USA > Iowa > Audubon County > History of Audubon county, Iowa; its people, industries, and institutions > Part 75
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John J. Quinby was born on February 10, 1849, in Chappaqua, West- chester county, New York. His quiet habits may be traced to his ancestry, for on both sides of the family his parents came from Quaker stock. Ile was the son of Underhill and Ann Loretta (Van Vorin) Quinby, both of
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New York state, where they grew up and married. When John was a baby of eight days, his mother passed away, and in 1860, when the boy had reached the age of ten, his father too was taken, and he went to the home of a widow, a Mrs. Sorrels. The father, who had been a farmer, was mar- ried three times, his second wife was Sarah Barmor, also of New York state. By the first marriage, there were four children: Etta, who after- wards became Mrs. Abram Buddell, of New York; Jennie Adams, also of New York state; John J., the subject of this sketch; and another child, the eldest, who died while young.
Early left an orphan, whatever of achievement and success has come to Mr. Quinby, came largely through his own efforts. Limited in his oppor- tunities to obtain an education, he nevertheless made use of the material he had, and developed a character which has made him the respected citizen of a large community.
John J. Quinby obtained what education he could in the local country schools, meantime working on a farm. When he was eighteen years old he went to Illinois, where he engaged in farming for the next two years. Returning to his native state he became a brakeman on the New York & Harlem railroad, a position he held for two and one-half years. Later, going to New York City, he drove a milk wagon for the same period of time. Becoming tired of the city, his fondness for the country returned, and for the next five years, he worked on a farm in Putnam county, Illinois, and later at Stuart, Iowa.
John J. Quinby was united in marriage to Etta Smith, of Illinois. After their marriage they returned to Mr. Quinby's home in New York state, where they lived for a year and one-half. Returning to Stewart, Iowa, he again engaged in farm work, remaining there for two and one- half years. Later Mr. and Mrs. Quinby removed to Audubon county, Iowa, first locating on Gray's ranch, and later one mile west of Ross, where they resided for four years. For over twenty years, Mr. Quinby was a grain dealer, and for ten years was proprietor and manager of a store, and for fourteen years he was postmaster of Ross.
Mr. Quinby has always been a stanch Republican. For the past twenty- two years he has been a Mason, and is now a member of the blue lodge at Audubon. He is a prominent member of the Methodist church.
Mr. and Mrs. Quinby are the parents of three children, Nellie, Albert and Jeston J. Nellie, born on September 16, 1874, married John Ruther- ford of Dolliver, Iowa, and to them were born six children: Merrill, born in 1898; Edna, 1900; Luvile, 1901; Mary, 1902; Jack, 1908, and Emmett,
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1909. Albert, born on September 16, 1876, married Laura Larsen, and their home is seven miles east of Audubon. They also have six children : Mildred, born in 1902; Edith, 1905; Irene, 1907; Doratha, 1909; John, 1907; and George, 1911. Jeston J. married Gusta Claughby and lives in Des Moines, Iowa.
A man who can hold public office for fourteen years must obviously be a man worthy of a public trust, and of the confidence of the people. This may truthfully be said of John Quinby. Mr. Quinby had much to do with building up the commercial interests of the town in which he lived, and his genial nature and fondness for people has, with the co-operation of his wife, made their home a pleasant part of the social life of their home town. In April, 1915, Mr. Quinby moved to Audubon, where he is now living retired.
OSCAR MILLER.
Among the enterprising farmers and stock raisers of Greeley township, this county, few are better known than the gentleman whose name the reader notes above, and a brief biography covering the salient points in his life will be interesting to his many friends in this county.
Oscar Miller was born in Johnson county, Iowa, March 2, 1874, the son of John and Susan ( Lippy) Miller, both natives of York county, Pennsyl- vania, of German descent, who came to Iowa after their marriage in the east and settled in Johnson county, where they lived until 1882, in which year they moved to Audubon county, living here for some years, at the end of which time they moved to Adair county, where they died some years later. They were the parents of nine children, five sons and four daugh- ters: Calvin, who lives at Friend. Nebraska; Oliver, who lives in Adair county, Iowa; Emory, who lives in Roger Mills county, Oklahoma; Lloyd, who lives at Lane, South Dakota; Oscar, the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Mary Coglin, of Exira; Mrs. Anna Picking, of Hamlin; Mrs. Elizabeth Purdy, who died in Adair county; and Estella, who also died in Adair county.
