USA > Iowa > Crawford County > History of Crawford County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 38
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On the 15th of April, 1891, Mr. Amstein was united in marriage to Miss Sophie Grunke, who was born at Waterloo, Wisconsin, August 27, 1867, a daughter of Friederich and Augusta (Bagganz) Grunke, both natives of Ger- many. The parents came to America and spent three years at Watertown, Wis- consin, then locating at Waterloo, this state. The father died in 1885, but the mother is still living at Waterloo, at the age of eighty-five years. In their family were seven children, namely: Alvina, of Wisconsin; Emma, of Minnesota; Sophie, now Mrs. Adolph Amstein; and Huldah, Elizabeth, Helen and Ida, all of whom are deceased. The home of Rev. and Mrs. Amstein has been blessed by the birth of eight children: Elsie, who was born in May, 1892, and has re- ceived a common school and musical education; Erwin E., who was born April 14, 1894, and is now living at home; Herbert C., born December 25, 1897; Helen M., born June 16, 1898; Adele M., who was born September 30, 1900, and died January 6, 1901; Edgar T., born March 27, 1902; Lorena E., born September 12, 1904; and Ruth M., born November 9, 1906.
Mr. Amstein is a constant student of all subjects pertaining to his chosen calling, a clear and logical speaker, and possesses a knowledge of human na- ture that has greatly assisted him in his arduous work. He is deeply versed in the Bible and especially in the life and teachings of the Great Master, in whose footsteps he has ever humbly walked. By his patience, earnestness, sincerity and unselfish labors in behalf of others he has gained the unqualified confidence and respect of his fellowmen.
THOMAS RAE.
We have before us the picture of a young Scotch lad working hard all day at the weaving, reading at night and dreaming great dreams which perhaps few but a hard-headed Scotch lad could make come true. Into this boy's hands came a book of travel telling of the wonders of America and especially of that rich but almost unoccupied territory beyond the Mississippi. Into that boyish mind came the desire to share in the benefits of this free country and into his heart came the determination to realize this new ambition. Wages were small and it took much time and much saving and self-denial to secure the passage money which brought Thomas Rae to the land of his dream. It was April 2, 1863, that he left his native land and some two weeks later that he landed at Portland, Maine, to make his fortune in the new world. He did not at once realize his desire to go to the west, a living had to be made in the meantime and something of a nest egg put by for the founding of the fortune that he hoped was to come. He secured employment in the Pepperell Mills at Biddeford, Maine, near Saco, and there he lived four years. On April 10, 1865, the day on which the glor- ious tidings of Lee's surrender reached the Pine Tree state, Mr. Rae was united in marriage to Miss Jeanie Allen, also a native of Scotland. She was a loving helpmate, who contributed largely to the success of the future and who has won a very dear place in the hearts of all.
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In 1866, Mr. Rae paved the way for a western home by the purchase of sixty acres of land in far-off Crawford county, Iowa, a place which he had never seen, but of which he had heard through his brother George. By 1867 enough had been saved to warrant the western journey, and together the young married couple started for the country that was to be their home. Mr. Rae's first land purchase was in Union township and he built the first frame house in that locality, a building one story high and fourteen by twenty feet in dimen- sion. He added to this as he was able and he now owns one of the finest country houses in Crawford county. Although he knew almost nothing about farming at the start, he was persistent, energetic and thrifty, and as the years passed he added to his original tract until he now owns five hundred acres in Paradise and Union townships. Although he had to endure all the hardships and priva- tions of a pioneer, doing many things by hand which today are done by ma- chinery, he was not one to acknowledge defeat, but kept on, never losing sight of the goal, until he is today one of the most successful and substantial farmers of the county. He makes a specialty of breeding and raising fine stock and is meeting with most gratifying success.
