USA > Iowa > Crawford County > History of Crawford County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 2
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On the 24th of November, 1881, Mr. Cornwell was united in marriage to Miss Lydia J. Dennis, who was born in Fulton county, New York, a daughter of Eli and Mary Ann ( Kennedy) Dennis, the former a native of Rhode Island and the latter of the Empire state. Mr. Dennis was a son of Joseph D., who was also born in Rhode Island and was of English descent. He was the owner of mills of different kinds and was well known in his locality. He married Lydia Hart. His father was Thomas Dennis, a soldier of the Revolutionary war. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Cornwell was Robert Kennedy, a na- tive of the Empire state who married Jane Palmerton. Their daughter, Mary Ann, became the wife of Eli Dennis and unto them were born three daughters;
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Mrs. Cornwell; Martha A., now the deceased wife of Zalmon Gilbert; and Mary, the wife of Herbert Drake, of Gloversville, New York.
Mr. and Mrs. Cornwell are members of the Congregational church, and Mrs. Cornwell is connected with the Daughters of the American Revolution. Mr. Cornwell holds membership with Sylvester Lodge, No. 505, A. F. & A. M., and gives his political support to the republican party. He was originally a demo- crat for many years and upon that ticket was elected county treasurer in a strongly republican county. His views upon the money question, however, led him to give his support to the republican party in 1896, and he has since voted with that organization. He is classed today with the prominent and repre- sentative men of his part of the state. His energies have been so directed that he has not only won individual success but has also contributed to the prosperity of the community. In matters of citizenship he holds to high ideals and gives his support wherever he believes practical methods will obtain desired results. In business affairs he has sustained an unassailable reputation for integrity as well as enterprise and at all times has employed constructive rather than de- structive methods, his labors constituting an important factor of the sum total of progress and successful accomplishment in Crawford county.
NICOLAUS LAFRENTZ.
Nicolaus Lafrentz, who lived retired in Denison for the last thirteen years of his life and died February II, 1911, was long and successfully identified with agricultural pursuits and continued to own ten hundred and twenty acres of highly improved land in Crawford county. His birth occurred in Germany on the 17th of May, 1835, his parents being Jacob and Anna Lafrentz, who spent their entire lives in that country. Their children were five in number, namely : Anna, the widow of Henry Freese, of Crawford county, Iowa; Hans, who resided with our subject; Nicolaus, of this review ; and two who have passed away.
Nicolaus Lafrentz spent the first twenty-two years of his life in the father- land and there received his education. In 1857, having determined to establish his home on this side the Atlantic, he emigrated to the United States, first locat- ing in Scott county, Iowa, where he worked on a farm for about two years. On the expiration of that period he went to Jackson county, Iowa, there residing until 1869, when he came to Crawford county. He purchased a farm here and began its cultivation and improvement, being successfully engaged in its opera- tion until he put aside the active work of the fields in 1898. In connection with the tilling of the soil he made a specialty of raising and feeding stock, which branch of his business added materially to his annual income. For thirteen years he lived in honorable retirement at Denison, where he owned a handsome residence. During his active business career he accumulated ten hundred and twenty acres of valuable land in this county, all of which is still in possession of the family.
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Mr. Lafrentz was married twice. In 1860 he wedded Miss Amanda Fulton, a native of Ohio, by whom he had six children, namely: Jacob, who is a resi- dent of Montana; Henry, living in Crawford county; James, who makes his home in Salt Lake City; Anna, the wife of Ingwert Hollander, of Crawford county ; Daniel, who is a resident of Montana; and Etta, who is the wife of William Dixon and also resides in Montana. The mother passed away in 1880 and the following year Mr. Lafrentz was again married, his second union being with Miss Dora Moller. a native of Germany. Unto them were born five chil- dren, as follows: Christ, Jolin, Albert, Max and Sarah.
In politics Mr. Lafrentz was a republican and his fellow townsmen, recog- mizing his worth and ability, called him to several positions of public trust. He held the offices of trustee, assessor, justice of the peace and school director, dis- charging his duties in these various connections in a most prompt and capable manner. Fraternally he was identified with the Masons, belonging to Lodge No. 518 at Denison, while both he and his wife were consistent and devoted mem- bers of the Lutheran church. Mr. Lafrentz never regretted his determination to come to the new world, for here he found the opportunities which he sought and through their wise utilization won a place among the wealthy and respected citizens of his community. The period of his residence in Crawford county covered more than four decades and he enjoyed a wide and favorable acquaint- ance within its borders.
