USA > Iowa > Clay County > History of Clay County, Iowa, from its earliest settlement to 1909 > Part 57
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
William LaMar, the father of Mrs. Miller, served as a captain in the Mexican war. He remained an active business man of Burkittsville during the greater part of his life and there passed away in 1872, at the age of sixty-two years. His wife survived him until 1880 and passed away at the age of seventy-three years. They were the parents of eight children, Thomas; Eliza ; Lewis, deceased ; Ma- rene; Robert, deceased; William; Asa, deceased; and Emma, the wife of our subject.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Miller was blessed with eight children, three of whom died in childhood. Laura became the wife of J. R. Gilbreath, whose father wrote the first history of Clay county. They now reside at Mandan, North Da- kota, and they have one son, Victor LaMar. Mrs. Gilbreath is a graduate of the Kee-Marr College at Hagerstown, Maryland. Albert, who is a graduate of East- man's Business College, is living at home with his mother. Jessie is the wife of Nicholas Leysbeth, consul from Belgium to Germany, and they make their home at Cologne. Mrs. Leysbeth is a graduate of Lake Forest (Illinois) College and by her marriage has become the mother of one son, Louis. Emma, who is a graduate of St. Catherine's College at Davenport, Iowa, is now attending an art school at Chicago. Bessie, who completes the family, is a high school student in Spencer.
The death of the husband and father occurred December 18, 1892, when he had reached the age of forty-five years and nine months. He was reared in the faith of the United Brethren church, but afterward became a charter member of > the Congregational church, as did his wife, who yet belongs to that denomina- tion. He served his country as a soldier of the Civil war, becoming a member of Company B in a regiment of Maryland Volunteer Infantry. His political allegi- ance was given to the republican party, but the honors and emoluments of office had no attraction for him, as he preferred always to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs, and by his intelligently directed effort achieved success that enabled him to leave his family in very comfortable financial circumstances. His prosperity was ever a means to an end. He was never engrossed in money- making to the exclusion of other interests, but he rejoiced that his business ad- vancement permitted him to give his children good opportunities and to minister to the welfare and happiness of his wife. In all things he manifested steadfast purpose and spotless integrity-features to which the splendid civilization of America is indebted-and thus he left the impress of his individuality upon the country in which he long resided.
ALBERT O. MILLER.
Albert O. Miller, one of the enterprising and progressive merchants of Dickens, where he is dealing in agricultural implements and coal, was born in St. Lawrence, New York, November 22, 1859, and is a son of Samuel and Experi- ence (Truesdell) Miller, the former a native of the state of New York and the latter of Canada. The Miller family is of Holland-Dutch descent although the grandfather of our subject was a native of the Empire state. The father, Samuel
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A. Miller, was a blacksmith by trade and followed that occupation until after the outbreak of the Civil war when he enlisted in Scott's Nine Hundred and lost his life in battle. His wife passed away in 1869 at the age of fifty-one years. One of their sons, Benjamin F. Miller, enlisted with his father and served for three years as a loyal defender of the Union cause. He was but a youth when he entered the army and he died in 1866 at the early age of nineteen years from the effects of his military experience.
Albert O. Miller acquired his preliminary education in the public schools of St. Lawrence county, New York, and subsequently pursued a course in the state normal school. After leaving that institution he engaged in teaching for one term in his native state and in the fall of 1878 came to Clay county, Iowa, locating on the present site of Dickens. In this county he taught eighteen terms of school in six different school districts and proved an able educator, imparting readily and clearly to others the knowledge that he had acquired. He was thus active in promoting the early intellectual development of his locality. He afterward pur- chased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Sioux township and turned his attention to farming. continuing the work of the fields until 1902 when he dis- posed of his farm and removed to Dickens, where he was employed by the firm of Somers Brothers for a brief period. He afterward removed to the state of Washington where he remained for a year and a half when he returned to Dickens and established his present business as a dealer in agricultural implements and coal. He has succeeded in building up a gratifying trade and now has a liberal patronage which makes his business a profitable one.
