USA > Iowa > Clayton County > History of Clayton County, Iowa : from the earliest historical times down to the present : including a genealogical and biographical record of many representative families, prepared from data obtained from original sources of information, Volume I > Part 61
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96
Digitized by Google
---
HARVAKU SULLE
31
BIOGRAPHICAL
period of his youth, well fitted him for the responsibilities which he assumed when he engaged in farming and stock-growing in an independent way and has contributed materially to his winning of precedence as one of the thorough-going, ambitious and suc- cessful farmers of his native county. He continued his association with his father in the work and management of the farm until his parents left the homestead to enjoy urban life, and thereafter he rented the place of his father until 1906, when he purchased the property, which now comprises a farm of one hundred and forty acres, equipped with a substantial and attractive modern house of two stories, and with excellent barns, fences and other accessories of a model farmstead. With much of discrimination and enter- prise Mr. Bauer carries forward his operations along the line of properly diversified agriculture, and he likewise gives attention to the breeding and raising of high-grade live stock. As a public- spirited citizen of well reinforced political convictions, he is aligned as a staunch supporter of the Democratic party, both he and his wife being communicants of the Catholic church, in the faith of which they were reared. On the 16th of November, 1900, was sol- emnized the marriage of Mr. Bauer to Miss Eva Fryetich, who likewise was born in Clayton county, where her father has long been a prosperous farmer, and the five children of this union are: Florence, Evaline, Clarence, Helen and Marian.
Fred A. Beckett passed virtually his entire life in Clayton county, as he was an infant at the time when his parents became pioneer settlers of the county, and here it was his to achieve defi- nite independence and success through his effective association with the basic industries of agriculture and stock-growing and to win and retain the confidence and good will of all with whom he came in contact. He was one of the representative farmers of Clayton township at the time of his death, which occurred on the 24th of April, 1908, and his widow still resides upon and has the general supervision of the affairs of the fine homestead farm, which comprises one hundred and five acres and which is most pleasingly situated in section 34, Clayton township. Mr. Beckett was born at Belvidere, Illinois, on the 13th of September, 1858, and is the only deceased member of a family of four sons born to Peter B. and Charlotte A. (Wayman) Beckett. His parents were born and reared in England and immigrated to America in 1852. They were residents of Ohio about one year and thereafter maintained their home at Decatur, Illinois, until 1854, when they removed to Rock county, Wisconsin, where the father initiated activities as a farmer, of which line of enterprise he became an exponent a few years later in Boone county, Illinois, where the birth of the subject of this memoir occurred and whence soon afterward the family came to Clayton county, Iowa, where Peter B. Beckett eventually became one of the substantial and prominent farmers of Clayton township and where he continued to reside, a sterling and honored citizen, until his death, which occurred in 1901, his devoted wife having passed away in 1894. Reared to maturity upon the farm of his father, Fred A. Beckett early learned the valuable lessons of
32
MEMOIRS OF CLAYTON COUNTY
practical industry and availed himself simultaneously of the advan- tages afforded in the public schools of the locality. He was a young man when he initiated his independent career as an agricul- turist and stock-grower on the fine farm upon which his widow still maintains her home and which he developed into one of the model places of Clayton township. Here he continued his well ordered activities until he was called from the stage of life's mor- tal endeavors, a few months prior to his fiftieth birthday anniver- sary, and he left as a gracious heritage the untarnished reputation and the record for worthy accomplishment that indicate the finest sense of personal stewardship, his mortal remains having been laid to rest in the cemetery at Clayton. He was a loyal and public- spirited citizen, was a Democrat in his political allegiance and was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, as is also his widow. In the year 1881 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Beckett to Miss Bessie Robinson, who was born in England and who came with her parents to the United States and became a resident of Clayton county in the year 1873. She is a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Drake) Robinson, both representatives of fine old Eng- lish lineage, and her parents continued their residence in Clayton county until their death, their five children still surviving them. Mr. and Mrs. Beckett became the parents of ten children, concern- ing whom brief record is made in conclusion of this memoir: Cora E. is the wife of August Saacke and they maintain their home at McGregor; Hettie May is the wife of Percy Anderson, of McGregor: Bessie is the wife of James Duval and they reside in South Dakota; Albert drowned at the age of 9 years ; Anna R. is the wife of John McWilliams, a representative farmer of Clayton county ; Beatrice is the wife of Frederick Sibell, of Madison, Wis- consin ; Peter F. and George remain with their widowed mother and are associated in the work of the home farm; Lucile likewise remains a member of the home circle; and the tenth child died in infancy.
