USA > Iowa > Crawford County > History of Crawford County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 20
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Mr. and Mrs. Hugg are the parents of five children, namely: Emil M. is a clerk in the Crawford County Bank. George Walter is a farmer and stock-
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raiser in Oacoma, Lyman county, South Dakota. He married Miss Lillie Paul- sen and they have one child, Fernetta Marie. Martha Marie is living at home. Esther Salome and Susana C. are both deceased.
In politics Mr. Hugg is a republican and is serving as one of the township trustees, to which office he was elected for a third term. He has been school director in Washington township and has held the same office for two terms in Denison township. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hugg are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
RALPH OTIS McCONNAUGHEY, D. D. S.
For seven years Dr. Ralph Otis McConnaughey has practiced dentistry at Denison and has attained a measure of success which indicates that he has a thorough knowledge of his profession. He is a gentleman of pleasing address who keeps fully up-to-date in his calling and numbers among his patrons many of the leading families of this part of the state.
He was born in Washington county, Iowa, July 23, 1878, his parents being John T. and Lucetta (Mills) McConnaughey, the former a native of Pennsyl- vania and the latter of the Western Reserve of Ohio. The father, who was reared as a farmer at Bedford, Pennsylvania, came to Iowa about 1850 and settled in Washington county. He passed away in 1900, at the age of fifty- eight years. His wife is now living at Benzonia, Michigan, and is a member of the Congregational church, as was also her husband. He was a soldier in the Civil war, enlisting at nineteen on the 28th of July, 1861, in Company E, Seventh Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He was transferred August 2, 1861, to Company H of the same regiment and was appointed musician June 12, 1861. On January I, 1864, he reenlisted as a veteran and was promoted to the position of principal musician of the regiment September 10 following. He was wounded in the right leg March 21, 1865, at the battle of Bentonville, North Carolina, and was mustered out of service August 7, 1865, at New York city. He was a gallant soldier and as a private citizen was greatly respected by all who knew him.
David P. McConnaughey, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was a native of Pennsylvania and was of Scotch-Irish descent. He learned the hat- ter's trade and became a manufacturer of hats, but in 1850 was attracted to the west and located in Washington county, Iowa, where he purchased land fron the government. He died at the age of ninety-four years. The maiden name of his wife was Catharine Thompson and she was the mother of eight children, one of whom died in infancy. The others were Samuel, David, Jr., Alexander, William, John, Emily and Elizabeth. The maternal grandfather, Manning Mills, was a native of Ohio. He also settled in Washington county, Iowa, and lived upon his farm to an advanced age. He had seven children : Harlow, Ernst, Jay, Lucetta, Isabel, Myra and Effie.
There were five children in the family of John T. and Lucetta McCon- naughey, namely: Ralph Otis, of this review; Harlow Alexander, now a resi- dent of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania ; Grace Elizabeth, a missionary in China ; John, who died at the age of eleven years ; and William, who died in infancy.
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Ralph O. McConnaughey was reared on the farm of his father in Wash- ington county and gained his early education in the district schools, later at- tending the high schools at West Chester and Grinnell, Iowa. After working for several years at Dixon, Illinois, he decided to devote his attention to den- tistry and entered the dental college of the State University at Iowa City, gradu- ating with the degree of D. D. S. in 1904. He has since successfully engaged in practice at Denison.
On the 2d of October, 1907, Dr. McConnaughey was united in marriage at Denison to Miss Allie Sewell, a daughter of Luman and Ella (Wieting) Sewell, and by this union one child, John Sewell, has been born.
The success of Dr. McConnaughey is due to his conscientious application and a natural adaptability to a profession which is both an art and a science and required a highly trained hand and an intelligent mind, both of which are happily possessed by the subject of this review. He is a prominent worker in fraternal orders, being a member of Sylvan Lodge, No. 507, A. F. & A. M .; Dowdall Lodge, No. 90, K. P .; and also of the Sons of Veterans. He and his wife are identified with the Presbyterian church. Politically he gives his sup- port to the republican party, but the honors and emoluments of public office have never appealed to him, as his interests are concentrated upon his profession.
,
HERMAN ·H. OTTO.