On the 30th of March, 1882, Mr. Miller was united in marriage to Miss Bertha I. Stone who was born in Vermont, September 11, 1851, and is a daughter of Horace P. and Abigail V. (Williams) Stone. Her parents were also New England people. Her father was born in Maine and in early life learned the carpenter's trade which he followed in the east. At the time of the Civil war he responded to the country's call for aid, going to the front with the Vermont regiment and doing active and valorous duty in defense of the stars and stripes. During the early girlhood of his daughter, Mrs. Miller, he came to the middle west with his family and homesteaded a tract of land in Sioux township, Clay county, Iowa. With characteristic energy he began the development of a farm, transforming the wild land into rich and fertile fields which he successfully culti- vated until about fifteen years ago when he retired and removed to Dickens, where his death occurred in June, 1907. His wife, a native of Vermont, is a descendant of Roger Williams, the apostle of freedom of New England days. She still survives her husband and makes her home in Dickens. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Miller have been born four children. Edmund, born May 8, 1885, is now engaged in farming in central Montana near the town of Denton. He married Elizabeth Haulman and they have a daughter, Jessie. Nellie, born September 13, 1890. Arthur, born February 13. 1892, and Jessie, born October 5. 1899, are all at home. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are members of the Methodist Epis- copal church, in which he is serving as trustec and in the work of the church they are actively and helpfully interested. Mr. Miller gives his political support to the republican party and is at present officiating as township clerk. In all matters relative to the progress and improvement of the county he is interested
CLAY 29.
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
and gives his support to many measures for the public good. As a business man he is thoroughly reliable and his honesty in all business dealings is one of the factors of his substantial success. He possesses, moreover. good business tact and judgment and his industry and perseverance have gained him prominence in the commercial circles of the town.
G. A. GLEASON.
G. A. Gleason, who manifests a spirit of unfaltering determination and unwearied industry in carrying on his farming interests in Logan township. Clay county, is a representative of one of the early families of Iowa and a direct descendant of General Putnam. His parents were Clement and Jane ( McDowell) Gleason. His father was a native of the state of Massachusetts, his birth having occurred in Salem. At an early date he located in this state and throughout his life was well known as a farmer and merchant. Ile was one of the first to take up land in Wapello county, at which time the greater portion of the state was unsettled and unimproved. It was therefore not without strenuous efforts and unfaltering perseverance that the raw land was brought under culti- vation. Mr. Gleason belonged to that early generation of men who did not expect to make their way in life without having to overcome difficulties and hardships, and being a man inspired by a firm purpose and an aggressive spirit he soon converted the wild and unproductive prairie into fertile fields from which he reaped generous harvests. In connection with farming he also carried on a general mercantile business and was one of the first to engage in that enterprise in his locality. He was well known throughout the county and in his day did much toward advancing the general improvement of the township in which he spent his life.
G. A. Gleason was born in Agency City, Iowa, June 10, 1848. He acquired his education in the district schools and upon completing his schooling at the age of twenty years he was apprenticed to a cooper and carpenter, with whom he re- mained until he learned the trade. He then worked as a journeyman for five years, at the expiration of which time he began contracting and building on his own account, his previous experience well qualifying him for this step. He fol- lowed the business in Atlantic, Cass county, and in Coon Rapids, Carroll county, Iowa, and the undertaking proved quite successful. In 1893 he came to this county and has since devoted his time to raising general crops. He has given much attention to his farming by way of making improvements and conducts the occupation upon modern principles, also carefully studying the nature of the soil. He has been successful in so cultivating his crops as to approximate a maximum yield per acre and from year to year has been gradually adding to his prosperity.
