USA > Iowa > Howard County > History of Chickasaw and Howard counties, Iowa, Volume II > Part 6
USA > Iowa > Chickasaw County > History of Chickasaw and Howard counties, Iowa, Volume II > Part 6
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Maurice F. Condon was educated in the district schools and in the Decorah Institute at Decorah, Iowa. He taught school for three years in order to earn the money with which to pay his tuition in the institute. He also attended the New Hampton Business College and afterward became a student in the law department of the Iowa State University at Iowa City, winning his law degree from that institu- tion on the 6th of June, 1899. He had previously read law and acted as stenog- rapher in the law office of Springer & Clary of New Hampton for a period of two
MAURICE F. CONDON
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and a half years. He then entered the university and following his graduation he returned to New Hampton, where he entered into partnership with his former preceptors, thus becoming a member of the law firm of Springer, Clary & Condon. In 1906 he was elected to the office of county attorney of Chickasaw county, in which capacity he efficiently served for four years. During this time, or in 1909, the Darrow Brothers Bank was converted into the Darrow Trust & Savings Bank and Mr. Condon took a prominent part in its reorganization and was later associated with the institution as cashier until 1914. In the meantime he retained his active association with the law firm of Springer, Clary & Condon. In 1912 Mr. Springer was elected to the bench and the firm became Clary & Condon, the association being thus maintained until the death of Mr. Clary in 1916, since which time Mr. Condon has practiced alone. He enjoys an extensive clientage and is one of the best known members of the northern Iowa bar, his practice being of a most im- portant character.
In 1914 Mr. Condon was united in marriage to Miss Ida Kelson, of New Hamp- ton, a daughter of Ole and Belle Kelson, the former now deceased, while the latter resides in New Hampton. Mr. Condon is a democrat in his political views and served for a number of years as chairman of the democratic county central com- mittee. He is now a member of the city council and has occupied that position on several different occasions. He belongs to the Catholic church and is a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Order of Foresters. He likewise has membership with the Modern Woodmen of America and with Charles City Lodge, No. 418, B. P. O. E. Mr. Condon is a man of wide acquaintance in Chickasaw county, occupying a prominent position at the bar, exercising considerable influence in citizenship and at all times commanding the respect and confidence of those with whom he comes in contact.
P. J. COMMERFORD.
P. J. Commerford, who is engaged in general merchandising at Jerico, Chickasaw county, has for the past fifteen years served as treasurer of the Jerico Creamery Asso- ciation and throughout his life has been an active and influential factor in the business development of his section of the state. He was born in Chickasaw county, March 24, 1859, and is a son of Terrence and Mary (Galligan) Commerford, who were natives of Ireland. They were married, however, in Wisconsin, both having come with their respective families to the new world in early life, the father arriving in 1849 and the mother in 1850. They continued their residence in Wisconsin until 1854 and then removed to Iowa, settling in Utica township, Chickasaw county, at which period the homes in the township were widely scattered, the inhabitants being very few in number Terrence Commerford homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land, whereon he built a log cabin and this continued to be the family residence for a number of years. He did his marketing in and hauled his grain to McGregor by ox team, it requiring a week to make the trip. The family shared in all of the hardships and privations in- cident to settlement upon the frontier and the father performed the arduous task of developing the wild land and converting it into a good farm. As the years passed he prospered and after some time he built a modern home and became owner of one of the well improved farm properties of his township. He also extended the boundaries of his place by additional purchase until he had two hundred and forty acres of land, of which he afterward donated fifteen acres to the Catholic church, and upon that tract has been erected the present handsome church edifice that now stands at Riley Ridge. Mr. Commerford died at the comparatively early age of fifty-four years, while his wife reached the very advanced age of eighty-five years.
