USA > Iowa > Crawford County > History of Crawford County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 19
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Blair, Nebraska ; Ross A., who died at Newton, Iowa, in 1909; Benjamin Y., a resident of Denison ; Oliver E., who died in Boulder, Colorado; and Mary, who passed away in infancy.
George W. Nicholson spent the first eleven years of his life in the state of his nativity and then came to Iowa with his parents in 1864. He was a resident of New Sharon for about five years, during which period he attended the pub- lic schools. When a youth of fifteen he started out to make his own way in the world and was employed at construction work on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. In 1880 he came to Crawford county and for eight years. was a resident of Vail. On the expiration of that period he removed to Deni- son, where he lived for five years, after which he went to Grand Junction, where he remained for fourteen years. He then returned to Denison, where he en- gaged in the poultry, butter and egg business, which has claimed his time and attention from 1874 until his death. He and his brother, Benjamin, were as- sociated in this enterprise for twenty-eight years and conducted a business of extensive proportions. In 1908 they erected in Denison a large storage plant, which is sixty by sixty feet and five stories in height including basement. There is also an L addition. They drew trade from all directions and from a large district, and were among the leading shippers of this part of the state.
On the 4th of August, 1884, Mr. Nicholson was married to Miss Frances Long, a daughter of J. F. and Bridget ( Butler) Long. Four children were born of this marriage: Grace Frances, now the wife of Guy O. Baker; George, who died at the age of two years; Georgiana May, who is attending high school; and John, who died in infancy. The mother passed away in 1896 at the age of thirty-four years. She was a Catholic in religious faith. Her birth occurred at Elk Point, Dakota, while her father was a native of Boston, Massachusetts, and her mother of Ireland, being brought to America when only a year old. Mr. and Mrs. Long were early settlers of Dakota, but for some years lived in Vail, Iowa, where Mr. Long passed away. The death of Mrs. Long occurred at Grand Junction, Iowa, in the spring of 1910. On the 14th of August, 1905, Mr. Nicholson was again married, his second union being with May O. Adams, who was born at Atlantic City, New Jersey, where her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Adams, still reside. She is one of six children, the others being: Louis ; Alfred ; Bentley; Carrie, the wife of Louis Rothchild; and Pauline, the wife of Frederick Holmes. The father, Alfred Adams, is a son of John Adams, who came to this country from France with four brothers and settled in New Jer- sey. The family have since scattered over the United States and are very promi- ment in the east. Mrs. Nicholson was reared and educated in Atlantic City, where she was graduated from the high school. She lived for a time in New York, but was married in Chicago, and has made her home in Denison for the past six years, being very prominent in social circles here.
George W. Nicholson was an exemplary and prominent member of the Ma- sonic fraternity. He belonged to Jefferson Lodge, No. 57, A. F. & A. M., of Grand Junction; Jefferson Chapter, R. A. M .; Jefferson Commandery, K. T .; Des Moines Consistory, A. A. S. R., in which he has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite; and Za-ga-zig Temple of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. His political allegiance was given to the republican party. He never
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sought nor desired office as a reward for party fealty, yet was not remiss in the duties of citizenship, supporting at all times those measures and movements which he deemed of essential value in the conduct of business affairs or in promoting the interests of the community. He passed away at Tampa, Florida, March 2, 19II.
FRANK McHENRY.
Frank McHenry, a prominent and well known agriculturist who has been identified with the farming interests of Crawford county for forty-four years, was born in Rock county, Wisconsin, April 9, 1856, a son of Vincent and Dency (Nefft) McHenry. The mother's birth occurred in Rhode Island, but the father was a native of Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, where their marriage occurred. In 1855 he went to Wisconsin, locating near the town of Milton, and remained there ten years. He then came to Iowa and took up his residence at Boonesboro. After a twelve months' sojourn here he removed to Janesville, Minnesota, and a year later again came to Iowa and rented land on section 18, Union township, Crawford county. For three years he operated this farm and then purchased land on the same section and upon which his son Frank is now living. In the course of time he brought it to a high state of cultivation. Here he made his home until his death, which occurred in 1891. In politics he was an old line whig and later supported the republican party. His wife died in Crawford county in 1903. They were the parents of four children, two of whom survive, namely : Helen, who is the wife of C. F. Cassidy and lives in Denison ; Frank, of this review.