LOUIE EVERS.
The records of Crawford county show that, on the whole, the offices have been filled by men of ability, faithful to the trusts reposed in them. As county treasurer Louie Evers has given proof of his public-spirited citizenship. He has discharged his duties with ability, promptness and fairness and to his fel- low citizens is known as an honest, honorable man.
One of Iowa's native sons, Mr. Evers was born in Clinton, December 29, 1874, and is of German lineage. His paternal grandfather, John Evers, was born in Germany but spent the last twenty-eight years of his life in Denison, where he passed away in 1902, at the age of seventy-four. Unto him and his wife were born three daughters and two sons, Louie, Charles, Susannah, Eliza- beth and Emma. Of these Charles Evers became the father of him whose name introduces this review. A native of Germany, Charles Evers was there married to a daughter of John Bendixen, who was a German farmer and on coming to the United States about 1874 settled in Crawford county, Iowa, where he passed away in 1895, at an advanced age. His wife was more than seventy years of age at the time of her death. They had a large family, which included Will- iam, Fred, Peter, Asmus, Henry, Doris, Elizabeth and others.
On crossing the Atlantic to America Charles Evers and his wife became early settlers of Clinton, Iowa, where he followed carpentering and contracting. In 1874 they removed to Denison, where Mrs. Evers passed away in 1880. Later the father married again, his second union being with Mary Petersen, and unto
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them were born five sons, of whom three are now living, William, John and Carl. By the first marriage there were four children, of whom but two are liv- ing, Louie and August, the latter a resident of Superior, Wyoming. The father continued a resident of Denison until July, 1910, when he removed to Green River, Wyoming, where all of his sons with the exception of Louie had preceded him and are now engaged in the lumber and contracting business.
Louie Evers was only three months old when brought by his parents to Denison and here he has since lived. At the usual age he entered the public schools and later became a student in Denison College. After putting aside his text-books he began learning the carpenter's trade and eventually began con- tracting on his own account, following that business until 1903, when he was appointed deputy county recorder for a term of two years. On his retirement from office he was given charge of the hardware department of the Balle-Brod- ersen Company and occupied that position for two years, after which he was elected county treasurer in 1906 and is still filling the position.
On the 8th of January, 1901, Mr. Evers was united in marriage to Miss Ida Lorenzen, a daughter of A. B. and Hannah (Christiansen) Lorenzen. Mrs. Evers was born in Crawford county, Iowa, but her parents were natives of Ger- many. They came to this county, however, at an early day and are now resi- dents of Denison. They had several children, of whom five are now living, namely, Anna, Ida, Lorenz, Adalina and Andrew. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Evers has been blessed with three children, Lorenz, Dorothy and Louie.
The parents are Lutherans in religious faith, and Mr. Evers holds member- ship with the Knights of Pythias. Politically he is a democrat and closely studies the questions and issues of the day, so that he is able to support his position by intelligent argument. He is proving a competent official, manifest- ing the utmost loyalty in office.
THOMAS NIELSEN.
Thomas Nielsen, a popular hotel proprietor of Denison, owns one of the best equipped hostelries west of Des Moines. His birth occurred in Denmark on the 12th of March, 1857, his parents being Niels and Mattie (Clausen) Thomsen, who spent their entire lives in that country. They had a family of five children, of whom our subject is the only survivor.
Thomas Nielsen was reared to manhood in Denmark and obtained his educa- tion in the schools of that country. He has continually broadened his knowl- edge by reading, experience and observation and is now able to speak fluently in three languages: Danish, German and English. When twenty-five years of age he bade adieu to his native land and crossed the Atlantic to the United States, wishing to test the truth of the many favorable reports which had reached him concerning the advantages and opportunities to be enjoyed in the new world. After landing on American shores he came direct to Denison, Crawford county, Iowa, and secured employment as a farm hand, working thus for a year. He then became a clerk in the store of G. P. Miller & Company,
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remaining in the employ of that concern for twelve years. On the expiration of that period he embarked in business as a hotel proprietor of Denison, where he has remained continuously since, conducting an up-to-date establishment which has been well patronized. He now owns the hotel building, which is a three-story brick structure containing over fifty rooms and which the citizens of Denison erected at a cost of sixty-five thousand dollars. Coming to this coun- try empty handed, he has since worked his way steadily upward to a position of considerable prominence and prosperity and may therefore well claim the proud American title of a self-made man.