P. J. Commerford was educated in the district schools, which he attended to the age of twelve years. His father died about that time and he and his brothers took up the active work of further cultivating and improving the home farm, upon which he lived until 1892, when he removed to Jerico and established his present mercantile
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business. In the conduct of the store he has been very successful and he now carries a large line of carefully selected general merchandise, meeting all of the requirements of the purchasing public. His business methods are thoroughly enterprising and reli. able and his success is the merited reward of persistent and earnest labor. In addition to winning for himself a place among the substantial merchants of the county he has made an excellent record as an office holder, having served for fifteen years as postmaster of Jerico, or until the postoffice was abandoned. Mr. Commerford has also served as treasurer of the Jerico Creamery Association for the past fifteen years.
In 1901 Mr. Commerford was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Welch, of Jacksonville township, Chickasaw county. They have become the parents of four children: Gene- vieve, who died of influenza while attending Mount St. Clare Academy at Clinton, Iowa; and John. Mildred and Eugene, all at home.
In his political views Mr. Commerford has always been a democrat and has given stanch support to the party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He and his family are members of the Catholic church and he is identified also with the Knights of Columbus, a fraternity which draws its membership only from people of the Catholic faith. He ranks with the well known citizens of Chickasaw county, his personal worth, his progressiveness in business and his loyalty in citizenship winning for him an enviable position in public regard.
BYRON P. NORTON.
The life record of Byron P. Norton indicates most clearly the possibilities for suc- cessful achievement on the part of the individual, for by well directed efforts he has worked his way steadily upward, becoming one of the prosperous business men of Howard county. At all times he has been ruled by a progressive spirit that has been manifest in everything which he has undertaken. He is now living retired, for his possessions are such as bring to him a most substantial annual income, relieving him from further necessity for labor and from all financial care.
Mr. Norton was born in Homer, Cortland county, New York, November 9, 1844, a son of Solomon G. and Margaret Jane (Arnold) Norton. The father's birth occurred at Scott, Cort'and county, New York, on the 26th of January, 1815, and the mother was born in the same locality April 4, 1821. They were married in that county and Mr. Norton gave his attention to general agricultural pursuits and also carried on a livery business at Scott until about 1855, when he removed with his family to the west, set- tling first at Whitewater, Wisconsin, where they remained for a year. They next took up their abode at what is now London, Jefferson county, Wisconsin, where the father continued to operate a farm for several years. He next went with his family to Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, where he engaged in farming, and in the fall of 1863 arrived in Howard county, Iowa, purchasing a farm three miles from Vernon Springs. He after- ward sold that property and bought land south of Cresco, upon which he lived for four years. His next purchase made him the owner of the old farm of Byron P. Norton east of Cresco, comprising one hundred and sixty acres of rich and productive land. Solo- mon Norton passed away upon that farm June 24, 1893. He had for two decades sur- vived his wife, who died in 1873 on the same farm. His political allegiance was given to the republican party; his religious faith was that of the Congregational church and it constituted a guiding force throughout his entire life.
Byron P. Norton spent his boyhood with his father on the various farms men- tioned and continued his education in the public schools of Howard county, where he arrived with the family when a youth of eighteen years. Throughout the period of his minority he assisted his father in the development of the farm lands and early be- came familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. He afterward became a salesman and collector for the McCormick Machinery Company, which position he acceptably filled for four years. £ In 1871 he was appointed deputy sheriff and occupied that position for four years. He next took up his abode upon the old farm near Cresco, purchasing the interests of the other heirs in the property and
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then concentrating his attention upon dairying, later becoming state dairy commis- sioner. As his financial resources increased he extended the boundaries of his farm until it comprised three hundred acres. This he continuously cultivated and improved, transforming it into a very valuable and productive tract. Upon his farm he erected one of the finest homes in northern Iowa and also put up all new buildings for the shelter of grain and stock. His equipment was of the most advanced type, as he was at all times actuated by a progressiveness that manifested itself in every phase of his farm. He had electric appliances to do all his threshing, churning and creamery work, his house and barn were lighted with electricity and the farm was strictly modern in every particular. He ground his own feed for his cattle, piped water to the barn for his stock and for many years conducted a most profitable dairy business, first shipping butter to Chicago, while later he shipped to New Orleans. In addition to the home prop- erty he owned land in South Dakota, having an entire section in Sully county.
