USA > Iowa > Audubon County > History of Audubon county, Iowa; its people, industries, and institutions > Part 80
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Although a Republican in politics and identified with the party which is generally dominant in Audubon county, Mr. Clausen has never taken an active interest in political affairs and has never been a candidate for office, devoting himself almost exclusively to farming. The Clausen family are all members of the Danish Lutheran church and are prominent in the affairs of the local conregation.
Christen T. Clausen is regarded as one of the best citizens of Audubon county. He is well-informed, intelligent, affable in manners and agreeable by disposition and therefore, he is popular in the neighborhood where he lives and, of course, is well acquainted throughout Audubon county.
JAMES CHANNON.
James Channon, a well-known farmer of Audubon county, now living retired at Exira, who owns one hundred and sixty acres of land in Greeley township, was born on November 20, 1849, in Sidmouth, Devonshire, Eng- land, the son of William and Sarah (Quick) Channon,, both natives of Devonshire.
William Channon, a carpenter by trade, followed this occupation until he came to America in 1852, and after arriving in this country, he located at Corydon, Iowa, and worked in a saw-mill and at the carpenter's trade in Polk county, helping to build many log cabins in that county. When the Civil War broke out, he enlisted as a soldier in behalf of the Union and was killed in the battle of Shiloh. He was the father of ten children, three of whom came to Iowa: William, who lives at Des Moines, Iowa; Anna, who married George Phippen, and James, the subject of this sketch.
On account of his father's death and the responsibility of caring for his mother, James Channon was unable to attend school during his youth. His mother never came to America ; but died in Devonshire, England. When
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eighteen years old, James came to America and located at Des Moines, where he worked as a farm hand for a short time. Eventually, he took a place with the Northern Pacific Railroad Company and helped to build the railroad. Working for this company a short time, he located at Fort Dodge, Iowa, where he worked as a coal miner for seven years and then located near Des Moines, Iowa, on a farm with his brother. After working on the farm for five years, he went to Colorado, where he remained for four years, and then returned to Polk county. There, after his marriage, he farmed for one year and then he and his wife came to Anita on the Rock Island railroad. He walked to Exira, and there operated a farm, which he cultivated for sixteen years; subsequently, he purchased two hundred acres and farmed it until his retirement and removal to Exira in 1914.
On February 25, 1883. James Channon was married to Mary E. Young, the daughter of John and Matilda (Shellhart) Young. Four children, Nora, Bertha, George and Ralph, have been born to this marriage. Nora married Charles Fauss and they are the parents of three children, Lester, Wesley and Helen; Bertha is the wife of John Jacobson and has two chil- dren, James Carl and Thelma; George died in 1907; Ralph married Lena Jensen, and lives on the home place.
Mrs. Channon was born in Polk county, Iowa, and her parents were natives of Elkhart county, Indiana. The father grew to manhood in Elkhart county, but on reaching maturity, came to Polk county, Iowa and was one of the first settlers, helping to build one of the first houses in Des Moines. He lived in Polk county until his death.
The mother of Mrs. Channon, who before her marriage, was Matilda Shellhart, was born near Elkhart, Indiana, December 4, 1841, and died at her home near Ankeny, Iowa, January 27. 1907, at the age of eighty-five years, one month and twenty-three days. She came to Polk county with her parents when six years of age, at which time they settled three miles and a half southwest of Ankeny. Except for two years spent in Guthrie county, her entire life after this period was spent in Polk county. John Young and Matilda Shellhart were married on November 21, 1858, and began house- keeping on a farm less than one mile from her home at the time of her death. They labored together patiently, hand in hand, faithful and true to each other. Mrs. Young was well acquainted with pioneer life and did her part in making the home beautiful and attractive. Patiently and lovingly she reared her family of little ones and with the delight of a fond mother, she shared their joys and sorrows as they grew up together to manhood and womanhood. To John and Matilda Young were born eight children: Mar-
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tha Ellen, who died when two years old; Mary E., who married Mr. Channon ; Mrs. Eliza Jane Duenzing, who lives in Texas; Mrs. Bertha Matilda Rhodes, of Chelsea, Idaho; Sarah Ann, who is the wife of Frank Porter; Walter W., who married Minnie Coby; John L., who married Sarah Good, and George B.