Frank McHenry in early youth attended the district schools of Wisconsin and later those of Crawford county. He then took up his life work on the home farm and has since given his entire time and attention to the pursuit of agriculture, bringing to his labors a well trained mind and a knowledge born in the school of experience. Aside from his farm of eighty acres on section 18, Union township, he owns an additional eighty acres on section 20, all of which is well improved and valuable land.
On March 21, 1883, Mr. McHenry was united in marriage to Miss Mar- garet Gibson, who was born in Huron county, Ontario, Canada, August 12, 1858, a daughter of Samuel and Margaret (Shillington) Gibson. Her father was born in Canada, of Scotch-Irish parentage, and came to Crawford county in 1871, locating in Union township, where he lived until 1883. In that year he removed to Charter Oak and later to Dunlap, where he remained but a short time and then went to Missouri. He subsequently returned to Crawford county and resided with his children until his death, which took place in 1910. His wife was a native of the north of Ireland and her death occurred in Crawford county in 1877. Three children were born to this couple: Robert Henry, living in Hugo, Colorado; Margaret; and Lydia, the wife of C. W. Pierce, a resident of Denison. Mrs. McHenry was educated at Cornell College, Mt. Vernon, and for eight years taught school in Crawford county. Mr. and Mrs. McHenry have
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one child, Ruth, who is the wife of E. R. Morrison. They are residing on the home place and are the parents of one child, Raymond McHenry.
In his political views Mr. McHenry supports the republican party, and in religion both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is one of the trustees. His wife joined the church when but eight years old. Mr. McHenry is an excellent type of those who go to make the best farm element of the county, where he is recognized as one of the sub- stantial and representative citizens.
C. J. TELLGREN.
C. J. Tellgren, who was formerly engaged in agricultural pursuits in Craw- ford county but is now living in Kiron, where he has a wagon and repair shop, is a native of Sweden. He is a son of G. F. and Elizabeth Katherine Tellgren, also natives of Scandinavia, his birth having occurred on the 30th of January, 1862. The parents emigrated to the United States in 1885, and in February of which year they settled on a farm in Crawford county, Iowa. The father passed away on the 21st of March, 1908, but the mother is still living, although she has passed her seventy-fifth anniversary. They were the parents of five children, who were as follows: C. J., our subject; Andrew, deceased; O. F., living in Crawford county; Enoch, who resides in Ida county; and Alfred, also of this county.
C. J. Tellgren received his education in the common schools of his native land, remaining a member of his father's household until he had attained his fifteenth year, at which time he started out in life for himself. He worked as a farm hand for two years and then entered the army. After two years' service, he decided to become a citizen of the United States and after receiving his dis- charge he took passage for America. Upon his arrival he made his way west- ward, locating in Crawford county, Iowa, where he obtained employment upon a farm, continuing to work for others for three years. At the end of that period he had accumulated sufficient means to enable him to farm as a renter and for sixteen years he cultivated leased land. In 1900 he gave up agricultural pursuits and removed to Kiron, where he opened a wagon and repair shop, which he is still conducting. Mr. Tellgren is an excellent mechanic, having been a high class engineer in Sweden when he was seventeen years of age. He has met with moderate success in his various ventures and owns his residence and two lots, as well as his shop and a building and two acres of land within the village limits.
Mr. Tellgren was married on the 3d of July, 1889, to Miss Matilda Swanson, one of the five children born unto Mr. and Mrs. Swan Nelson, of Sweden, who spent their entire lives in their native land. Three children have been born unto Mr. and Mrs. Tellgren, as follows: Maud T., Anna V. and Minnie M. They are all graduates of the high school and the eldest and youngest are now at home, but the second daughter is attending college in Des Moines.
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They attend the services of the Baptist church, and Mr. Tellgren always supports the candidates and measures of the republican party. He takes an active interest in all municipal matters and at the present time is a member of the board of aldermen. The family is highly regarded in Kiron, figuring promi- nently in all of the social activities.