In 1874 Mr. Norton was united in marriage to Miss Stella A. Johnson, a daughter of Parker and Mary (Lowrey) Johnson. Mrs. Norton was born in the town of Water- loo, Jefferson county, Wisconsin, while her father and mother were natives of Massa- chusetts, in which state they were married. In the spring of 1846 they removed to the town of Waterloo, where the father took up government land and built a log house. Soon afterward he sold that property and purchased a farm at the head of Rock lake, Lake Mills, Wisconsin, upon which he built a good frame dwelling and then carried on the work of improving his place. He operated his land until 1867 and then removed to Chickasaw county, Iowa, settling near Bradford, where he purchased a farm of eighty acres. To that he added at a later date and spent his remaining days upon that place, his death occurring in 1877, when he was fifty-four years of age. His wife long survived him and had reached the age of eighty-one years when she passed away June 24, 1907. To Mr. and Mrs. Norton has been born a daughter, Ida J., who is now the wife of W. P. Bennett, of Austin, Minnesota.
In his fraternal relations Mr. Norton is an Odd Fellow and he belongs to the Con- gregational church. His aid and influence have ever been given on the side of progress and right and Howard county has long numbered him among its valued and progres- sive citizens. Moreover, he is one of its pioneers, for there were only two or three houses in Cresco at the time of his arrival and he has lived to witness the substantial growth of the city and county as the years have gone by. In fact, he has borne a most important part in the agricultural development of this section of the state and at all times the course which he has followed has made him a man whom to know is to esteem and honor. His memory forms a connecting link between the primitive past and the progressive present and his name stands high on the roll of the valued pioneer settlers of the community.
THOMAS J. DARGAN.
Thomas J. Dargan, a farmer living on section 28, Jamestown township, Howard county, was born in Columbus, Wisconsin, November 27, 1868, and is a son of John E. and Mary A. (Conlin) Dargan. The father is a native of Ireland, while the mother was born in the Badger state. Both are living and Mr. Dargan is now filling the position of postmaster in Riceville, Iowa.
Thomas J. Dargan spent, his youthful days under the parental roof and acquired a public school education. When he was quite young his parents came to Howard county, settling in Jamestown township, where he was reared and where practically his entire life has been passed. On the 23d of February, 1914, he was united in mar- riage to Miss Mary H. Maruska, a daughter of Frank and Margaret (Rousch) Maruska, the former a native of Bohemia, while the latter was born in the United States. They are still living and make their home in Howard township, Howard county. Mr. and Mrs. Dargan have become the parents of two children, Margaret M. and Thomas F., aged respectively four and two years.
Mr. and Mrs. Dargan are communicants of the Catholic church at Riceville and
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he is also identified with the Knights of Columbus, having membership in Council No. 1168 at Oelwein, Iowa. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party and for two terms he served as school director in Jamestown township. His atten- tion, however, is chiefly given to his farming interests and he works diligently and persistently in the cultivation of his crops and the improvement of his property, having thus become the owner of an excellent farm in Jamestown township.
EZRA M. COLE.
Ezra M. Cole is one of the most venerable citizens of Howard county. He was born April 11, 1839, in Du Page county, Illinois. and makes his home on section 2, New Oregon township, in Howard county, Iowa. His father was born in Pennsylvania in the year 1808 and spent his last days in Howard county, where he departed this life at the age of ninety-two years. The mother was born in the state of New York and both were members of old families of the east.
Ezra M. Cole was a youth of fourteen when he accompanied his parents on their removal from Illinois to Howard county, Iowa, where the father, who had been educated in the public schools of Pennsylvania and had lived for some time in the Mississippi valley, now turned his attention to farming as one of the early residents of northern Iowa. Ezra M. Cole pursued his education in the public schools of Pennsylvania and of Howard county. Iowa, and through the periods of vacation worked upon the home farm. He continued to assist his father until 1862, when he felt that his first duty was to his country and he enlisted in defense of the Union. He went to the front and for three years fought in the Civil war, taking active part in the battles waged in defense of the Union until 1865, when victory crowned the efforts of the armies of the north. He was a private of Company I, Ninth Iowa Infantry, and on many a hotly contested battlefield he proved his loyalty to the Union cause by devotion to the duty assigned him.