While still a resident of Denmark Mr. Nielsen was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Chrestensin, who was born in that country in 1857. Her father emigrated to the United States in 1885 and both he and his wife are now living in Denison. Mr. and Mrs. Nielsen are the parents of six children, as follows : Ever, who is a resident of Montana; Maurice C., at home; Mattie, the wife of R. B. Smith, of Denison; and T. W., Albert and Emma, who are likewise still under the parental roof.
Mr. Nielsen is a stanch republican in politics but has never sought office as a reward for his party fealty. His religious faith is indicated by his member- ship in the Lutheran church, to which his wife also belongs. His life has ever measured up to a high standard of manhood and honorable purpose and the years have brought him a circle of friends almost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintances.
DAVID WALTERS.
David Walters, the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Paradise township, has continuously resided thereon for the past three dec- ades. His birth occurred in Wales on the 23d of April, 1841, his parents being John and Elizabeth (Richards) Walters, who were born, reared and married in that country. In 1853 the father brought his family to the United States, locating in Danville, Pennsylvania, where he made his home until 1860. In that year he removed to Fallbrook, Pennsylvania, and there resided until 1865, when he went to Brookville, Ohio, where he spent the remainder of his life, passing away in 1887. He was a coal miner in his native land and during his residence in America also worked as a coal and ore miner. The demise of his wife occurred in Crawford county, Iowa, in 1891. Their children were seven in number, namely: David, of this review; Margaret, the wife of Alex Allen, of Oliver Springs, Tennessee; Thomas, who is a resident of Florence, Colorado ; Samuel, living in New Castle, Colorado; John, of Palmer, Nebraska ; and James and William, who are deceased.
David Walters had no opportunity to acquire an education in early life. In the mines of Wales a miner could not always get as many cars as he could fill, and when our subject was five years old he went with his father to the mines to claim his share of cars. At the age of seven he began to use the pick and when a lad of eight could claim a half turn of cars. When twelve years of age
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he took a job of driving mules in the mines, being thus employed until his emi- gration to the new world. Here he took charge of a stationary engine at Dan- ville, Pennsylvania, hoisting iron ore, which position he held for about four years. On the expiration of that period he returned to mining and was thus busily employed until 1881, when he came to Iowa, locating on the farm in Paradise township, Crawford county, which has remained his place of abode continuously since. The property comprises one hundred and twenty acres of rich and productive land and has been well improved in every particular. Mr. Walters' undertakings as an agriculturist have been attended with a gratifying measure of success and he has long been numbered among the substantial and esteemed citizens of the community.
In 1880 Mr. Walters was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Morgans, a native of Wales and a daughter of John and Hannah (Davis) Morgans, who were likewise born in that country. They crossed the Atlantic to the United States in 1872, locating in Brookville, Ohio. Mrs. Morgans died in 1878, while Mr. Morgans was called to his final rest in 1889, passing away in Reynoldsville, Pennsylvania. The latter was a coal miner and the father of three children, as follows : Mrs. Walters; John, who died in 1878; and Thomas, who is a resident of Franklin, Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Walters are the parents of four chil- dren, namely: Anna, the wife of Carl Nicholson, of Bloomfield, Nebraska; and David J., William T. and Bessie, all yet at home.
Mr. Walters gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has held the offce of school director. His religious faith is indicated by his mem- bership in the Baptist church, to which his wife and children also belong. He was formerly connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His life has been one of industry and his unfaltering labor and intelligent management of his business affairs have brought him substantial and well merited prosperity. Moreover his personal qualities insure him the high regard and esteem of all with whom he comes in contact.
MRS. ELIZABETH L. CRIPPEN.
Mrs. Elizabeth L. Crippen, one of the well known and esteemed ladies of Denison, has made her home here for a third of a century. Her birth occurred in Racine county, Wisconsin, on the 27th of October, 1843, her parents being Rufus and Hannah M. (Webber) Watterman, both of whom were natives of Massachusetts. They removed to the state of Wisconsin in the '30s and there spent the remainder of their lives. They reared a family of six children, four of whom still survive.