John T. Beckett has been a resident of Clayton county from the time of his nativity and owns and resides upon the fine old homestead farm. in Clayton township, which figures as the place of his birth and which under his energetic and judicious management has been made one of the well improved and valuable landed estates of the county. Mr. Beckett is a scion of staunch English stock in both the paternal and maternal lines and was born in Clayton on the 25th of December, 1863, when he became a right welcome Christmas arrival in the home of his parents, Peter B. and Charlotte A. (Wayman) Beckett, both natives of England. He whose name introduces this article was the fourth in order of birth in a family of four sons, of whom three are living. Peter B. Beckett was born on the 25th of October, 1821. and was reared and educated in his native land, where his marriage was solemnized. In 1852 he came with his young wife to the United States and they passed the first year in the state of Ohio. They then established their residence at Decatur, Illinois, where Mr. Beckett entered the employ of the Illinois Central Railroad Company, in the service of
Digitized by Google
. . .
33
BIOGRAPHICAL
which he continued until 1854, when he removed to Beloit, Wis- consin, where for a short interval he was engaged in the manufac- turing of brick, after which he was for two years a representative of agricultural enterprise in that vicinity. During the ensuing year he was engaged in farming in Boone county, Illinois, and he then, about the year 1858, came to Clayton county, Iowa, where he turned his attention to the butchering business, of which he was a pioneer exponent and with which he continued his identification for a few years. He then purchased a tract of land in section 34, Clayton township, where he reclaimed and developed a productive farm and where both he and his wife passed the remainder of their long and useful lives-sterling citizens to whom came a merited prosperity and the greater reward of the confidence and good will of the community in which they long maintained their home. Mrs. Beckett was summoned to eternal rest in 1894 and her vener- able husband passed away in 1901, their remains resting side by side in the cemetery at Clayton. Both were reared in the faith of the Church of England and their lives were guided and governed by the Christian principles which they thus professed. John T. Beckett was reared to adult age on the farm which he now owns and operates, and in the meanwhile he gained due reinforcement for the battle of life by attending the common schools of the locality in which he gained the education that proved ample foundation for the broader and more practical discipline that has come to him through association with men and affairs in later years. Shortly after attaining to his legal majority he rented the old homestead farm, and later he purchased the property, which comprises one hundred and fifty-six acres and upon which he has made many excellent improvements of permanent order. This is one of the good farms of the county and it has been the stage of his well ordered activities during his entire adult career, the while he is known as a progressive and successful representative of agricul- tural and live-stock industry in his native county as well as a loyal and steadfast citizen who is well upholding the honors of the name which he bears. He is now serving his second term in the office of township trustee, was treasurer of his school district for some time, and is aligned as a staunch supporter of the cause of the Democratic party. He is affiliated with Oakleaf Camp, No. 2875, Modern Woodmen of America, at Clayton, in which he has passed various official chairs, and both he and his wife hold membership in the Christian Science church. In the year 1892 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Beckett to Miss Caroline Allen, who likewise was born and reared in this county and who is a daughter of Hans and Anna (Olson) Allen, both of whom were born in Norway, whence they came with their parents to the United States when young. Mr. Allen became one of the substantial farmers and highly esteemed citizens of Clayton county and here his death occurred in 1896, his wife still surviving him. Mr. and Mrs. Beckett have two children,-Leslie, who is now employed at Elka- der, the county seat, and Veva A., who is attending the McGregor high school.