Following his return from the war Mr. Cole was united in marriage to Miss Louisa Duff, of Howard county, who passed away in the year 1902. They were the parents of two sons and four daughters.
Mr. Cole is a school director and was sergeant at arms in the Grand Army of the Republic, a position which he filled for a number of years, while for the past eight years he has been flag bearer. He has ever been a loyal supporter of his country's best interests and manifests the same allegiance to every progressive movement that he displayed when he marched with the armies of the north to the defense of the Union. Those who know him, and he has a wide acquaintance, esteem him highly, finding that his life has ever measured up to the highest standards of manhood and citizenship.
ALF O. VAALA.
Alf O. Váála, county superintendent of schools of Chickasaw county, was born in Saude, in the same county, on the 22d of April, 1885, a son of Ole and Carrie (Johnson) Váála. The father was born in Norway and came to the United States. as an infant but a few months old, being brought to this country by his parents in 1849. The family home soon thereafter was established in Chickasaw county, so that Ole Váála was numbered among the oldest of the pioneer settlers of this section of the state. The grandfather of Alf O. Váála homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in Utica township, on which he lived to the time of his death, converting the tract, which was wild and undeveloped when it came into his possession, into rich and fertile fields. This farm afterward passed into the possession of Ole Váála and he resided thereon until 1916, when he removed to New Hampton, where he is now living retired in the enjoyment of a rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves. He is a democrat in his political views and he served for four years as a member of the board of county
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supervisors, occupying the position from the 1st of January, 1910, until the 1st of January, 1914.
Alf O. Váála was educated in the Luther College at Decorah, Iowa, spending three years in the preparatory department and four years in pursuing the college course, after which he was accorded the Bachelor of Arts degree upon his graduation with the class of 1907. Subsequently he took post graduate work in the Iowa State Uni- versity. During his stay here he became a charter member of the Pi Kappa Mu, an honorary educational society. In 1907 and 1908 he taught in the Orphans Home at Twin Valley, Minnesota, after which he taught for two years in Grand Forks College at Grand Forks, North Dakota. Later he spent three years as a teacher on the Fort Peck Indian reservation at Wolf Point, Montana, while he filed on a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres near the reservation, on the south side of the Missouri. He still owns that property. In 1913 he returned to Chickasaw county and was chosen superintendent of the Alta Vista city schools, where he remained five years. In April, 1918, he was elected county superintendent of schools for Chickasaw county, in which capacity he has since served, making a most creditable record by his marked devo- tion to duty. He has instituted various improvements in the schools of the county and has maintained the highest standards. He is an enthusiastic supporter of his profession and inspires teachers and pupils under him with much of his own zeal and interest.
On the 12th of June, 1912, Mr. Váála was married to Miss Ellen Natvig, of Saude, and to them have been born two children, Ruth D. and Ovey N. The parents are members of the Lutheran church and Mr. Váála belongs to Alta Vista Lodge, I. O. O. F. His genuine worth entitles him to the warm regard of all who know him. Much of his life has been passed in this county, so that his record is as an open book, and in the educational field he has made for himself an enviable position.
PETER BROWN.
Peter Brown, who carries on general farming on section 14, Afton township, How- ard county, is numbered among those citizens that Wisconsin has furnished to Iowa, for he was born in Springdale township, Dane county, Wisconsin, August 6, 1853. His parents were Michael and Margaret (Lynch) Brown. The father was born in Queens county, Ireland, while the mother was a native of Canada.
At the place of his nativity Peter Brown was reared and the public schools of the county afforded him his educational privileges. He was trained to habits of in- dustry and thrift by his parents, who were sterling people of the community. The father had come to the United States in 1847, landing at New York city, after which he worked at Hoboken, New Jersey, until 1848. In that year he removed westward to Wisconsin and secured employment on a farm in Dane county. Some time later when his means justified he purchased land and began farming independently. In Dane county he wedded Margaret Lynch and both remained residents of Wisconsin until called to their final rest, the death of the father occurring in 1899, while the mother passed away in 1918.