It was in Wisconsin that Elizabeth L. Watterman gave her hand in mar- riage to Alonzo Carpenter, a native of New York, who took up his abode in the Badger state at an early day. In 1878 they came to Crawford county, Iowa, locating in Denison, where Mr. Carpenter was employed as bookkeeper by a lumber concern. Their union was blessed with one son, Harry A. Carpenter. Alonzo Carpenter died in 1885 and his remains were interred in the Denison
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cemetery. In 1888 Mrs. Carpenter became the wife of Harrison Crippen, like- wise a native of the Empire state, who was one of the carly settlers of Crawford county. He became quite an extensive landowner here and when he passed away in 1897 the community mourned the loss of one of its most prosperous and respected citizens.
Mrs. Crippen is connected with Eastern Star Lodge, No. 207, at Denison, of which she is serving as treasurer. She is also a consistent and valued member of the Baptist church, taking an active and helpful part in its work. Mrs. Crippen still owns two fine residence properties in the city of Denison and that she has ever displayed attractive personal qualities is indicated by the fact that she enjoys the warm friendship and regard of all who know her.
EDWIN DARLING, M. D.
Dr. Edwin Darling is the oldest practicing physician of Crawford county, having been identified with the medical fraternity here for more than four decades. His birth occurred in Franklin county, Vermont, on the 18th of March, 1838, his parents being Benjamin Franklin and Cynthia (Blake) Darling, who were likewise natives of the Green Mountain state. Coming to Iowa in 1848, they purchased and located on a farm in Jackson county, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Their children were five in number, namely: Edwin, of this review; Emily, who is deceased; Viola, the wife of George Leslie, of Oklahoma; Jeanette, who is the wife of George L. Wright and now resides in Denver, Colorado; and Edson, who has also passed away.
Edwin Darling began earning his own livelihood at the early age of four- teen years, securing employment as clerk in a drug store at Maquoketa, Iowa, where he remained until the outbreak of the Civil war. In 1861 he offered his services in defense of the Union, joining the Ninth Iowa Infantry and remain- ing with that command until the Ist of August, 1865. He participated in the battles of Pea Ridge, Arkansas Post, Vicksburg, Lookout Mountain, Atlanta, Georgia, and several other hotly contested engagements and also went with Sherman to the sea. During the entire period of his connection with the army he acted as hospital steward and fortunately escaped injury of any kind. He was mustered out at Clinton in 1865 and then returned to Jackson county, where he again entered the drug store in which he had been formerly employed. Hav- ing determined upon the practice of medicine as a life work, he pursued a course of study in the medical college at Cincinnati, Ohio, and was graduated from that institution in 1867. He first followed his profession at Maquoketa, Iowa, for two years and in March, 1870, came to Crawford county, locating for practice in Deloit, where he remained for seven years. On the expiration of that period he came to Vail and has here since enjoyed an extensive and lucrative practice. That his diagnosis is correct and careful, his judgment sound and his application of remedial agencies effective is shown in the ex- cellent results which have attended his efforts. He is now the oldest practicing physician in Crawford county and has kept in close touch with the onward
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DR. AND MRS. EDWIN DARLING
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march of the profession, continually broadening his knowledge and promoting his efficiency by reading and investigation.
In 1867 Dr. Darling was united in marriage to Miss Adaline Stevens, who was born in Ohio on the 19th of November, 1848, her parents being John and Mary Jane Stevens. They are both deceased, the mother passing away April 7, 19II, at the age of eighty-eight years, at the home of our subject. They reared a family of six children.
In politics Dr. Darling is a republican and his fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, have called him to several positions of public trust. He has held both town and township offices and acted as mayor of Vail for sev- eral terms, while during President Harrison's administration he served as post- master. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, belonging to Lodge No. 422, which he helped to organize and in which he has filled all of the chairs. He is likewise a member of Chapter No. 89 at Dunlap and also belongs to the Eastern Star. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Meth- odist Episcopal church, with which his wife is also affiliated. His life in all of its phases has commanded the respect and confidence of his fellowmen and he now ranks high among the prominent and valued citizens of Vail and Craw- ford county.