Coming from Germany with his parents when but six years old, Herman H. Otto, the subject of this sketch, has attained the position in life of a substantial farmer and influential citizen of Crawford county, and he has made an unquali- fied success in agricultural pursuits. He was born September 20, 1866, a son of Henry and Louisa (Winterfeldt) Otto, both of whom are natives of Ger- many. They came to the United States in 1872, locating in Rock Island county, Illinois, where they resided until 1883, when they removed to Crawford county, Iowa. They settled in Goodrich township and continued to live there until 1903, in which year they took up their residence in Denison, where the father still makes his home. The mother departed this life in 1906. They were the parents of three children, namely: Herman H .; Henry, who lives on the home farm in Goodrich township; and Anna, who is the wife of Fred Lenz, of Monona county, Iowa.
Herman H. Otto received his education in the common schools of Rock Island county, Illinois, later coming to Crawford county with his parents. He remained with them until he was twenty-four years of age, then started to farm on his own account in Goodrich township, later moving to Paradise town- ship, and subsequently coming to Denison township, where he took up a farm which is now within the city limits. In 1900 he removed to his present location and has greatly enhanced its value by making many modern improvements. He now owns one hundred and sixty acres of land, in addition to which he operates eighty acres of land adjoining his farm.
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In 1891 Mr. Otto was married to Miss Mary Holtman, a resident of Craw- ford county, who passed away in 1910. To this couple the following four chil- dren were born: Selma, Fred, Hattie and Marie, all of whom are living at home. In politics Mr. Otto is a democrat and has taken an active interest in his party. He has served as trustee of Denison township for seven years and is now president of the board. He is a member of the Lutheran church, and is in every respect a highly esteemed citizen of Crawford county.
H. C. MARTINS.
Some men are born with an unalterable ambition that carries them above discouragement and nothing but death can prevent them from accomplishing what they start out to do. Such a man is H. C. Martins, of West Side, who began life for himself when fifteen years of age with seven dollars and a half in his pocket and nothing else to depend upon but his own strong arms and an unflinching courage. He is now a flourishing business man on the high road to prosperity.
He was born in Germany, February 6, 1861, a son of John and Margaret (Hansen) Martins both of whom were natives of Germany. They came to America in 1865 and took up their residence at Wheatland, Clinton county, Iowa. The mother passed away three weeks after her arrival in this country. The father continued at Wheatland for seven years and then rented a farm near Lost Nation in Clinton county, which he cultivated for nine years. In 1880 he removed to Crawford county, where he remained until his death in 1893. There were four children in the family, namely: Peter J., a farmer now living retired at West Side; Anna, the wife of Claus Benning, of Clinton county, Iowa; Henry, living at Council Bluffs; and H. C., our subject.
Arriving in America with his parents at four years of age, Mr. Martins of this review continued with his father until fifteen years of age and early be- came acquainted with the various details pertaining to agriculture and stock- raising. He had but limited advantages of education in the district school and even as a boy began working as a farm hand, at which occupation he continued for ten years. Being attracted to mercantile pursuits, he entered the hardware business at West Side and is now senior member of the firm of Evers & Martins, dealers in hardware, furniture and implements, and also engaged in the under- taking business. Mr. Martins owns the building in which the store is located and a comfortable residence in West Side and is also interested in a lumberyard at this place. He has good natural ability, discernment and practical experience with men and affairs, so that he is well qualified for the position he occupies as a capable and progressive business man.
On the 12th of December, 1885, Mr. Martins was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Jahn, who was born in Germany in 1868, a daughter of J. F. and Kathrina Jahn. Her parents came to this country and both are now deceased. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Martins, namely: Jessie, who graduated from the West Side high school and also took a course in college ;
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Elmer J., also a graduate of the high school and of Boyles' Business College, of Omaha; Cora, now a student in the high school; and Grace, still in the graded school.
Mr. Martins and his wife are both consistent members of the German Luth- eran church and have many warm personal friends in that organization. Po- litically he affiliates with the republican party, believing that its principles are best adapted to enhance the permanent interests of the country, and although he has never been an aspirant for public office he has served with marked ability for twenty-one years as a member of the village council. He has a genial disposi- tion and readily makes friends wherever he is known. He is also industrious, enterprising and quick to take advantage of circumstances leading to success. A man of genuine worth, he is recognized as a substantial citizen who would reflect credit upon any community.