THOMAS MICHAELSEN.
Thomas Michaelsen, who is prominently identified with the agricultural in- terests of Hanover township, having a homestead there consisting of two hun- dred and forty acres, all under a high state of cultivation, was born in Germany on the 5th of January, 1870. His parents, C. H. and Katrina (Hansen) Michael- sen, were also natives of the fatherland, in which country they were married, but emigrated to the United States with their family in 1883. Landing in New York they immediately made their way westward and located in Crawford county, Iowa, very soon thereafter buying one hundred and sixty acres of land, which they cultivated for thirteen years. In 1896 they sold this and removed to Arion, Iowa, settling on two hundred acres, which Mr. Michaelsen owned and continued to operate until 1903. They then migrated to Oklahoma, where he is interested in several banks, and are now residents of Wheatland, that state. Mr. and Mrs. Michaelsen are the parents of the following children: Henry, living in Canadian county, Oklahoma; Thomas, our subject ; Johannes, who resides in Missouri; H. F., also of Oklahoma; and Margaret, who is still at home.
Thomas Michaelsen acquired his education in the common schools of Craw- ford county and after laying aside his text-books he worked for his father until he had attained his majority and then began farming as a renter, which he con- tinued for four years. During this period he had by careful planning, economy and industry managed to save the required capital necessary to purchase land and invested in two hundred acres in Hanover township. He cultivated this for eleven years and then traded for two hundred and forty acres in Otter Creek and Morgan townships, and after owning this for a short time he again traded for land in Hanover township. At the end of three years he sold that place and moved to Oklahoma, where he resided until 1906, at which time he returned to Iowa. He is now living on two hundred and forty acres of land on section 1, Hanover township. One hundred and sixty acres of his homestead is the land which his father bought when he first came to Iowa. Here he en- gages in general farming and stock-raising but makes a specialty of feeding and shipping cattle to the market. He is an indefatigable worker, but his per- sistence and thrift have been rewarded by more than moderate success, and although still in his prime, Mr. Michaelsen is rated as one of the substantial agriculturists in his township, as in addition to his well improved and highly cultivated homestead, he owns two hundred and forty acres of good land in Oklahoma.
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The marriage of Mr. Michaelsen and Miss Mary Sievers occurred on the 28th of January, 1891. She was born in Scott county, Iowa, and is a daughter of John and Anna ( Hansen) Sievers, natives of Germany, who came to the United States in 1867 and first located in Davenport, this state, where they lived for five years. In 1872 they bought a farm in Crawford county for five dollars per acre and after cultivating it for fifteen years they retired and re- moved to Denison, where they continued to reside until their death. The mother passed away in 1898, and the father in 1900. Mrs. Michaelsen was the only child born of this union.
Mr. and Mrs. Michaelsen have become the parents of the following chil- dren: Herbert H., who was born on the 28th of September, 1892, and is attending college at Denison; Ehrhardt J., born on the 11th of February, 1894, also attending college; Robert N., born on the 27th of September, 1895, attend- ing the German school; Alwin W., born on the 15th of April, 1897, going to school; Victor S., born on the 7th of November, 1898; Zuehla A. C., born on the 24th of September, 1900; Leonhardt, born on the 13th of April, 1902; the seventh child who died in infancy; Hortense J. M., born on the 30th of April, 1908; and Walter T., born on the 4th of June, 1910.
The family always attend the services of the Lutheran church, with which denomination the parents are affiliated by membership. Ever since acquiring the right of suffrage Mr. Michaelsen has given his support to the democratic party, considering that its policy is best adapted to protect the interests of the agriculturist. He has always taken an active part in local politics and his party fealty has been rewarded by his election to various offices. He served as con- stable for one term, was assessor for five years and was a member of the board of school directors for seven years. He is highly regarded in his community, where he is considered to be a man of high principles and sound integrity.
MICHAEL J. MONAGHAN.