Mr. and Mrs. James Channon are members of the Christian church. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, the Free and Accepted Masons and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Politically, he is a Republican, and has held the office of school director.
Not only did Mr. Channon enjoy a remarkable success as a farmer in this county, but his career is also valuable to the community as a neighbor and citizen. He is a man who has always believed in law enforcement and who has always given the weight of his influence to the support of our demo- cratic institutions. His children, who have been reared to honorable and useful lives, are a credit to their parents and to the various communities where they live.
HENRY J. HOOGENAKKER.
The personal biography of a successful newspaper man is always inter- esting. The average newspaper man or editor is generally a self-made indi- vidual who began as "printer's devil" and rose to the rank of manager and owner. The newspaper man of today wields a more powerful influence over the minds and hearts of the people through the medium of his publica- tion than any other single factor in the arrangement of things as they are and must be in this great and free Republic. The press rights our wrongs and redresses our grievances and its tremendous influence shapes and forces the better legislation which the people are continually demanding. Its power is tremendous when one considers that the recent tariff and monetary legisla- tion was brought about by the people expressing their sentiment through the columns of the newspapers. The men at the head of the newspapers of today are, as a rule, well educated and thoroughly practical men of affairs. The old time "hit and miss" editor who led a precarious sort of existence, while he was a lovable character in many ways, has given way to the younger men of business ability who have placed the publishing of the newspapers upon a firmer financial basis. The newspaper man is a member of a distinct pro- fession ; his newspaper is an established business institution in which the community takes a just and abiding pride. The success of a local newspaper
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generally reflects the standing and prosperity of the community in which it is published. Audubon county is fortunate in having some excellent news- papers published within its borders and one of the most successful is the Audubon Republican, which is edited and managed by a wide-awake editor whose ability is unquestioned and who rose from the ranks of the printers to become a proprietor since early manhood. Henry J. Hoogenakker is one of the able young newspaper men of western Iowa and has had a striking and successful career along the lines of his chosen profession.
Henry J. Hoogenakker was born on August 10, 1879, in Pella, Iowa, son of Arie and Harriet ( Brucklander ) Hoogenakker, natives of Holland. Arie Hoogenakker was born in 1840 and crossed the ocean when fourteen years of age in 1854. He was a painter by trade and located at Pella, Iowa. Here he was married on August 31, 1865, and reared his family. The Hollanders have customarily settled in colonies in America and Mr. Hoog- enakker formed one of a large colony of immigrants who settled in the vicin- ity of Pella. This colony came across the country by rail as far as Keokuk and then traveled by wagon and afoot one hundred and twenty-five miles to Pella. Arie Hoogenakker and wife still reside in Pella and have reared a family of ten children. Arie was one of eight children. Henry J., received his education in the Pella public schools, and when still a youth, entered the office of the Pella Advertiser to learn the printer's trade. He remained in this office for a period of three years. He then spent one and one-half years at Knoxville, Iowa. Following this employment he worked at his trade in various printing offices at Des Moines until 1898. He then spent one year in the office of the Pella Chronicle. He started a job printing office in Colfax, Iowa, and remained there three years, in the meantime buying out the Colfax Tribune. For four years thereafter he was editor of the Review at Donnell- son, Iowa. He was then owner of the Clarion, at Richland, Iowa, for four years. He purchased the Audubon Republican on October 1, 1911. Since taking charge of the newspaper he has made a financial success of the enter- prise and has built up the circulation to the large number of twenty-six hun- dred subscribers. The office is well equipped with modern linotype and the latest machinery and does excellent printing.
H. J. Hoogenakker was married on January 17, 1900, to Marie Keeler, of Colfax. They have one child, Harriet, born on May 19, 1913. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. He is also an Odd Fellow and Modern Woodman.
The political career of this successful and enterprising publisher has been worthy of note and shows another phase of a well-rounded character
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and pronounced capabilities. He is allied with the Republican party, and has taken an active and influential part in the politics of his state. While editor of the Richland Clarion, he served the city as mayor.