EDWARD E. CLAUSON.
Prominent among the business men of Kiron and vicinity is Edward E. Clauson, a member of the firm of Clauson Brothers, for the last eight or nine years a flourishing concern of Crawford county. He was born in this county, February 8, 1871, a son of C. F. and Katherine (Johnson) Clauson, both na- tives of Sweden. They came to America in 1865 and located on a farm in Stockholm township, which became the family homestead. The mother passed away about 1890, but the father is now living at his old home and has arrived at the age of seventy years. Fourteen children were born to them, five of whom still survive, namely : Alfred J., William C., Edward E., Otto E. and Eda C., now Mrs. Edward Anderson. All reside in Crawford county.
Edward E. Clauson was reared under the protecting influence of a good home and received his early education in the district schools. He assisted his father in farm work until twenty years of age and then, being attracted to mer- cantile pursuits, entered the employ of N. L. Hunts, the owner of a general store at Deloit, where he continued for four years, also filling the position of assistant postmaster. He next came to Old Kiron and clerked in a store for two years, also filling the position of postmaster in this town about ten years. In 1902 he moved to new Kiron and has since been engaged in the furniture and undertaking business under the title of Clauson Brothers and has served for six years as postmaster. He is a man who possesses a variety of talents and as an auctioneer he has gained an enviable reputation in this section. He is thoroughly wide-awake and energetic, and as he has the confidence of the community his efforts are yielding handsome returns.
In February, 1901, Mr. Clauson was united in marriage to Miss Anna Lund- berg, who was born in Sac county, Iowa, a daughter of Axtel and Matilda Lund- berg, both of whom are natives of Sweden. They came to America in the '60s and located in Sac county, where they now reside. There were nine children in their family, all of whom are still living. Four children came to bless the
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union of Mr. and Mrs. Clauson, namely: Raymond B., Bernice O., Newell F. and Ralph C.
Mr. and Mrs. Clauson are both earnest members of the Free Mission church, in which he takes an active interest and served for eleven years as superintendent of the Sunday school, being now treasurer of the same organization. Politically he gives his support to the republican party, and although he has not urged claims for office, he was the first treasurer of Kiron. The excellent business ability of Mr. Clauson is exemplified in the prosperity of the firm with which he is connected, and his reliability is beyond question. His life has been char- acterized by principles of industry and justice which are recognized the world over as of enduring worth.
GUSTAV RABE.
The owner of four farms, one of them consisting of five hundred and sev- enty acres of well improved land in Crawford county and the head of a family of eighteen children now living, Gustav Rabe may be justly regarded as a re- markable man. He has won his way to fortune assisted by his estimable wife, who has indeed been to him a true companion and to her children a wise and loving mother. Mr. Rabe was born at Vor, Pommern, Germany, June 1, 1850, a son of Johann and Mary Rabe. The parents were also natives of Germany and the mother died in the old country in 1857. In 1882 the father came to America and spent the remainder of his days with his son Gustav. There were five children in the family, two of whom are now living: Frederick, of South Dakota; and Gustav, of this review.
Gustav Rabe received his education in his native land and in 1869, being then nineteen years of age, he came to America and began work in a lumberyard in Chicago. He started at the bottom of the ladder but applied himself with such diligence to his work that he was promoted to various positions, becoming foreman and salesman in the yard. He continued with his employers for ten years, in the meantime, however, preparing to start in business independently. In 1879 he came to Crawford county, Iowa, and took up his home on one hun- dred and ten acres of land in Morgan township, which he had bought four years previously. He has ever since continued on this place and has conducted his affairs with such ability and clear judgment that he now owns eleven hundred and seventy acres of land, which is divided into four farms. The homestead consists of five hundred and seventy acres and is very highly improved. He has four hundred acres in Monona county, Iowa, and two hundred acres of good land in Knox county, Nebraska. He is a large raiser of grain and also an ex- tensive feeder of cattle and hogs. In addition to his agricultural interests he is a stockholder and vice president of the German Savings Bank of Ricketts, Iowa.