Mr. Rae has always taken great interest not only in his own affairs but in the civic and religious affairs of the community. He has taken active part in all those things which make for good. Both he and his wife are faithful mem- bers of the Methodist church and have been among the most ardent and help- ful members of that church at Dow City. Politically, Mr. Rae has been a stal- wart republican, and in 1900 his value as a party worker was recognized by his election as a member of the electoral college from the tenth district of Iowa. He has held many positions of trust and confidence in his locality and is re- spected as an able and conscientious citizen by all. He has long been identified with the Masonic fraternity, having joined Saco Lodge, No. 9, A. F. & A. M., of Saco, Maine, in 1865. He was one of the charter members as well as one of the organizers of Hospitable Lodge, No. 444, A. F. & A. M., of Dunlap, Iowa, and he is at present chairman of the finance committee of the Sylvan Lodge, of Denison. Mr. Rae has always been an ardent temperance worker and in fact he not only supports but forwards every movement, the adoption of which he believes means a higher moral standard in the community.
Mr. Rae was born at Kettle's Bridge, Kings Kettle, Fifeshire, Scotland, a son of Thomas and Janet (Buck) Rae. The parents were Scotch and spent their entire lives in the land of heather, where the father was a hand-loom weaver. Mr. Rae has several times in the days of his prosperity visited the land of his birth and renewed the old assocations. On his last visit to Scotland he was accompanied by his son James, who went partly for an educational ex- cursion, as well as to see the scenes of "Bonnie Scotland." While in London they were received by Mr. Asquith, prime minister, in his private room in the house of commons, being very cordially received by that distinguished gentle- man, and they appreciated the honor granted them by such a pleasant interview.
To Mr. and Mrs. Rae were born six children: Mary, who is deceased ; Thomas, living at home; Nettie and Willie, twins, the former the wife of John Branhall, a mechanical engineer, of Des Moines, and the latter deceased; Allen, who was chief electrician on the United States steamship Wilmington during
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the famous voyage to the tropics of South America when the far reaches of the great rivers were explored where white men had never been before, but after three years in the navy, during which time he circumnavigated the globe, he resigned and is an expert electrician in Chicago; James, the youngest, now principal of the high school at Iowa City.
We cannot speak too highly of Mr. Thomas Rae as a citizen. His splendid good sense, his astute judgment and his kindly heart commend him to all who have the pleasure of his acquaintance.
P. C. DUNHAM.
A farm of nearly five hundred acres of good land in Crawford county pays tribute to the energy and skill of P. C. Dunham. He is a native of Boyer town- ship, this county, born February 16, 1865, and is a son of Cornelius Dunham, Jr., and Maria (Mckenzie) Dunham. The father was born in Sangamon county, Illinois, and came to Crawford county, Iowa, March 3, 1832, with his father, Cornelius Dunham, Sr., the pioneer settler of Crawford county, a rec- ord of whom is found in the sketch of Z. T. Dunham, which appears elsewhere in this work. Cornelius, Jr., was reared under the conditions of pioneer life in Crawford county and was educated by a tutor in the home. He became a farmer of Boyer township and an extensive stock-raiser, also engaging in butch- ering and in the general mercantile and clothing business at Dunlap, Iowa. Sub- sequently he returned to Boyer township, where he spent the remainder of his days. He was a very active and energetic man and cleared about four hundred and fifty acres of land. Politically, he was an ardent supporter of the democratic party and served acceptably as a member of the board of supervisors of Craw- ford county, having previously held almost all the township offices. He was also connected with the Masonic order and the Odd Fellows, and was generally a leader in anything that he undertook. He passed away in 1894 and his re- mains were interred in Pleasant Hill cemetery at Dunlap. His wife was born in Birmingham, England, January 18, 1839, and came to this country when she was a girl of twelve years. About 1867 or 1868 she received a legacy from rela- tives in England and this was used in buying the family homestead in this county, where our subject now resides. She was married to Mr. Dunham in Crawford county, February 22, 1858, and died eleven years after the death of her husband, January 14, 1905. She was also buried in Pleasant Hill cemetery.
There were five children in their family, namely: Charles D., who was born January 7, 1859, and now lives in Boyer Township; Sophronia Isabel, who was born October 5, 1860, and is the wife of S. H. Johnston, of Carroll county ; Mary Elnora, who was born September 20, 1862, and died November 16, 1888; P. C., our subject ; and Samuel Alexander, who was born January 30, 1868, and died February 12, 1903.