In 1867 Mr. Gleason wedded Mary L. Laraway and to this union were born the following named: Clement, an agriculturist of Sioux township; Amanda, the wife of H. A. Smith, residing on a farm in Gilletts Grove township; Fred R., who is manager of the Farmers' Elevator Company at Gilletts Grove : Bessie, the wife of Robert Moore, who follows agricultural pursuits in Logan township :
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
and Catherine, who resides with her parents. Mr. Gleason's political views have always been in accord with republican principles and, although he is not an active politician nor does he aspire to hold public office, he takes considerable interest in elections and during campaigns uses his vote and influence in behalf of the candidates of his party. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church and Spencer Lodge, A. F. & A. M. Mr. Gleason's life has been such as to merit the respect of his fellowmen and by his honesty, uprightness and industry he has contributed much toward the upbuilding of the community of which he is a representative citizen.
D. F. LUNDT.
Among the sons of the fatherland whose industry and sturdy qualities have added much to the financial worth and civilization of Clay county is D. F. Lundt, who came to the United States when a boy and at an early age took up farming, and has since become a substantial agriculturist and stock raiser of Douglas township, this county. His birth occurred in Holstein, Germany, Feb- ruary 3, 1859, a son of H. B. and Weike (Mattison) Lundt. His father came to the new world in 1871, locating in Scott county, Iowa, where he remained for one year and then removed to Grundy county, this state, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits for eight years, afterward settling in this county and pur- chasing land upon which he lived until he died in 1905. Prior to leaving his native land he had served as a soldier in two wars with Denmark, and in one engagement was shot in the hand the marks of the wound remaining with him until his death. He was well known in this part of the county for his excellent qualities of character as well as for his industry, and he commanded the respect of all who knew him. The mother was also a native of Germany, passing away in Clay county in 1908. The couple reared a family of seven children, namely : J. F., who has extended agricultural interests in Tama county and who served in the Iowa state legislature for two terms: C. J., who follows agricultural pur- suits in Fayette, Idaho: J. R., deceased : D. F., of this review; Henry, a well known farmer of this township; Peter. also engaged in agricultural pursuits and stock raising here; and Annie, who became the wife of C. Holthouse and resides on a farm in Peterson township.
The common schools of his native land afforded D. F. Lundt some educa- tional advantages which he further pursued in the United States, and upon com- pleting his studies remained under the paternal roof assisting in the duties of the farm until he was twenty-three years of age. He then engaged in farming for himself in Tama county, this state, successfully pursuing that vocation in its various departments until 1901, when he came to this county and located on section 8 where he has since resided. The strict attention which he has paid to his business has enabled him to derive good profit from the crops and from time to time he has added to his lands until he now possesses an excellent farm containing two hundred acres, located in sections 8 and 17. All the improve- ments upon this farm are due to Mr. Lundt's progressive spirit, and aside from
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
having an elegant residence his farm is also provided with a commodious barn and other necessary buildings, machinery and appurtenances required to make farming a successful venture. He raises large quantities of the best hay and grain, and at the same time does an extensive business in breeding, feeding and shipping stock.
In 1881 Mr. Lundt wedded Miss S. Jacobs, a native of Germany, and unto them were born the following children: Laura, the wife of Edward Stephens. an agriculturist of this township; Matilda, who is wedded to Hans Peterson, who operates a large farm here: Frederick, Adolph, Grover and Clarence, who reside at home ; and Clara and Adelaide, deceased. His political allegiance Mr. Lundt gives to the democratic party, and for the past two years has been trustee of the township. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America of Glad- brook, Tama county, this state. He attends divine services at the Lutheran church, of which he is a liberal supporter. As a worthy and upright citizen and Christian character, he will be remembered by posterity.
HENRY LUNDT.
Henry Lundt, a brother of D. F. Lundt, was also born in Germany, his birth occurring October 5, 1862, and he came to the United States with his parents in 1871. He acquired his education in the common schools of the father- land and in Tama county, Iowa. He remained at home with his father until twenty-eight years of age when he settled in Clay county where he engaged in farming and general stock raising on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, now comprising some of the most fertile and arable land in this township. In 1902 he met with the misfortune of having his buildings destroyed by a cyclone. but subsequently replaced them with more substantial ones, and now his farm is in every respest in first-class shape, and he makes a specialty of stock-raising and shipping of the best breeds of cattle, hogs and horses.