In 1875 Mr. Rabe was united in marriage to Miss Frederica Fischer, who was born in Germany, May 2, 1859, a daughter of Johan and Sophia Fischer. Her parents were both natives of Germany. They came to America in 1869
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and took up their residence in Chicago, Illinois. The father died four years later. In 1879 the mother came to Crawford county and made her home with Mr. and Mrs. Rabe during the remainder of her life. There were two children in her family: Frederica, and John, who is engaged in farming in Hanover township, Crawford county.
Nineteen children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Rabe, all of whom sur- vive except the youngest, Sophia, who died in infancy. Those now living are: Gustave J., born December 1, 1876, who is married and occupies a part of his father's farm; Martha, born August 3, 1878, and is the wife of Fred Gierstorf, a farmer of Crawford county ; Louisa, who was born October 2, 1880, and mar- ried Henry L. Mueller, proprietor of a barber shop in Chicago; John B., born March 3, 1882; Caroline, born October 18, 1883; William, born July 11, 1885; Bertha, born October 1I, 1886, who lives with her sister in Chicago and is en- gaged in dressmaking; Anna, born August 19, 1888; Emma, born January 29, 1890, who has a high-school education, passing as the best penman in Crawford county ; Albert, born May 11, 1891 ; Bernhard, born January 21, 1893; Freda, born December 24, 1894; Matilda, born April 28, 1896; Walter and Paulina, twins, born February 18, 1898; Gertrude, born September 24, 1901; Henry, born December 7, 1903; and Theodore, born November 26, 1905. Thirteen of the children are still living at home. The parents have given their children good opportunities of education and training. They have been reared to systematic habits of industry and all who have arrived at the age of discretion have shown themselves to be useful and honorable members of society. It is doubtful whether a similar record of such a large family can be presented in Iowa or any other state of the Union.
Mr. Rabe and his family are sincere believers in the Bible and all are identi- fied with the German Lutheran church. Politically he is in thorough sympathy with the republican party and he has found time to serve as member of the school board and also for six years as township clerk. The success he has at- tained has been due to untiring diligence and a capacity in management not possessed by ordinary men. He has set a worthy example to his children and in all relations with his fellowmen has ever attempted to perform his duty. It would be difficult indeed to find a more capable or patriotic citizen in Crawford county than the gentleman whose name stands at the head of this sketch.
PETER JOHANNSEN.
Peter Johannsen, who by his early industry has earned the privilege of re- tiring from the active labors of life, was born November 24, 1848, a son of Peter and Christine (Walter) Johannsen who were natives of Germany, in which country all their children were born, six in number, of whom but three now survive, namely : Mary, the wife of Henry Boyse, living in Hanover town- ship. Crawford county; Peter, of this review; and Hans, who resides in Deni- son. The parents spent their entire lives in the fatherland, the father dying
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when about seventy-six years old, and the mother passing away at about the same age.
Peter Johannsen of this review emigrated to the United States April 11, 1868, first locating in Chicago, where he worked in a lumberyard for a short period and then went to Lyons, Iowa, and was employed on a farm for two years. He subsequently moved to Clinton, Iowa, and worked in a sawmill until 1877. In that year he came to Crawford county and purchased eighty acres of prairie land, which he broke and cultivated and to which he added from time to time until his possessions now aggregate one thousand acres. Here he con- tinued the pursuit of agriculture until he had acquired a comfortable compe- tence, when he rented the property to his sons and retired to enjoy a well earned rest, and at present is residing in his beautiful home in Schleswig, Iowa.
In 1871 Mr. Johannsen was united in marriage to Gyde, the only daughter of Nise and Christina (Hansen) Hansen, and to them ten children have been born, of whom the following are living: Peter and John, who operate the home- stead in Crawford county; Hans who lives in Ida county; Christina, who be- came the wife of Charles Tamm and makes her home in Crawford county ; Mary, the wife of Edward Tamm, of this county; and Annie, who married Carl Loose and resides in Crawford county. The two first born and William and Clara, all died in infancy.
Mr. Johannsen has always given his loyal support to the democratic party and during his residence in Crawford has held several township offices. In his religious views he has ever been a consistent Lutheran. Possessing the sterling characteristics of the German race, he early developed all the attributes that make the successful man and has also gained an honored name in the land of his adoption, being regarded as one of the public-spirited and worthy citizens of Crawford county.
