the Rock Island railroad for six years, and then went to Wyoming, where he worked for a time. Upon re- turning from Wyoming, he came to Oakfield township, Audubon county, and here purchased eighty acres of land in section 16, subsequently buying eighty acres more. Remaining in Oakfield township until 1904, he then moved to Cass county, Iowa, and remained there for five years, when he returned to Audubon county and purchased the farm upon which he now lives. This farm consists of one hundred and forty acres. Ordinarily Mr. Knutsen raises forty head of hogs every year, and by feeding a considerable portion of his grain to the hogs he has been able to derive a very satisfactory profit.
In January, 1880, nine years after coming to America, Chris Knutsen was married to Carrie Hansen, daughter of Hans N. and Ingabore Hansen They had one child, Kearne, who was born shortly before the death of Mrs. Knutsen. After her death Mr. Knutsen was married to Sena Nelsen, daugh- ter of Rasmus and Bertha Nelsen. Three children have been born to this second marriage. Bertha, Philip and Clarence.
Mr. and Mrs. Chris Knutsen are members of the Danish Lutheran church. A Democrat in politics, Mr. Knutsen has held only minor offices, but served efficiently as school director and road supervisor, two of the most important local offices in any community.
Like his brother, Peter, of Oakfield township, and his father before him, Chris Knutsen is a worthy citizen, a man who has conscientiously and honor-
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