In 1890 he was united in marriage with Miss Emma Stark and they have five children, Johnnie, Guy, Ruth, Ruby and Ray, all of whom reside with their parents. In politics Mr. Lundt does not ally himself with any particular political party, but, believing that the man who seeks the office should be of greater con- sideration than his party ties, he votes for such candidates as he deems best qualified to subserve the interests of the commonwealth. Like his brother, he is industrious and enterprising and his straightforward transactions and upright character win for him the confidence and respect of his neighbors.
E. W. BREIDINGER.
E. W. Breidinger, who owns and operates a farm of two hundred acres on section 18, Riverton township, was born in Union county, Pennsylvania, October 9. 1859. a .son of Leonard and Sarah (Trump) Breidinger. He was only eight years of age when the family removed to Michigan in 1867. His father was a
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
native of Easton, Pennsylvania, but believing that he would have better opportu- nity to secure a good living for his family in the middle west, he made his way to St. Joseph county, Michigan. There he lived for sixteen years and in 1883 came to Iowa, his destination being Clay county. While it was comparatively a new region it gave promise of rapid growth and progress, and he selected a tract of land in Riverton township which he purchased and located upon. However, the same year he lost his wife, who passed away on the IIth of June, 1883.
E. W. Breidinger, going to Michigan in his boyhood days, was reared upon the home farm there, working in the fields through the summer months while in the winter seasons he attended the common schools and afterward the high school at White Pigeon. When his education was completed he returned to the farm and as a young man of twenty-four years came to Iowa with his father and continued with him on the old homestead in Riverton township until twenty- eight years of age. He early learned the value of diligence and perseverance as forceful factors in business life and those qualities have always been important elements in his success.
On the 17th of April, 1889. Mr. Breidinger was married to Miss Una F. Kinney, a daughter of N. A. P. and Nancy ( Babcock) Kinney, born in Scott, Cortland county. New York, where her girlhood days were passed and her educa- tion acquired. She is a graduate of Cortland Academy, now known as Homer Academy and Union School, and of the Cortland State Normal School, and is a lady of liberal education as well as of natural refinement and culture. She engaged in teaching in the Empire state and also in Iowa, occupying the respons- ible position of assistant principal of the Spencer high school. Mrs. Breidinger's father. N. A. P. Kinney, was born at Homer, New York, of English descent, while her mother, now deceased, was born at Scott, the same state. Mr. Kinney is at present residing in Homer, New York, being a director in the First National Bank there. having been in his earlier years a well known and respected agri- culturist of that vicinity.
Following his marriage Mr. Breidinger rented his father's place and culti- vated it for a number of years, while in 1895 he purchased his present home, becoming the owner of two hundred acres on section 18. Riverton township. In all this broad land there is no soil more productive than this portion of Iowa. and the energetic farmer might win success here if he would but carefully and persistently carry on his work. Realizing this fact Mr. Breidinger commenced to improve his place and the farm now presents an attractive appearance. In its midst is a substantial dwelling and in 1908 he erected a large barn. giving shelter to an immense hay crop and to horses and stock as well. The outbuildings are all kept in a state of good repair as are the fences, and the owner is constantly putting forth effort along the lines of progress and improvement. He studies the best methods of tilling the soil, knows what the different crops require and keeps his fields fertile through the process of rotation. In his pastures and feed lands are found high grade shorthorned Durham cattle and Chester White hogs, and his annual sales of stock materially increase his bank account. He is a stock- holder in the Spencer Elevator, also of the Telephone Company. and the com- munity recognize in him a man of good business ability, whose judgment is sound and whose enterprise is unfaltering.
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Breidinger have been born two children, Harry L., in high school, and Anna May, at home. Mr. Breidinger has always voted with the democracy and prefers to do his public service as a private citizen rather than as an office holder. Twenty-five years have come and gone since he arrived in the county. They have been to him years of work-earnest, indefatigable work -and he deserves all the credit which is due a man who wins his success by honorable as well as persistent labor.