There is no doubt that young men have been coming more rapidly to the front during the past quarter of a century than ever before, and also that they have been in many instances highly successful. They are to be met with in the professions and in all lines of business, and many of them have shown a clearness in judgment and a capability in management of important affairs that are truly gratifying. Among the young men of Crawford county who are tak- ing an active part in public affairs is Michael J. Monaghan, editor and proprietor of the Observer at Vail. He is a native of Vail, born May 12. 1887, and a son of Michael J. and Mary A. Monaghan.
He was reared under the favoring conditions of a peaceable home and re- ceived his education at St. Ann's Academy at Vail, graduating from that insti- tution in 1904 as valedictorian of his class. After leaving school he entered the Observer office and learned the printer's trade, continuing there for three years. He then worked for two years in Indiana, after which he returned to Vail and purchased the Observer from C. C. Vail.
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Mr. Monaghan is an earnest friend of education and fills the position of sec- retary of the independent school district. Fraternally, he is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Brotherhood of American Yeoman at Vail. He made an excellent start in life by graduating at the head of his class at school and the expectations of his friends have not been disappointed. Hav- ing thoroughly prepared himself for newspaper work by learning the printer's trade, he is now, as editor and manager of a paper, in a position to do effective service in the interest of the community. Under his management the paper has made commendable progress and is today one of the influential publications of this section.
Industrious, enterprising and ambitious to attain an honorable place in life, Mr. Monaghan in the estimation of his friends is certain to win the favors of fortune, and ranks as one of the highly prominent young men of the community.
JOHN THOMAS HAUGH.
One of the energetic and highly capable buisness men of Denison is John Thomas Haugh, who for twenty-seven years has been connected with the cloth- ing business of this city. He is a native of Davenport, Iowa, born October 12, 1854, and is a son of Mark and Margaret (Rasp) Haugh, the former born in Ireland and the latter in Canada. The father emigrated from the Emerald isle to Canada and engaged in lumbering, coming to the United States in 1848. After living for a short time in Chicago he removed to Davenport, Iowa, where he followed various pursuits and became a farmer in the vicinity of that city. He passed away in 1862 at the age of forty-eight years, but his wife is still living and has made her home in Denison since 1882. Michael Haugh, the pa- ternal grandfather of our subject, lived to be ninety-five years old and spent his last years in Scott county, Iowa. His children were Mark, Martin and John. The maternal grandfather, John Rasp, settled with his family on a farm in Scott county, Iowa, and had eight children, namely : Michael, Margaret, Mary, Ellen, Eliza, John, Thomas and Bridget. There were five children in the family of Mark and Margaret Haugh, three of whom are now living, namely: John Thomas, the subject of this review; Mary L., the wife of Patrick Meade, of Crawford county ; and Bridget, now Mrs. Thomas Clarke, of Denison.
John Thomas Haugh was reared upon his father's farm in Scott county, Iowa, and received his education in the district schools and at St. Anthony's parochial school in Davenport. He came to Crawford county in 1882, and in order to get a start in life worked at anything he could find to do. In 1884 he entered the employ of M. Goldheim, clothier, and four years later purchased an interest in the store. In 1892 Mr. Goldheim having died, the business was continued under the name of Haugh & Kemming, but in 1900 the firm was dis- solved, and in April, 1901, Mr. Haugh became associated with F. W. Brummer, and the business has since been carried forward under title of Haugh & Brum- mer. It is now one of the most prosperous concerns of the kind in this part of the state.
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On the 6th of May, 1891, Mr. Haugh was united in marriage to Miss Mary Farrelly, a native of Ireland, and a sister of Rev. Father Farrelly of Denison. One daughter, Marguerite, has blessed this union. Mr. Haugh and his es- timable wife were both reared in the faith of the Catholic church and are con- sistent members of that organization. Socially, he is one of the well known men of the community, being a member of Charles Carroll Council, No. 780, Knights of Columbus. Politically, he gives his support to the democratic party, and although his attention is mainly devoted to his business he is at the present time serving acceptably as member of the city council. It is safe to say that no citizen stands higher in the estimation of the people of Denison and vicinity than the gentleman whose sketch is herewith presented.
SAMUEL B. SMYTH.