Peter Brown remained a resident of Dane county, Wisconsin, until he reached the age of twenty-two years and then came to Howard county, Iowa, where he has lived since 1875. He was first employed at farm labor here and about 1884 he purchased land and began the development of his present home place, which comprises eighty acres of land situated on section 14, Afton township. He has since carefully culti- vated his fields, which yield to him golden harvests annually. His success has had its root in his diligence and perseverance and his life record shows what can be ac- complished through industry, intelligently directed.
In 1888 Mr. Brown was united in marriage to Miss Mary Hogan, a school teacher of Afton township and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Hogan, of Farley, Dubuque county, Iowa, both of whom are now deceased. They came to the new world from Ireland and for many years were worthy residents of this state. To Mr. and Mrs.
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Brown have been born five children but they lost their eldest, Nellie, at the age of eighteen years. The others are: Mike, who is a dealer in hogs and wool; Louis, who was stationed at Camp Dodge with the Field Artillery for ten months; Peter A., who is now serving a four years' term in the United States navy; and Mary M.
The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic church and they belong to the parish at Elma. In politics Mr. Brown is a democrat, having given stanch support to the party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He served as school director for three or four years and is regarded as one of the substantial and valued citizens of the community in which he has made his home for more than forty- four years. He has therefore witnessed much of the development and progress of this section of the state and has contributed in no small measure to the advancement of the county along agricultural lines.
M. H. JONES.
An outstanding figure in Lime Springs is M. H. Jones, who is now filling the office of mayor and who is actively connected with its commercial interests as a dealer in agricultural implements and hardware. Business enterprise and pro- gressiveness in citizenship have brought him to the front and at all times his labors have been of a valuable character to the community. Mr. Jones was born in Jeffer- son county, Wisconsin, on the 6th of January, 1868, and is a son of Hugh T. and Elizabeth (Pritchard) Jones, both of whom were natives of Anglesey, North Wales, where they were reared and married. Immediately thereafter they came to the new world, seeking the opportunities offered on this side of the Atlantic. They arrived in America just after the close of the Civil war and for two years were residents of Wisconsin. In April, 1868, they removed to Howard county, Iowa, and for several years the father cultivated rented land, during which time he care- fully saved his earnings until the sum was sufficient to enable him to purchase a farm. He became owner of what is known as "the old Cook homestead," two miles west of Lime Springs, and year after year he carefully cultivated his fields and by his progressive methods enhanced the productiveness of the place. His wife passed away there about 1896, but the father continued to reside upon the farm until 1912, when he retired from active business life and removed to Lime Springs. In 1914 he started on a visit to his native land and was on the ocean when the Euro- pean war broke out. He remained in Wales for a year and then returned by way of Canada to escape trouble, but the ship was chased by a German gunboat. How- ever, it managed to elude its pursuer and Mr. Jones in time reached home in safety. However, he passed away six weeks later, being then seventy-three years of age.
M. H. Jones is indebted to the public schools of Lime Springs for the educational advantages he enjoyed in his youth. He had a sister who died at the age of eighteen years, and as he has never married, he has not a relative in the world that he has ever seen. As a young man he assisted largely in the work of clearing the old home farm and grubbing up the stumps and on reaching his majority he took charge of the farm work. He made a specialty of raising thoroughbred shorthorn cattle for many years and developed one of the finest herds in the county. Year after year he carefully and profitably cultivated his fields and conducted his live stock interests until 1912, when he removed to Lime Springs with his father. Three years prior to the establishment of their home in the town he had engaged in the implement and hardware business at Lime Springs, purchasing the store of J. F. Moore, who had conducted business here for twenty-eight years. During the three years in which he remained upon the farm Mr. Jones drove back and forth each day to his business. After his removal to the town he continued to operate the farm until 1915, when he sold the property. The same year he admitted W. O. Davis to a partnership in his mercantile business, under the firm style of Jones & Davis, and they began the erection of a modern business block which is today one of the best commercial houses in Lime Springs.
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