P. C. Dunham received his early education in the common schools of Boyer township and later attended the normal school at Dunlap. He taught school one term and then began farming on the family homestead, with which he has
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ever since been identified. He is a general farmer and stock-raiser and has applied himself with such good results that he now owns four hundred and seventy-six acres of improved land and fifteen acres in timber in Boyer and Union townships. He probably raises and markets more hogs than any other man in Crawford county. He and his family occupy a beautiful residence, which is supplied with all modern conveniences. The Illinois Central Railroad passes the home and trains can be flagged so that it is possible for members of the family to do their trading in Omaha. This is in marked contrast with con ditions which existed in the early days when his grandfather Dunham was obliged to travel four days by ox team to reach the nearest market.
On September 5, 1885, Mr. Dunham was united in marriage to Miss Ella M. Hoff, who was born in Indiana. Ever since casting his first ballot he has given his support to the democratic party. He has served as member of the school board and as treasurer of the board for ten years. Religiously he gives his adherence to the Methodist church, and fraternally is connected with Acorn Camp, No. 325, M. W. A., of Dunlap.
Representing the third generation of his family in Crawford county, Mr. Dunham has worthily upheld the name and is one of the highly respected men in this part of the state. He has attained a large measure of success in his business, being gifted with a worthy ambition and clear judgment, and it may truly be said of him that he never seeks to advance his own interests to the injury of others.
RICHARD BAAK.
Richard Baak was born on the farm where he now lives, on section 33, Sol- dier township, September 13, 1887, and has spent his entire life amidst the scenes familiar to him in his childhood. He is a son of August and Sophia (Wickman) Baak, a record of whom is given in the sketch of Herman Baak which appears on another page of this work.
Richard Baak possessed the advantages of attendance at the district schools and in his boyhood assisted in the work of the home farm as his services were necessary, thus gaining a thorough knowledge of an occupation that has become his life pursuit. At the age of twenty-one, after his father's death, he took charge of one hundred and twenty acres-his portion of the family estate. His brother Ernest also received one hundred and twenty acres and they have con- ducted their business together, managing to better advantage than if the farms were entirely separated. They carry on general farming and stock-feeding and are securing results which indicate the application of good judgment and the most approved modern methods.
On the 23d of June, 1909, Mr. Baak was united in marriage to Miss Ida Rickert, who was born in Hanover township, May 9, 1888, a daughter of Joachim and Anna (Huencke) Rickert, both of whom were born in Germany. They were married in America and Mr. Rickert engaged in farming until his death, which occurred in 1905. The mother is living with her children and has
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now reached the age of sixty-eight years. There were four children in the family : Herman, William and Edward, all of whom live in Monona county ; and Ida, now Mrs. Richard Baak.
Mr. and Mrs. Baak have made a happy start in married life and their home is always open to friends who here receive a cordial greeting. They were reared in the German Lutheran faith and are earnest believers in its teachings. As a public-spirited citizen, Mr. Baak is a willing assistant in every worthy cause that gives evidence of advancing the general good. He is a practical man and his success is due to his knowledge of his business and his close application.
HARRY HERBERT STURGES.
Harry Herbert Sturges, a well known and prominent citizen of Charter Oak, Iowa, and publisher and proprietor of the Charter Oak Times, was born in a log cabin near La Valle, Sauk county, Wisconsin, February 8, 1863, his parents being Horatio A. and Catherine (Williams) Sturges. The former's birth oc- curred March 27, 1827, near Dunkirk, New York, and that of the mother Oc- tober 13, 1831, near Ashtabula, Ohio. The grandfather in 1837 removed from New York to Ashtabula county, Ohio, and although receiving only a common school education, he studied law during his leisure moments, being finally ad- mitted to the bar. His son, Horatio A., was also a self-educated man and was admitted to the bar after a course of home study. In 1845 the latter moved to Wisconsin, remaining there three years and then returning to Ohio to be mar- ried. Two years later he went to Darlington, Wisconsin, and there as a fron- tiersman broke the wild land for the purpose of farming, in which he engaged for some time. He then removed to Michigan, but only remained there one year and again returned to Wisconsin, this time settling near Boscobel and later in Sauk county, where he practiced law until 1863, when he offered his services in the defense of the union. He enlisted in the Ninth Wisconsin Bat- tery of Light Artillery and served until the close of the war, being stationed in Missouri and Kansas. After being mustered out at Fort Leavenworth, he once more returned to Wisconsin and resided there until 1880, then removed to Gary in the northeastern part of South Dakota, where he practiced law and conducted a real-estate business until his death in 1895. His wife only sur- vived him one year, dying in 1896. She was a member of the Methodist church and later in life he joined her in that faith.