Oscar Miller received but a limited education in his youth and remained at home until his marriage in 1899, in which year he bought his present farm in Greeley township, this county, where he since has made his home. This farm consists of one hundred and twenty acres and on this Mr. Miller carries on a general system of farming and engages quite profitably in stock
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raising. He has brought his farm to an excellent state of cultivation and is regarded as being quite well circumstanced.
On February 15, 1899, in Greeley township, Oscar Miller was united in marriage with Low M. Hays, who was born in Rock Island county, Illi- nois, December 30, 1876, the daughter of Frew and Louisa M. (Reed) Hays. A genealogy of the Hays family is presented in the biographical sketch of Frew Hays, of this county, elsewhere in this volume.
To Oscar and Low M. (Hays) Miller have been born three children, all daughters: Olive, born on March 4, 1901; Winnie, June 21, 1902; and Iva, April 4, 1906, charming little girls, a continual source of sunshine in the happy home of their parents.
Mr. and Mrs. Miller are supporters of the Baptist church, of which Mrs. Miller is a member, and they are actively interested in all the good works of their community. Mr. Miller is a Democrat and though taking an active interest in local political affairs never has sought office, being con- tent to give the best of his time and his energies to his home and his farm. He and Mrs. Miller are popular in the social circle in which they move and have the confidence and esteem of their neighbors.
EDWARD FRICK. .
While success cannot be achieved without unflagging industry, the futility of effort is often noticeable in the business world and results from the fact that it is not combined with sound judgment. Many a man who gives his entire life to toil, earnest and unremitting, never acquires a compe- tence, but when his labor is well directed, prosperity usually follows. Ed- ward Frick is one whose work has been supplemented by careful manage- ment and today he is numbered among the successful business men of Audu- bon county.
Edward Frick was born on August 15, 1852, at Freeport, Illinois, the son of Louis and Eliza (Duensing) Frick. Louis Frick was a native of Germany, and his wife was also a native of the Fatherland. They were married in Germany and came to America from their native land, subse- quently settling in Illinois. Louis Frick was killed in an accident with a team of horses when his son, Edward, was only seven years of age. Mr. Frick was with his father at the time of the accident, but escaped unharmed. Louis Frick and wife were the parents of five children, Caroline, Edward, Mary, Josephine and Henry, the last two named being now deceased.
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Edward Frick was educated in the common schools of Illinois. For a time he worked in a molasses factory for twenty-five cents a day, and was compelled to take his pay in molasses. At this time he was about eight or nine years of age. Subsequently he began work on the Rock Island railroad at the age of eighteen years, first as a brakeman, being afterwards promoted to the position of freight conductor before he was nineteen years old, then later advanced to passenger conductor, and was engaged in this work con- tinuously for thirty years. In the meantime, during 1879, he purchased land in Audubon county, Iowa, at five and six dollars an acre. At one time he owned four hundred and eighty-seven acres of land, all of which was situ- ated in Audubon county. At the time of his first dealings in land he had only about thirty dollars cash to pay down on the property. As a passenger conductor he ran out of Chicago to West Liberty, lowa, for a number of , years. Mr. Frick was requested to go West by the railroad officials, and ran a passenger train out of Denver, Colorado. He spent the last fifteen years of his railroading life traveling out of Denver and Colorado Springs.
Edward Frick was married on July 30, 1876, to Henrietta Marquardt, who was born on October 13, 1854, in Michigan City, Indiana, and who was a daughter of Julius and Ernestine Carolina (Wiese) Marquardt, both of whom were natives of Germany. Julius Marquardt was a baker in his native land, and after coming to America he and his family located in Indiana. Mrs. Frick's father died when she was only two years old, and her mother died when she was nine years old. They were members of the German Lutheran church.
Edward Frick and wife are the parents of four children, Edward Louis, Daisy Adelaide, Branch Railey and Myrtle Marquardt. Edward is located in Honolulu, where he operates a "kodograph" shop, and sells curios gath- ered from the islands. He also carries a line of kodaks. Branch Railey is a druggist at Vale, Oregon. Myrtle is the wife of Dr. R. F. Childs, of Audubon. Daisy A. Frick was educated in the Minnesota Institute of Phar- macy, at Minneapolis, and also graduated from the East Denver high school. She is the proprietor and manager of the Frick Drug Company, of Audu- bon, Iowa, operating the "Rexall" store, which is the leading drug store in the city of Audubon. Miss Frick is well qualified as a business woman, and in her capacity as manager of this store has built up a large and lucrative business. She is also the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of land in Dickinson county, Iowa, and has a handsome cottage at Des Moines Beach, Lake Okoboji, Iowa.