34
MEMOIRS OF CLAYTON COUNTY
Frederick G. Bell maintains his residence in his native city of McGregor, Clayton county, and has gained prominence and influ- ence as one of the representative factors in connection with the important operations involved in the grain industry in this section of the Union, as he is now the incumbent of the responsible posi- tion of manager at McGregor of the interests and extensive busi- ness of the firm of Gilchrist & Company, which maintains a great chain of grain elevators throughout Minnesota and northern Iowa. Mr. Bell is one of the alert business men and popular and public- spirited citizens of McGregor and is a member of a family whose name has been long and worthily identified with the annals of Clayton county. He was born at McGregor on the 12th of May, 1874, and is the second in order of birth of the three children of Colin F. and Lacy (Sloan) Bell, the former a native of the State of New York and the latter of Illinois. Of the three children the first-born was a son who died in infancy, and the youngest of the number is Miss Elizabeth Bell, who still maintains her home at McGregor. Colin F. Bell came to Clayton county in the pioneer days and was for many years engaged actively and successfully in the buying and shipping of grain, with residence and business head- quarters at McGregor, where he died Feb. 1st, 1905, when about 82 years of age, and where his wife passed away May 1st, 1906. Frederick G. Bell acquired his early education in the public schools of McGregor and supplemented this discipline by an effective course in the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, at Troy, New York. After his return to McGregor he became associated with his father in the grain business, with which he has since continued to be identified and in connection with which his experience has been such as to give him authoritative knowledge of all conditions and details. As manager for Gilchrist & Company he has supervision of a large and important business in the buying and shipping of grain, and his progressiveness and loyalty are further shown in the lively interest which he shows in all that touches the welfare of his native city and county. His political allegiance is given to the Republican party. Mr. Bell holds membership in the Congrega- tional church, his wife following the precepts of the Christian Science church. August 8, 1911, was the date that recorded the mar- riage of Mr. Bell to Miss Emma Farnum, who was born and reared at Mason City, Cerro Gordo county, this State, and they have four children-Farnum, Colin, Lyman and Lacy. It should be noted that Mr. Bell's interest in and prominent association with the grain business is further evidenced by his holding membership in the Board of Trade of the City of Chicago.
Sam Bennington .- Notwithstanding all the advancement that has been and yet shall be made in all other domains of human enterprise, it is certain that the great industries of agriculture and stock-growing, most closely allied with the earth itself, must ever figure as the basis of prosperity and progress along both material and civic lines. Thus that man may well be considered fortunate who stands exemplar of progressive enterprise in connection with these all-important phases of industrial activity, and such an alert,
Digitized by Google
35
BIOGRAPHICAL
vigorous and successful man is Sam Bennington, who has won precedence as one of the representative agriculturists and stock- raisers of his native county, where he is associated with his brother William in the ownership and operation of one of the finely improved and extensive landed estates of Clayton county, the same being specially well known by reason of its prestige in the pro- duction of the best grades of live stock, and the brothers having gained high reputation for the energy, discrimination and advanced policies which they have effectively brought to bear in connection with their operations. Sam Bennington was born on a farm in section 36, Sperry township, this county, and the date of his nativ- ity was August 29, 1872. He is a son of Samuel and Esther (Bidwell) Bennington, both of whom were born in England- representatives of sterling old families of the "right little isle." Samuel Bennington was reared and educated in his native land and his entire active career was one of close and favored associa- tion with the great fundamental industry of agriculture. He was a young man when he came to the United States and in 1856 he numbered himself among the pioneer settlers of Clayton county, Iowa, where he obtained land and, with characteristic energy and circumspection, instituted the development of a farm, in Sperry township. He was a man of strong and upright character, was possessed of much business acumen, and through his well ordered endeavors he achieved a large and worthy measure of success. He gained assured place as one of the influential agriculturists and valued citizens of Clayton county at