Harry H. Sturges attended the district school until seventeen years old, when he began driving a stage in South Dakota, where later he taught school for three years and read law in the office of his father for the same length of time. He then 'embarked in the printing business, and in June, 1901, came to Charter Oak, Iowa, where he bought the Charter Oak Times, a weekly news- paper, from F. L. Hills. Since becoming owner of the Times, Mr. Sturges has infused a new spirit of progress in its business, has more than doubled the circulation, while the advertising matter has been increased to three times its
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ormer quantity. Besides his newspaper, Mr. Sturges conducts a job printing fice, it being the only one in the town or in the vicinity.
On June 26, 1889, Mr. Sturges was married to Miss Etta L. Christy, of Ver- milion, South Dakota, a daughter of Thomas and Mary Elizabeth (Dunton) Christy. Her mother, who was born in northern New York state, was left an orphan when fourteen years old, was married, became a mother and widow, and was remarried before she was twenty-one years old. The father, who was born in Ohio, is a carpenter and contractor by trade and for years has resided at the famous Hot Springs, South Dakota. He is now, at the age of seventy- two years, a carpenter in the government sanitarium there. He is a veteran of the Civil war. Both parents of Mrs. Sturges are still living. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Sturges are three in number, as follows: Ethel C., a high-school student of the graduating class of 1911; Carl C., who was born February 13, 1892, and is also of the class of 1911; Halbert M., born in October, 1893.
Politically Mr. Sturges has always voted the republican ticket but has never sought nor desired public office, being content to give his support to the party in other ways. In his fraternal relations he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which society his father was at one time the second oldest member in Wisconsin. In religion he holds to the faith of the Methodist church. He is one of the substantial citizens of Charter Oak and uses the in- fluence of his paper to support and advance any project of a public nature that would tend to elevate and improve the condition of his home town.
C. J. BOHNSACK.
Agricultural pursuits have always claimed the attention of C. J. Bohnsack, who is residing upon a highly improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Iowa township. He was born in the province of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, on the 19th of August, 1864, and is a son of William and Minnie (Lingfeldt) Bohnsack. The parents emigrated to the United States in 1881, first locating in Walcott, Scott county, Iowa, where they remained for two years. Later
they removed to Manning in Carroll county, where they made their home for six or seven years and then purchased a farm in Audubon county. Mr. Bohnsack engaged in the cultivation of the latter place for about nine years, subsequently returning to Manning, where he passed away in 1905 and was laid to rest in the village cemetery. Mrs. Bohnsack is still living. Two children were born unto them, a son and a daughter. The latter, Dora, became the wife of John G. Clausen, of Chicago.
Being a youth of seventeen years when his parents emigrated to the United States, C. J. Bohnsack had already acquired his education, in the pursuit of which he attended the common schools of his native land. He remained a mem- ber of the paternal household until he attained his majority. Farm work en- gaged his activities for the first four years after leaving home, during which time he saved enough of his wages to enable him to rent eighty acres of land on section 27, Iowa township, which he cultivated for three years. At the expira-
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tion of that period he rented the place he now owns on section 13, to which he acquired the title by right of purchase in 1902. During the nine years of his ownership Mr. Bohnsack has wrought many improvements in the place, hav- ing erected one of the finest residences on any form in the county. Although he owns but one hundred and sixty acres he operates four hundred, in addition to which he is a very heavy feeder of stock. His interests are extensive but he is a man who is capable of handling things upon a large scale, and he is meet- ing with most gratifying returns from his various undertakings.
In 1887 Mr. Bohnsack completed his arrangements for a home of his own by his marriage to Miss Anna Mason. Seven children have been born of this union : William, Henry, Dora, Augusta, Louis, Emma and John, all of whom are still at home.