Edward Frick is a Republican, but although keenly interested in poli-
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tics and all public measures he has never been a candidate for public office and has never held office. He is a man who is well known in this section of Audubon county, and is now making his home in Audubon. Although his land interests, four hundred and seventy-one acres, are in Dickinson county, Towa. He is a man of sterling integrity, of upright moral principles, and worthy the confidence and respect of his fellow men.
ANDREW F. ANDERSON.
There are individuals in nearly every community, who, by reason of pronounced ability and force of character, rise above the heads of the masses and command the esteem of their fellow citizens. Characterized by perseverance and a directing spirit to virtues that never fail, such men always make their presence felt and the vigor of their strong personalities serves as an incentive to the young and rising generation. To this energetic and enterprising class, Andrew F. Anderson, a well-known farmer of Exira township, very properly belongs. Mr. Anderson has devoted his life to the industries at home and has succeeded remarkably well.
Andrew F. Anderson, the proprietor of eight hundred and forty acres in Exira township, Audubon county, Iowa, and in Benton township, Cass county, was born in October II, 1859, in Denmark. He is the son of Anders G. and Mary (Storenson) Anderson, both natives of Denmark. The former was a farmer and farmed there until he came to America in 1868 and located in Shelby county, Iowa, north of Walnut. Here he bought forty acres of land and farmed in that county all of his life. He did gen- eral farming and before his death had increased his holdings to one hundred and twenty acres. He was born in 1834, and died in 1912. He served in the Danish-Prussian War of 1864.
Anders G. and Mary Anderson were the parents of fourteen children, . nine of whom are now living, Andrew, the subject of this sketch, Anna, Nels, Marten, Peter, Mary, John, Ida and Henry.
Andrew F. Anderson received his education in the schools of Shelby county, Iowa, and after leaving school, took up farming and worked as a farm hand until he was twenty-two years of age. He then located at Atlan- tic, Iowa, where he worked as a drayman. He was also engaged in the oil business until 1900, when he moved to the place upon which he is now living.
When Mr. Anderson was twenty years old, he purchased eighty acres
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of land in Shelby county and increased his holdings to eight hundred and forty acres. Upon this farm he put five thousand dollars worth of improve- ments. He raises a great many hogs and cattle but rents out most of his land.
Andrew F. Anderson was married on March 27, 1883, to Osilla Krin- gel, the daughter of Soren and Mary Ann Kringel. Five children have been born to this union, Arthur, Vera, Edith, Max and Raymond. Arthur mar- ried Mildred Bartlett and has three children, Isetta, Donald and Ronald. Vera married A. G. Colbin and has one daughter, Vera Aileen. Edith, Max and Raymond are at home. Mrs. Anderson was born in Denmark and her parents were also natives of that country. Her father was a farmer in Den- mark and farmed there until he came to this country. They located in Shelby county, Iowa, where her father bought a farm and farmed until 1892, when he moved to Atlantic, Iowa. He lived there until his death, February 1, 1909. He was born on May 19, 1820, and his wife was born in 1828. They had ten children, eight of whom are living, Lars, Charles, Andrew, Osilla, Mary, Christian, Fred and Marten.
Mr. and Mrs. Anderson and family are members of the Baptist church. Mr. Anderson is a trustee of this church and has been for many years. Dur- ing his residence in Atlantic, he served as councilman of that city. Mr. Anderson is what might be called a Republican with prohibition views. He is a decided temperance man and uses his influence and his vote to fight the liquor traffic wherever he can. He deserves to rank as a representative citizen of Audubon county. Andrew F. Anderson possesses the entire con- fidence of the people with whom he has come into contact.
WILLIAM SHERMAN ROBERTS.
It is interesting to note from the beginning the growth and develop- ment of a community, to note the lines along which progress has been made and to take cognizance of those whose industry and leadership in the work of advancement have rendered possible the prosperity of the locality under consideration. William Sherman Roberts is one of the sturdy indi- viduals who has contributed to the material welfare of Audubon, where he resides. He is an up-to-date business man, public spirited as a citizen and progressive in all that the term implies.