the time of his death, which occurred March 3, 1906; he was the owner of a valuable landed estate of nine hundred acres. His devoted wife passed to the life eternal on the 7th of April, 1880, and concerning their children the following brief data are entered : Charles is now a resident of Rago, Kingman county, Kansas; Annie is the wife of Thomas Butcher, of Lawrence, Van Buren county, Michigan; Esther is the wife of Edward W. Griffith, of Marion, Lynn county, Iowa; William and Sam are, as previously noted, associated in successful operations as prominent farmers and stock-growers of Clayton county. He whose name initiates this article is indebted to the public schools of his native county for his early educational discipline, and he became actively associated with the work and management of the home farm, in connection with which he gained broad and exact knowledge of all details of practical and scientific agriculture and stock-raising and proved a valued coadjutor of his honored father until the latter's death. He and his older brother, William, now own a valuable landed estate of seven hundred and seventy acres, in Highland and Sperry townships, and he occupies on the same the old homestead residence of his parents. The Bennington Brothers give special attention to and have achieved marked success in the raising of the best grades of Shorthorn cattle, Shire horses and Shropshire sheep. The permanent improvements on the extensive farmstead are of the best order, including a large and attractive house, excellent barns, and minor buildings, and the equipment throughout is of the most advanced type, indicative of the progres-
36
MEMOIRS OF CLAYTON COUNTY
siveness and thrift that make the model farmer. William Benning- ton, who is a bachelor, occupies a house of his own, and this building likewise adds to the attractions of the fine fraternal domain, which is one of the admirable rural estates of this section of Iowa. The brothers pay unequivocal allegiance to the cause of the Repub- lican party and are loyal and public-spirited citizens who command the high regard of the people of their native county. Sam Bennington is affiliated with the camp of the Woodmen of the World at Volga, which city constitutes his postoffice address and from which he receives service on rural mail route No. 2. On the 22d of December, 1903, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Bennington to Miss Clara Chapman, who likewise was born and reared in Clayton county and whose parents, Engel and Mary (Jellings) Chapman, both now deceased, were born in England. Mr. and Mrs. Bennington have no children.
August Benson is another of the sterling sons of the fair Norse- land who have found in America the advantages and opportunities for the achieving of definite independence and prosperity, and he has been a resident of Clayton county for over thirty years. Here his industry and progressiveness are indicated in his ownership of one of the fine farms of Highland township, and he is specially worthy of representation in this publication. Mr. Benson was born in Goteberg, Sweden, on the 5th of August, 1855, and is a son of Bengt Anderson and Bertha (Larson) Anderson, who passed their entire lives in their native land, their son August receiving the surname of Benson, in accordance with the ancient custom of Sweden, that of giving to children for surnames the full or a deriva- tive from the personal name of the father. He whose name initi- ates this review was reared on his father's farm and gained his early education in the schools of his native land. He was the eighth in order of birth in a family of twelve children, of whom the eldest, Anna Breta, remains in Sweden; Christina and Andrew died in their native land; Lars and Johannes still reside in Sweden; Carl and August (first of the name) are deceased, the latter having died in infancy and the same name having been given to the sub- ject of this review, who was the next child; Magnus is deceased; Johanna is the wife of Halvor Torkleson, a progressive farmer of Clayton county ; John resides in the city of Chicago, as does also Emma, who is the wife of August Jacobson. August Benson re- mained at the parental home until he had attained to the age of twenty-one years, when he severed the ties that bound him to his native land and came to America, fortified with energy and ambi- tion and determined to make advancement through his own efforts. He resided for some time in the state of New York, maintaining his home first at Brockton and later at Dunkirk, and incidental to his work at this period of his career it is interesting to record that he had the distinction of driving the first spike in connection with the construction of the line of the Nickel Plate Railroad in the Empire state. Later he was for five years in the employ of a physician, Dr. Williams. at Dunkirk, and he then, in 1885. came to Clayton county, where he worked one year on a farm. He had
Digitized by Google
.....
JADNIOK !!