PETER CHRISTENSON.
The sons of Denmark have made considerable showing in this country in various occupations, evincing a high rate of business ability and professional acumen, showing themselves in every particular ready for hard work and equipped to meet every emergency, thus enabling them to make their way in the new world and establish themselves in enviable positions in professional and commercial circles. Among those deserving of notice is Peter Christenson, who for a number of years has been identified with the agricultural and stock-raising interests of Clay township, this county. His birth occurred in Denmark on April 20, 1847, a son of Christian and Anna Peterson, who lived and died in their native land. They were the parents of the following children: Hans, now deceased ; Christina, who resides in Denmark; Knud, who is an agriculturist of Lincoln township, Clay county ; and Peter, our subject.
In his native land Peter Christenson spent his boyhood and youth, and there acquired his education in the common schools, but recognizing that there were few opportunities for a successful career in his own country he decided to seek his fortune in the new world, and consequently came to the United States in 1869, locating in Story county, Iowa, where he hired out for one year. At the expira- tion of that time he came to this county and took up a claim in Lincoln township, and after having for a brief period cultivated part of the acreage, he disposed of the land and came to Clay township, where he bought a small farm. He at once applied himself to general farming and to stock raising. on a small scale, and met with such success that he was able to add to his tract of land from year to year until now he possesses four hundred and eighty acres in this original farm, one hundred and sixty acres near Royal, and has just moved to an eighty-acre farm in Clay township. By his unwearied efforts he transformed the crude prairie land of his first farm into fertile fields, from which he has annually reaped excellent har- vests, and his agricultural success has placed him in his present prosperous condi- tion. His farms are highly improved. provided with comfortable dwelling houses, barns, outbuildings, and all conveniences essential to the advantageous pursuit of farming, and he now has property composed of some of the finest farming land in the township.
In 1876 Mr. Christenson was united in marriage with Christina Hendricksen, to which union were born: Amelia, who became the wife of Martin Martinson, a well known college professor of this state; Mary, wife of Herman Seaman, an agriculturist of this county ; Anson and Rena, twins, Anson operating a large farm
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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY
in this township, while Rena is the wife of Christian Olson, who is in the cream- ery business at Linn Grove ; Arthur ; Clarence ; and Emma, at home. In politics Mr. Christenson has always been a stanch adherent of the republican party, to which he has been loyal since casting his first vote. Among the services which he has rendered the community is that of trustee, in which office he has served for several years. His religious convictions are with the Lutheran denomination, and he is a faithful attendant and liberal supporter of that church. He deserves great credit for the progress he has made in this country, inasmuch as he was compelled to start out in the world for himself and make his way, without means or influence, and with a limited education, depending entirely upon his own resources. But success followed him at every step, the result of his industry, patience and perseverance, until now he is numbered among the thrifty farmers and representative citizens of this county.
ANDREW ANDERSON.
Denmark has furnished a valuable class of citizens to the new world. They have brought with them from the old country the unremitting energy and per- severance characteristic of that nationality, and in the great majority of cases have attained success in the management of varied business affairs. To this class belongs Andrew Anderson, who is now manager of the Farmers' Elevator at Spencer. He came to America in 1882 when a young man of but twenty-one years, his birth having occurred in Drechele, Denmark, on the 19th of February, 1861. His father, Rasmus Anderson, was a laborer who lived at Orte, Denmark, and was a son of Andrew Rasmussen. Rasmus Anderson served as a soldier in the Danish army in 1864. He wedded Marie Sorensen, also a native of Den- mark, and a daughter of Soren Jule. Both Mr. and Mrs. Anderson were mem- bers of the Lutheran church, and its teachings proved the guiding rule of their lives. They became parents of nine children, of whom five are now living : Andrew, of this review ; Soren, whose home is in Kenmore, North Dakota ; Lars, living in Denmark; Kary, also of Denmark; and Rasmus, who still remains in his native land.
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