JAMES ROLLINS.
James Rollins a well known farmer and stockman of East Boyer township. is the owner of three hundred and sixty-three acres of rich and productive land. His birth occurred near Belfast, Ireland, on the 13th of July, 1834. his parents being William and Jane (White) Rollins, who spent their entire lives on the Emerald isle. The father, a farmer by occupation, was an elder in the Presby- terian church. Our subject is the only surviving member of a family of five children, the others being William G., Martha, John and Robert.
James Rollins was reared on the home farm and attended the public schools until twenty years of age. In 1854 he came to the United States on a sailing vessel and took up his abode near Pontiac, Illinois, where he was engaged in gen- eral agricultural pursuits until 1862. In that year he enlisted for service in the Union army, joining Company M, First Illinois Light Artillery, and remaining with that command until honorably discharged at Chicago on the 24th of July. 1865. As a private he participated in the following engagements : Green River Bridge. Columbia, Campbellsville, Muldraugh's Hill, Lebanon, Franklin, Triune,
MR. AND MRS. JAMES ROLLINS
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Chattanooga, Ringgold, Pea Pine Creek, Chickamauga, Ringgold Gap, Stone Ridge, Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, Strawberry Plains, Loudon, Tiger Creek, Rockyface Ridge, Rockyface Gap, Resaca, Etowah River, Barrett's Mills, Euhalle River, Widow Jackson's, Coosa River, Adairsville, Kingston, New Hope Church, Pumpkin Vine Creek, Dallas, Ackworth, Lost Mountain, Pine Mountain, Big Shanty, Kenesaw Mountain, Marietta, Chattahoochee River, Buckhead, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta (the battles of July 22d, July 28th and also the siege of that city), Stone Mountain, Jonesboro and Lovejoy. After the last named skirmish Mr. Rollins did garrison duty until discharged. At Chickamauga his horse was shot from under him in the midst of battle but he always fortunately escaped injury and was never in a hospital during the entire period of his enlist- ment. He was under fire for one hundred and seventy-eight days and traveled three thousand one hundred and two miles. When hostilities had ceased he came to Denison, Iowa, in August, 1865, and subsequently purchased his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres on sections 17 and 18, East Boyer township. The following year he began making improvements, first erecting a frame house, sixteen by twenty-two feet, which he later replaced by a fine residence which is still standing. He now owns three hundred and sixty-three acres of valuable land and in connection with the tilling of the soil devotes considerable attention to stock, breeding polled Durham cattle, Poland China hogs and also raising fine horses. In addition to his agricultural interests he acted as agent for the Kiron Insurance Company for four or five years. He is likewise interested in real estate at Denison and has long been numbered among the prosperous and representative citizens of Crawford county.
On the 7th of October, 1869, Mr. Rollins was united in marriage to Miss Emina Coleman, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, and a daughter of Spencer and Elizabeth (Crocker) Coleman. The father was likewise born in the Buckeye state, while the mother's birth occurred in Germany. Spencer Coleman, who was a shoemaker by trade, came to Iowa about 1870, locating near Cedar Rapids, where he turned his attention to general agricultural pursuits. Subsequently he purchased a farm in Missouri, making his home in that state until called to his final rest in 1895. He was twice married, his first wife passing away when their only child, Emma, was but two years of age. For his second wife he chose Miss Malinda Carnes, by whom he had three children, as follows: Sarah, the wife of Wallace Carnes, of Missouri; Arthur, who is deceased; and Nettie, the wife of Alvin Colliss Senter, of Greene county, Iowa. Mrs. Malinda Coleman, the mother of the above children, died in 1897. Unto our subject and his wife have been born eight children, namely: William C., who wedded Theresa Nyers, of Denison, Iowa, by whom he has one child, Lucille; one who died in infancy ; Frank S., a cement contractor of Denison, Iowa; Jennie, at home; John, en- gaged in the real-estate business at Denison, who married Miss Susie McCutch- eon, by whom he has two children, Leslie and Irene; Lizzie, the wife of William Robertson, a railroad man of Des Moines, by whom she has one child, James ; James A., who wedded Kate Davis and is now a widower with two children, Ruby and Ruth; and Robert E., still at home.
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