In their religious faith the views of the family conform to the tenets of the Lutheran denomination with which they affiliate, while fraternally Mr. Bohn- sack is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America, being a member of the camp at Manning. The democratic party has claimed the allegiance of Mr. Bohnsack ever since being granted the right of franchise. He has always taken an active and helpful interest in public affairs and has served as assessor for four terms and as road supervisor for four years, while for twelve years he was a member of the school board, during all but two of which he was also secre- tary. He is one of the men who possesses the ability to win when the necessary assets are energy and perseverance, to which qualities he owes such success as has been meted to him.
ANDREW NORELIUS.
One of the highly respected citizens of Crawford county is Andrew Norelius, who in the evening of a life of great usefulness as a preacher, lawyer and busi- ness man, is now living retired in Stockholm township. He was born in Sweden, July 1, 1830, a son of A. P. and Elizabeth Norelius, both of whom were natives of Sweden. They came to America in 1853 and located in Minnesota, where they continued during the remainder of their lives, the mother passing away in 1864, while the father departed this life in 1888. There were eight children in their family: Peter and John, deceased; Andrew, the subject of this review ; Erick, now a minister of Vassar, Minnesota; Olef, Louis and Carrie, deceased ; and Julia, wife of Ben Bong, of Minnesota.
Andrew Norelius was reared in his native land and educated in the common schools, later receiving advantages of higher education in this country. At twenty years of age he came to America, and being attracted to the great west, spent fourteen months in Knox county, Illinois, and then went to Moline, that state, where he worked at the carpenter's trade until 1855. After his marriage, which took place in Illinois, he went to Burlington, Iowa, where he attended college for one year, having decided to become a minister of the gospel. He took up his residence in Jefferson county, Iowa, and for seventeen years offi- ciated in the pulpit of the Baptist church. However, in 1864, in response to an
ANDREW NORELIUS
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urgent call for soldiers, believing that his adopted country needed his services, he enlisted in Company D, Third Minnesota Regiment, and continued in the ranks until the close of the Rebellion. After receiving his honorable discharge at Jacksonville, Arkansas, he went to Minnesota, where he engaged in preach- ing for four years. In 1869 he came to Crawford county and purchased a farm of one hundred and forty acres, upon which he has since resided. Since 1873 he has not participated prominently in business although he still continues as secretary of the Kiron Farmers Mutual Insurance Company, having occupied this office to the entire satisfaction of the members of the company for the past twenty-five years.
In 1855 Mr. Norelius was united in marriage to Miss Christina Peterson, who was born in Sweden in 1832, a daughter of Samuel and Margaret Peter- son, both of whom passed their entire lives in the old country. Nine children came to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Norelius, five of whom are now living, namely : Adolph, now a resident of South Dakota; Hilma, the wife of Erb Stolt, of North Dakota; Francis, who is living on the old homestead; Elizabeth and G. A., of Kiron.
Mr. Norelius has made a careful study of politics and as a result gives his support to the populist party, as he believes that organization best adapted to preserve the liberties of the republic. He has never sought the emoluments and honors of office, but served for eighteen years as postmaster at old Kiron and has filled all of the offices in the township with an ability and fidelity that greatly pleased the people. Fraternally, he is a valued member of the Masonic order and also of Post No. 58, G. A. R., at Denison. By an upright and unselfish Christian life he has gained the esteem of a host of friends and acquaintances who have complete confidence in his word, as he is a man who has always en- deavored to speak the truth and also in all relations of life to perform his duty. He clearly deserves a place among the honored citizens of Crawford county.
CHEALS W. PAYNE.
Cheals W. Payne needs no introduction to the readers of this volume, for few men in this part of the state are more widely known in Crawford county than he. His is a notable career of a successful man, who started out in life empty-handed and came to America with no capital save industry and determi- nation. Those qualities, however, will always serve as a sure and safe founda- tion upon which to build prosperity. The early years of his residence in Iowa constituted a period of earnest and unremitting toil, but thereby he acquired a sum of money sufficient to enable him to make his first purchase of land. From that time forward he has speculated and dealt largely in real estate and there are today few men in Iowa whose property holdings equal his in extent or impor- tance. He was born in Lincolnshire, England, August 11, 1846, his parents being George and Eliza (Cheals) Payne, who were likewise natives of Lincoln- shire, in which country they spent their entire lives. They were the parents of five children, namely: Caroline, now deceased; John R. and George, who are Vol. II-20
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