37
BIOGRAPHICAL
carefully conserved his earnings during the period of his residence in the United States, and thus he found himself at the expiration of this first year justified in the purchasing of his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres, in Section 1, Highland township. He has made the best of improvements on the place, has a substantial and modern residence of two stories, and in addition to the home- stead he now owns a tract of twenty acres of timber land, in High- land township. Mr. Benson is a practical, industrious and pro- gressive farmer, gives special attention to the raising of clover, and propagates also the other crops best suited to the soil and climate of this section of Iowa, including alfalfa, which he has grown quite successfully in a small way for the last few years, besides raising fine grades of live stock. The splendid prosperity that has at- tended his indefatigable efforts is further attested by his having in recent time purchased in Highland township an additional tract of one hundred and ninety-seven acres, in which he has given to his sons a partnership interest. He is a staunch Republican, is serving as school director of his district and he and his wife are earnest communicants of the Lutheran church. In 1884 was sol- emnized the marriage of Mr. Benson to Miss Elizabeth Jacoby, who likewise was born in Sweden, and she has proved his devoted helpmeet during the years of their gracious companionship. Of the children born to this happy union, all received the advantages of the excellent schools of Clayton county. Hilma, the oldest, is married to Mr. Levy M. Erickson of Farmersburg ; Charles August is a graduate of the Iowa State College of Agriculture at Ames, and is the present deputy clerk of the District Court of Clayton county. Jerda is a successful and popular teacher in the district schools, and Oscar Arthur is preparing himself for a collegiate course at Ames College. It is planned soon that Charles shall resign his official position and that father and sons shall join in the improvement of the old homestead and their newly acquired land, which is all in one body, and convert it into a first-class stock farm.
Ben M. Benson holds precedence as one of the representative farmers of Highland township, and is well worthy of recognition in this history of his native county. He was born in Marion town- ship, on the 22d of July, 1862, and is a son of Michael and Bergat (Olson) Benson, both of whom were born in Norway. Michael Benson was reared to manhood in his native land and in 1859 he immigrated to the United States and established his residence in Marion township, Clayton county, in 1861. After due experience as a pioneer farmer in that township he removed to section 3, Highland township, where he developed a fine farm of one hundred and twenty acres, this old homestead having continued as his place of residence until his death, which occurred January 10, 1891, the devoted wife of his young manhood having been summoned to rest on the 5th of June, 1875, and both having been earnest members of the Norwegian Lutheran church. Of their five children the first, Ben, died in infancy, and the second child is Ben M., the immediate subject of this review; Ole is a prosperous farmer in Wagner
38
MEMOIRS OF CLAYTON COUNTY
township; Carrie is the wife of Nels E. Nelson, of Lyon county; and Isabel is the wife of Henry Embertson, of Wagner township. Ben M. Benson has resided on the old homestead farm from the time of his birth and now owns a well improved landed estate of two hundred and sixty acres, devoted to diversified agriculture and the raising of approved grades of live stock. He has at all times taken a loyal interest in community affairs, is a Republican in his political adherency, served two terms as township trustee and is now a member of the school board of the home district in which he himself acquired his early education. Both he and his wife are communicants of the Norwegian Lutheran church in Highland township and he is serving as its treasurer His attractive home, with modern conveniences and appointments, receives mail service on rural route No. 2 from the village of Elgin. On the 8th of March, 1889, was recorded the marriage of Mr. Benson to Miss Berdelia Lein, who likewise was born and reared in this county, where her parents, Lars and Josand (Olson) Lein, established their home upon their immigration to America from Norway, in 1857, her father becoming one of the sturdy and honored pioneer farmers of Highland township. He died in 1870 and his widow now resides in the state of Minnesota. They became the parents of eleven children, of whom the first, Ivan, is deceased; Ole resides at Grand Forks, North Dakota; Emily is the wife of Bertines Hulverson, of North Dakota; Isabel is the wife of A. Storeland and they reside in Minnesota; Bertha is the wife of Hans Hanson, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Lars is deceased; Mrs. Benson was the next in order of birth; Georgina is the wife of Henry Highfield, and they reside in the state of Idaho; Julia is the wife of M. T. Paulson, of Austin, Minnesota; Caroline is the wife of Rev. N. G. Peterson, who is now pastor of a Lutheran church in the city of Des Moines ; Laura is the wife of M. O. Swinstad, of Devil's Lake, North Dakota. In conclusion is given brief record concerning the children of Mr. and Mrs. Benson: Leonard Elmer was born Sep- tember 22, 1889, and is associated in the management of the home farm; Betsy Maria, born November 7, 1890, is the wife of Lars Larson, of Boardman township; Adelia Louisa, who remains at the parental home, as do also Josephine Ida, Melvin Enoch, Cornelia Betina, Belva Belinda and Luella Geneva.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.