HON. HENRY C. LAUB.
In every community there are found a few citizens who are ever the lead- ing spirits in promoting the upbuilding of the vicinity and molding its public policy. They are its real founders, and their 'enterprise constitutes the moving force in all that is accomplished there. Such a man in Crawford county was Hon. Henry C. Laub. No history of this part of the state would be complete without extended mention of him and his life work, which constitutes so im- portant a factor in the annals of the county.
His birth occurred in Little York, Pennsylvania, April 18, 1824, his parents being William and Catharine (Snyder) Laub. The father was born in Reading, Pennsylvania, and was of sturdy Pennsylvania Dutch stock. For many years he figured as a leading citizen of Gettysburg and held a number of clerical po- sitions in connection with the county offices there, while later he was chosen by popular suffrage to the office of county treasurer. He had a brother Henry who served as a soldier of the war of 1812. The death of William Laub oc- curred in Gettysburg, when he was sixty-five years of age. His wife, who was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and was of German-Irish origin, came to Iowa after the death of her husband and spent her last days in Denison, her death occurring when she had reached the age of seventy-six. Mr. and Mrs. William Laub were the parents of nine children, as follows: Henry C., Louisa, Catha- rine, William B., Julia, Mary, John, Charles and George.
Henry C. Laub spent his early youth in Gettysburg and at the age of twelve years began to provide for his own support as a farm hand working in that way for four years and two months. The spirit of adventure, however called him Vol. II-2
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elsewhere, and he ran away to Frederick county, Maryland, where he secured a situation and remained until eighteen years of age. He then returned to Gettysburg and spent a few months in school. This was the only educational training he received and yet he became a well informed man, reading and ex- perience bringing him constantly broadening knowledge, until there were few subjects of importance that could be touched upon that he could not intelligently and entertainingly discuss. He remained throughout life a close student in the school of affairs, and his receptive mind and retentive memory gave him an in- tellectual grasp that few college students have equaled. While he was still in his teens he began learning the shoemaker's trade, which he followed for four years, using his leisure hours in reading and study so that at the end of that time he was qualified for teaching and followed the profession for four years.
The west, with its wider opportunities, attracted him, and hoping to make more rapid progress in the business world in this section of the country, he came to lowa in November, 1851, making his way to Muscatine, where on the day of his arrival he was engaged to teach school. For two years he was iden- tified with the educational interests of the city, after which he went to Cedar Rapids and turned his attention to merchandising, opening a general store. Subsequently he removed to Scotch Grove, about eight miles from Cedar Rap- ids and began the cultivation of an eighty acre farm. He afterward spent a year and a half in agricultural pursuits in Benton county and in 1855 arrived at Mason's Grove, Crawford county, where he resided for two years. It was his intention to continue farming, and he purchased a tract of land near Deloit but he soon recognized the need of mercantile enterprises and opened a little store in that village. About that time J. W. Denison, in the interest of the Provident Western Land Company, was endeavoring to found a town in the Boyer valley in the center of Crawford county. He attempted to establish a store but the men he employed proved incapable or dishonest. Mr. Laub had about decided to build a store at Marshall's Grove about a mile northeast of Denison but Mr. Denison dissuaded him from that purpose and traded the stock of merchandise which he had for Mr. Laub's land. Thus Denison secured her pioneer mer- chant, who for so many years was closely associated, not only with the business development of the county seat, but also with its progress and improvement along many other lines. Locating here in 1857, he erected a store building, twelve by eighteen feet, and goods which he purchased in Chicago were hauled overland by ox teams. Selling his goods on credit, the following spring found him with a greatly depleted stock and very little money, for the country was new and the early settlers had no cash with which to pay for their merchandise. However, he pushed on toward the goal of success and erected a store at West Side and another at Dunlap, admitting others to partnership in the venture. He soon found himself, however, seventy-eight thousand dollars in debt and resolved that thereafter he would manage the business alone. He went to Chi- cago, borrowed ten thousand dollars as a working capital and bent every energy toward the upbuilding of the business with the result that within three years he had paid off not only the indebtedness of seventy-eight thousand dollars but had also a substantial little capital remaining. He was never discouraged in the face of difficulties but with optimistic spirit continued his labors and won the
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