The rich agricultural resources of Crawford county afforded Samuel B. Smyth an excellent opportunity for the exercise of his talents, and he is now living in honorable retirement in Denison after many years of active labor, during which he became known as one of the leading farmers of the county. He was born in County Antrim, Ireland, in a town called White Abbey, July 29, 1829, and is a son of Samuel and Jane (Baxter) Smyth, both of whom were born of Scotch parents in Scotland. The father, who was a farmer in Ireland, died in that country, and the mother subsequently came to America with her sons and passed away in Livingston county, Illinois, in 1865, at eighty years of age. She and her husband were members of the Presbyterian church. There were four children in their family, namely: Jane, Mary, James and Samuel B. Jane married a Mr. Blair and died in Ireland. Mary, the second in order of birth, became the wife of Thomas Luney and they later emigrated to this coun- try, where they took up their permanent abode. James also cast his lot with the new world.
Samuel B. Smyth was reared in his native land as a farmer boy and received his early education in the common schools. He learned the machinist's trade at Belfast and worked there for several years. In 1851, in company with his mother and his brother James, he crossed the ocean and they resided for two years at St. Charles, Kane county, Illinois, then moving to a farm near Pontiac. Livingston county, that state. In 1865 he and his brother settled upon a farm about a mile and a half cast of Denison, Iowa, where they acquired two hun- dred acres of land, which they cultivated to good advantage, purchasing more land as their resources increased until they owned a farm of four hundred acres. They remained together until the death of the brother, which occurred July 4, 1903, he having then arrived at the age of eighty-one years. They held their property in common and were highly successful in their business affairs. Sam- uel B. Smyth still owns the beautiful home farm of four hundred acres and also three hundred acres in Stutsman county, North Dakota, near Medina.
In 1864 he was married to Miss Martha Rollins, a sister of James Rollins, of East Boyer township. The beloved wife passed away in 1890. She was a
SAMUEL B. SMYTH
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member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Smyth is now eighty-two years of age and looks back on a long life of usefulness, nearly sixty years of which have been passed in America. He is a sincere believer in the Bible and is a member of the Presbyterian church, whose teachings he regards as a true interpretation of the doctrines of the New Testament. Politically, he has given his support to the republican party ever since he arrived in America, but he has never aspired to the honors of office, preferring to devote his energies to business affairs. Although well advanced in years he is active in mind and body and reads without glasses. He has been through life a close reader and observer and has derived great pleasure from communion on the printed page with master thinkers of all the ages. As a patriotic and representative citizen he is greatly respected by all who know him.
MATHIAS HUGG.
Mathias Hugg is a native of Alsace, France, which used to be known as the Garden of France, but since 1871 it has belonged to Germany. He was born March 5, 1850, a son of Mathias and Marie Salome (Oberlin) Hugg, both of whom were also natives of France. The father was of Swiss extraction, while the mother was of German descent. Mathias Hugg, Sr., was a weaver by trade and came to the United States in 1865, sailing from Havre to America and locating in Lake county, Illinois, where he resided for thirteen years. In 1878 he came to Crawford county, Iowa, making his residence at Coon Grove, in Washington township. There he bought land and resided until his death in 1891 at the age of seventy-four years. In politics he was a republican, and in his religion was a member of the Evangelical church. Two children were born to him, of whom one is the subject of this sketch, and the other is George, at present a farmer living near Platt, South Dakota. 1
Mr. Hugg of this review obtained his early education in both the French and German public schools, which he supplemented by a course in the schools of this country. He remained at home until thirty-one years old, when he rented a part of his father's farm, upon which he resided until 1869. In the meantime he had become owner of that farm, which he subsequently rented, while he re- moved to his present location, where he had previously bought one hundred and twenty acres. In November, 1910, he sold forty acres of his property and at present engages in general farming and stock-raising on the remainder.
In 1882 Mr. Hugg was united in marriage to Miss Anna Marie Schwartz, who was born in the same locality as her husband. Her parents were Jacob and Anna Marie (Hild) Schwartz. Her father died in Alsace, where her mother is still living. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Schwartz, as follows: Anna Marie, the wife of our subject ; Catherine, who held a position as a school teacher in Ostheim, Alsace, for thirty-two years, being subsequently retired on a pension; and Madelaine, who is now residing in Minnesota.
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