William Sherman Roberts, the operator of a popular dray line in Audu-
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bon, and a city councilman of Audubon, was born on September 19, 1865, on a farm in Illinois. He is the son of Oliver Hazard Perry Roberts, who was born in 1829, and who died in August, 1904. Oliver Hazard Perry Roberts married Martha Woodburn Miller, who was born in 1838, and who is a native of Pennsylvania. She is now living in Los Angeles, Cali- fornia. Her husband, Oliver Hazard Perry Roberts, was a native of Indiana.
In 1866 Oliver Hazard Perry Roberts and his wife, Martha Wood- burn (Miller) Roberts, came to Audubon county. They lived in Exira for one year and then moved to a farm in Leroy township. The farm was com- posed of wild land and was wholly unimproved. Mr. Roberts erected a frame building. He cut timber out of a grove, hauled it to Exira and had it sawed into boards and hauled the lumber back again to the farm. They lived on this farm of two hundred and forty acres until his death. The orig- inal farm of one hundred and twelve acres is still owned by the family. Oliver Hazard Perry Roberts was prominent in the affairs of Leroy town- ship and also in county affairs. He was road supervisor of the north half of Audubon county and laid out the roads in conjunction with the survey- ors. Martha Woodburn Miller was the daughter of Robert Miller, who was an early settler in Audubon county.
To Mr. and Mrs. O. H. P. Roberts seven children were born, namely : William S., is the subject of this sketch; Hubert Merill lives in Los Ange- les ; Robert E. lives in California ; Ida is the deceased wife of John Ruhs ; Mrs. Mary E. Bates lives at Venice, California ; Louis Woodburn lives in Los Angeles ; and Oscar Perry also lives in Los Angeles.
William Sherman Roberts received a good common-school education. He attended school only three months each year and during this period worked on his father's farm. When twenty-one years of age he began farming for himself. Later he purchased eighty acres, adjoining the John Greeley farm, on which he lived for three years. In December, 1894, he moved to Audubon. He bought out a drayage business and operated it until 1908, when he went to Omaha and worked as a street-car conductor for sixteen months. He then returned and bought back his dray business again. He operates three teams which are driven by his three sons.
William Sherman Roberts was married on November 14, 1886, to Isabel Shoup, who was born in Illinois, and who is the daughter of Samuel and Nancy Shoup, former residents of Audubon county. Samuel Shoup lives in Colorado. His wife is deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. William Sher- man Roberts the following children have been born: Samuel Perry; Mrs.
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Iva May Martin, who lives at Mason City; Mrs. Cora E. Davis, who lives in Los Angeles; Mrs. Frances Katsontonefur, of Lincoln, Nebraska; and Alvin, Jesse, Glen, Lillian, Bonnie, Vernon, Louis, Edward and Martha, all of whom live at home.
In politics Mr. Roberts is identified with the Democratic party. Through- out his life he has been prominent locally in the affairs of the Democratic party. He is now serving as a member of the Audubon city council. Mr. and Mrs. Roberts and family are members of the Christian church. Mr. Roberts is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, of which he is manager. He is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Woodmen of the World, of which last order he is the clerk.
HON. OLE H. JACOBSON.
Hon. Ole H. Jacobson, farmer and stockman in Sharon township, and manufacturer of brick, tile and hollow-ware at Kimballton, Iowa, is one of the best-known citizens of Audubon county. Although entitled to rank as a self-made man, he received a splendid education which he has been able to turn to good account as a member of the Iowa General Assembly, where for two sessions he was recognized as one of the most prominent leaders. Perhaps the greatest single tribute to his service in this legislative assembly was the act, of which he was the author, to abolish contract labor in this state. It is a tribute to his energy and to his leadership that his fight in behalf of the measure was crowned with success, and that today in the state of Iowa contract labor is illegal. For nearly a generation this sub- ject has been uppermost in the legislative sessions of most of the states, and though it has been abolished in some states, the fact that it obtains in others is a striking evidence of the power necessary ·to overcome the system by which prison-made goods are thrown into a free market in competition with the products of free labor. Mr. Jacobson had a hard fight to bring this measure to a successful issue and is entitled to the credit for its passage.