In 1908 Mr. Hoogenakker was the Republican candidate for repre- sentative from Keokuk county and two years later was urged to become the nominee without opposition for state senator. He has attended every state convention of his party as a delegate since 1898. He has resided in the first, sixth, seventh and ninth congressional districts during the course of his news- paper career and is widely and favorably known in those districts. At the present time, Mr. Hoogenakker occupies the honored position as president of the Western Iowa Editorial Association. He is a genial, energetic char- acter who allows nothing to stand in the way of making a success of all of his undertakings and is possessed of those attributes which make for good citizenship. He is eminently fitted by nature and by training for his pro- fession and the appearance of his publication justifies the statement that he is a talented and capable editor.
J. L. JORGENSEN.
The son of a Danish fisherman who has long since passed to the great beyond, J. L. Jorgensen, who came to America about twenty-seven years ago, and who has become the owner of one hundred and twenty acres of fine farming land in Sharon township, was born on July 3, 1871, in Den- mark. His parents, Albert and Meta Jorgensen, were both natives of Den- mark, and lived there until their death. For many years Albert Jorgensen was a farm hand and a laborer in a brick-yard, but after his marriage he became a fisherman and followed that occupation until his death in 1883. His wife, the mother of J. L. Jorgensen, died in 1911, after rearing three children, Peter, Chris and J. L.
J. L. Jorgensen received his education in the Danish schools, and after leaving school worked as a farm hand and cattle herder until he came to America.
Coming to this country in 1888, Mr. Jorgensen located at Kimballton, Iowa, and worked as a farm hand in the vicinity of this town for about seven years. He then purchased forty acres of land in Sharon township, Audubon county, and it is upon this farm that he is now living. Mr. Jorgen- sen paid twenty-eight dollars an acre for it, but the increase in value of farm
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land has made his property very much more valuable than it was at the time he purchased it. In the meantime he has also added an additional eighty acres, and in his farm he has invested approximately five thousand dollars in buildings, fences and ditches. When Mr. Jorgensen came to America he had very little money and it must be regarded as a tribute to his energy, his economy and his good management that he has been able to save from his earnings sufficient money to own one hundred and twenty acres of productive land.
J. L. Jorgensen was married in 1906, to Nelsene Jorgensen, daughter of Jeppe Mortensen. Two children have been born to this marriage, Albert Chris, who is at home with his parents and George L., deceased.
Mr. Jorgensen feeds about seventy-five head of hogs every year, and raises twenty acres of corn which averages fifty bushels to the acre. He has found mixed farming to be very profitable.
The Jorgensens are members of the Danish Lutheran church, in which Mr. Jorgensen has been a trustee for some four years. He is an independent Republican in politics, and a man who uses his vote wisely, always in the best interest of local, state and national government. Mr. Jorgensen is an intelligent and well informed citizen and recognizes the responsibility which suffrage entails. His home, his family and his farm are his chief interests. He is popular in the community where he lives and is well known in Sharon township.
ALBERT FREDERICK.
Albert Frederick is widely known in Audubon county, Iowa, and is one of the honored citizens of Greeley township. He has led a life of strenuous activity in agricultural affairs. His well-directed efforts in the practical affairs of life, his capable management of his business interests and his sound judgment have brought to him an exceptional measure of prosperity which demonstrates what may be accomplished by a man of energy and ambition, who is not afraid to work and who has the ambition to continue his labors in the face of disaster and discouragement. In all the relations of life, Albert Frederick has commanded the confidence and respect of those with whom he has been brought into contact. A biographical history of this locality would not be complete without a record of his career.
Albert Frederick was born on August 28, 1859, in Howard county, Maryland. He is the son of Jacob and Mary M. (Shipley) Frederick, who
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ALBERT FREDERICK
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were also natives of Howard county, Maryland. Jacob Frederick came to Audubon county, Iowa, in 1878. In his younger days, he was a black- smith and later he took up the miller's trade. During the Civil War he acted as a spy for the Union army. He was also quite a large property owner in Baltimore, but was forced to sell out and move to Ohio shortly before the close of the war. He lived in Ohio only about eighteen months, where he conducted a butcher shop. When he came to Illinois in 1866, he purchased a farm and followed farming the remainder of his life.
The Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific railroad was not yet built when he came to Audubon county. He first bought a homestead three miles east of Audubon but later sold that and bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in Greeley township from the Rock Island Railroad Company, paying seven dollars an acre for one eighty-acre tract, and twelve dollars an acre for the other tract. He was a member of the Christian church as was his wife also, although in her younger days she had been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. They were the parents of seven children, of whom Albert, the subject of this sketch, was the third child.
Albert Frederick received a common-school education and lived at home until he was twenty years of age, when he commenced working out by the month, working two years. He received fifteen dollars a month for nine months during the year and during the other three months, worked for his board. In January, 1881, Mr. Frederick purchased eighty acres of land in Greeley township. In the fall of the same year he purchased eighty acres more, giving the same price for his land that his father had paid. The "Ridge" road, which runs through the land, was formerly an Indian trail and later used as a stage and mail route from Exira to Penora, Iowa.
On May 10, 1885, Albert Frederick was married in Greeley township, Audubon county, to Nellie M. Knox, of Greeley township. She was born in Exira township, Audubon county, and is the daughter of Xerxes and Nancy (Smith) Knox, natives of Ohio and Pennsylvania, respectively. Her father was a soldier in the Civil War, having enlisted in Company G, Third Regiment Iowa Volunteer Cavalry. He was taken prisoner and was confined in the great Confederate prison in Arkansas. He was married twice, his first marriage occurring before the war, and the second just after the war.
Mr. and Mrs. Albert Frederick have nine children, five sons and four daughters, namely : Clara B., born on May 4, 1886, married Ira Johnson, of Wessington Springs, South Dakota, and has two children, Ruth and
(53)
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Laverne and Thelma Arlene; Iva A., December 29, 1887, married Fred Brau, of Greeley township, and has three children, Florence E., Bernice B. and Milan H .; Maud A., July 24, 1891, married George Schwab, of Greeley township, and has three children, Lola M., Harold F. and Howard M .; Ruth E., November 20, 1894; Lee, December 10, 1896; Lloyd L., April 22, 1899; Lyman R., January 24, 1902, Earl K., March 8, 1905; and Marvin Dale, September 5, 1910.
Mr. Frederick makes a specialty of raising Hereford cattle most of which are registered. He feeds about two carloads of cattle and two car- loads of hogs each year. He has added to his original farin and now owns three hundred and sixty acres of land in Greeley township. He is the second largest landholder in the township. Mr. Frederick also owns one hundred and sixty acres of land in Jerauld county, South Dakota. He is a stockholder in the C. Haffen Lumber Company, of Council Bluffs. It is an interesting fact that Mr. Frederick's father helped to lay out the roads in Greeley township.
Mr. Frederick is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Modern Brotherhood of America and the National Reserve. Mr. and Mrs. Frederick are members of the Order of the Eastern Star. In politics, Mr. Frederick is a Democrat. He has served as township clerk for eight years, secretary of the school board for fourteen years and justice of the peace. The family are mem- bers of the Congregational church at Exira.
CHRISTIAN J. H. WOLF.
To have begun life on a rented farm and with little or no financial assistance, and within a comparatively short time to have become the proud possessor of a farm of six hundred and forty acres of fertile land is no small achievement. Yet Christian Wolf, the subject of this sketch, has done this very thing. Mr. Wolf raises from one to two hundred acres of corn every year, and has almost an equal amount of land in small grain. He feeds from two hundred to three hundred head of hogs every year, and ships off his place three to four carloads of cattle.
Christian J. H. Wolf, the proprietor of six hundred and forty acres of rich farming land in Exira township, is a native of Schleswig, Germany,
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having been born there on September 23, 1866. He is the son of Peter and Margaret (Peterson) Wolf, both natives of Schleswig, Germany. The former was a farmer and stock buyer in Germany and followed that business until he came to America in 1883, and located west of Exira. Here he pur- chased a farm of ninety-two acres at seventeen dollars an acre. He farmed this for several years, and increased his holdings until he owned two hun- dred and seventy-four acres of land. During all this period he was engaged in general farming. In 1902 he moved to Exira and retired. He is now living in Exira. Peter Wolf served throughout the Danish-German War, and also served in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. Peter Wolf was born on January 1, 1833. His wife, who before her marriage was Margaret Peterson, was born on February 3. 1835. She died on March 22, 191I. Peter Wolf and wife had eight children as follow: Matilda, Jens P., Chris- tian, Christina, Welberg, Margaret, Mary and Nickolena.