Ole H. Jacobson, the proprietor of a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Sharon township, and a well-known farmer and manufacturer of this county, was born on December 4. 1866, in Denmark. His parents, Ole H., Sr., and Sophia (Petersen) Jacobson, owned a small tract of land in Denmark, where they were farmers, which was sold when the family came
OLE H. JACOBSON
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to America, in 1869. They located seven miles northwest of the place where Ole H., Sr., is now living, in Shelby county, Iowa. Here he pur- chased land at two dollars and fifty cents an acre, and after living there for six years, in 1875, removed to Audubon county, to the farm where Ole H., Jr., is now living. This farm, comprising one hundred and sixty acres, and purchased for nine dollars an acre, was wholly unimproved. Mr. Jacobson improved the farm in various ways, and increased his holdings to three hun- dred and eighty acres. Here he farmed until 1894, when he retired from active life and removed to Kimballton, where he is now living. He is a vet- eran of the War of 1864, and was born on the island of Aro, November 22, 1834. His wife, the mother of the subject of this sketch, was born on January 21, 1835, and died on June 1, 1914. Of their nine children only five are now living. Ole H. is the only one living in Audubon county. The other living children are Chris H., Christena, Justesen, Sophia and Clarence.
Ole H. Jacobson received his education in the schools of Audubon county, and after leaving school attended the graded school of Atlantic and finally Des Moines College, of Des Moines, Iowa. Upon leaving col- lege he located in Lincoln county, Nebraska, where he remained for five years. during which time he was engaged in selling windmills and imple- ments. In 1893 he returned to Audubon county and located on the farm where he is now living, and which he bought and improved by the erection of a comfortable house. He is an extensive breeder and feeder of pure- bred Shorthorn cattle. He feeds about one hundred hogs every year besides cattle, raises seventy acres of corn, which yields fifty bushels to the acre, and some forty or fifty acres of small grain. All of the grain is fed to the live stock on the farm. Mr. Jacobson has invested approximately seven thousand dollars in improvements to the farm.
In 1908 Mr. Jacobson built the Crystal Spring brick and tile factory. at Kimballton. This company manufacturers all kinds of brick and hollow- ware, and is the only tile factory in this part of the county.
During the sessions of 1910 and 1912, Mr. Jacobson served as a member of the Iowa General Assembly, having been elected as a Republican. Mr. Jacobson also has served as a member of the board of township trustees, having been elected for . three years. During 1890-91 he was township assessor.
On December 17, 1891, Ole H. Jacobson was married to Stella Huglin, the daughter of J. M. and Sarah (Hattie) Huglin. Of the six children,
(50)
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Esther, Harold, Zela, Russell, Forest and Ruth, born to this marriage, all are unmarried and live at home. Mrs. Jacobson was born in Madison county, Iowa. Her parents, the father a native of Germany, and the mother of Pennsylvania, were married in Madison county, Iowa, and farmed there until 1886, when they removed to Wayne county, Nebraska, where the father engaged in the drug business, and where he is now living retired, in Hoskins, Nebraska. The mother died on April 23, 1896. They had eight children, only five of whom, Mrs. Libbie Kern, Charles, Mrs. Jacob- son, Mrs. Nettie Wetherholdt and Bert, are now living.
Mr. and Mrs. Ole H. Jacobson are members of the Baptist church, and Mr. Jacobson has served as superintendent of the Sunday school for the past fifteen years. He is a deacon and secretary and clerk of the con- gregation.
Any community is either better or worse for the life and career of every individual citizen who is a member of it. There can be no question that Audubon county has greatly profited from the career of Hon. Ole H. Jacobson, and that he has added distinction and honor to the fair name of this county. Honorable and upright in all the relations of life, he is popular among all classes and admired by all people.
JAMES G. WHITE.
Holding distinctive prestige among the enterprising citizens of Audu- bon county, Iowa, is James G. White, a well-known farmer of Greeley town- ship. The career of James G. White is that of a self-made man, who by the exercise of the talents with which nature endowed him has risen to the position he now occupies as one of the influential and well-to-do men of Gree- ley township. He is a creditable representative of one of the old and highly esteemed pioneer families of Iowa, and possesses many of the admirable qualities and characteristics of his sturdy ancestors, who came to Iowa in a very early day and who have figured prominently in the history of this section.
James G. White was born on July 17, 1867, in Wapello county, Iowa. He is the son of Lieut .- Col. E. G. White, who was born on February 22, 1823, and who died on March 28, 1889. Lieut .- Col. E. G. White was born in Pennsylvania. He was a soldier in three wars. When still a young man he enlisted in the Seminole Indian War. At this time Ephraim G. White
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