Christian J. H. Wolf received his education principally in Schleswig, Germany. After coming to this country he attended school a short time in Audubon county. Subsequently he worked by the month until he was twenty-one years of age. During this period he worked for his father for one year, and then worked out for himself. He rented a farm for three years, and then purchased one hundred and sixty acres in Exira township, Audubon county. Mr. Wolf has now six hundred and forty acres. He has always been able to make a substantial profit on hogs and cattle. Mr. Wolf moved to the place where he now lives in 1912. He has invested approximately ten thousand dollars in improving this farm.
Christian J. H. Wolf was married on March 6, 1890, to Emma Jasper- son, daughter of Nels and Laura (Nelson) Jasperson. To Mr. and Mrs. Wolf have been born six children, Clarence, Arley, Elmer, Harold, Laura and Edna. All of these children are unmarried. Laura died at the age of eleven months, Mrs. Wolf was born in Pottawattamie county, Iowa. Her parents were both natives of Denmark. Her father was a farmer. After coming to America he located near Newton, Iowa, and finally moved to Pottawattamie county. He lived there until his death in 1874. He and his wife had three children, Emma, Carrie and Louise. Louise died when very young:
Mr. and Mrs. Christian J. H. Wolf are members of the Christian church. Mr. Wolf is a member of the Masonic lodge at Exira, and is a Knights Templar of Audubon commandery. He is also a member of the Eastern Star, at Exira. Mr. Wolf is a Republican.
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JORGEN JORGENSEN.
Jorgen Jorgensen, a well-known farmer of Sharon township, Audubon county, Iowa, who owns two hundred and forty acres of land in this town- ship, is a native-born citizen of Denmark, but an adopted and patriotic citizen of this country. Mr. Jorgensen was born on September 24, 1867, the son of Jorgen P. and Lena C. Jorgensen, both natives of Denmark, where his father was a farmer, and where he is still living. Jorgen P. and Lena C. Jorgensen had four children, of whom Jorgen, the subject of this sketch, is the eldest; the others are, Chris A., Iver and Erick.
Jorgen Jorgensen received his education in the schools of his native land, and after finishing the prescribed course in the Danish schools, engaged in the occupation of a farmer, which he followed until 1889, when he came to America. Shortly after coming to this country he located in Sharon township, Audubon county, Iowa, and here he worked as a farm hand until 1894, a period of four years. In the latter year Mr. Jorgensen purchased eighty acres of land, which he sold and in 1908 bought the farm where he now lives. He has improved this farm in many ways, and increased his farm holdings until he now owns two hundred and forty acres of land. Mr. Jorgensen raises ninety acres of corn, which yields an average of fifty bushels to the acre, and fifty acres of small grain, most of which he feeds to his hogs and cattle. He raises a hundred head of hogs every year, and many head of cattle. Mr. Jorgensen has found it highly profitable to follow mixed farming, and each year has been able to show a considerable profit from the farm operations. This profit which Mr. Jorgensen has saved in the form of money he has reinvested in improvements, which now amount to upwards of five thousand dollars, and also in additional land which he has purchased from time to time.
Jorgen Jorgensen was married in 1892 to Anna Jorgensen, the daughter of Chris L. and Anna ( Albertsen) Jorgensen, both natives of Denmark. The former was a sailor during his entire life. In 1872 he came to America, and after locating in Chicago sailed on Lake Michigan for three years, after which he then returned to Denmark to his family, and lived there the re- mainder of his life. He died in July 1913, a veteran of the Danish-German War of 1848. Besides Mrs. Jorgen Jorgensen, his children were, George L., Carrie, Albert, Anna, Sophia, and Johannah, deceased.
Mr. and Mrs. Jorgen Jorgensen have had ten children, as follow : Jorgen P., Lena C., Chris L., Anna S., Johannah K., Karius Alfred.
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Alvilda, Carl, Thyra and Eavald, all of whom are unmarried and live at home with their parents.
Mr. and Mrs. Jorgen Jorgensen are members of the Danish Lutheran church. Mr. Jorgensen is an independent voter and is the present school director in his locality.
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