USA > Iowa > Crawford County > History of Crawford County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 54
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Mr. Jurgensen and his wife are earnest believers in the authority of the Bible and are valued members of the Lutheran church. He has from his earliest recollections been identified with agricultural interests and has shown an ability and progressiveness in the management of his business which gives brilliant
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promise as to the future. Everything about his farm indicates careful attention, the buildings and fences are in repair, the stock is of a good grade and the proper rotation of crops has kept up the productiveness of the fields. He justly ranks as a thorough farmer and also as a patriotic and useful citizen.
J. H. JONES.
J. H. Jones, of Denison, was born in Clinton county, Iowa, June 30, 1862, his parents being John and Honora (Carlon) Jones, both natives of County Clare. Ireland. The father was reared on a farm and after reaching manhood followed the stone-mason's trade, working for a short time in England. On coming to America in the latter part of the '40s he lived for a short time in Havana, New York, where he was engaged in building railroads and canals, and from there removed with his family to La Salle, Illinois, there securing a con- tract for the stone work of the Illinois Central Railroad bridge crossing the Illinois river at that place. His work on this bridge still exists. After living for a few years at La Salle the family removed to Rock Island, where he fol- lowed his trade of stone-mason and in the latter part of the '50s took up his residence in Clinton county, lowa. He located on a farm a few miles south of Wheatland, where the subject of this sketch was born. The father died in 1891, when over eighty years of age, the mother passing away January 8, 1905, at the age of eighty-three years. They were both members of the Catholic church. The paternal grandparents of our subject were Roady and Mary (Gavin) Jones. in whose family were eight children, as follows: John, James, William, Roady, Margaret, Johanna, Kate and Mary Ann, all of whom lived to a ripe old age. The grandparents on the maternal side were Patrick and Julia (Dooley) Carlon. They had nine children. James died at an early age, while Margaret, Jane, Honora, Julia, Bridget, Kate, Ann and Patrick have lived to advanced ages. Unto John and Honora (Carlon) Jones ten children were born, five of whom reached maturity, namely: Julia, J. P. and J. H., now living in Denison : William, who died April 5. 1872; and Mrs. Mary Ann (Jones) Con nor, who died February 15, 1896. She had six children, those now living being Maud, May, Clara and Maric.
J: 11. Jones grew to manhood under the parental roof and received his early education in the district schools of Clinton county. On the 4th of March, 1879, the family removed to Crawford county, settling on a farm southwest of Deni- son. After reaching manhood he, together with his brother J. P., purchased a farm, which they operated for several years, but he finally sold his interest to his brother and bought a place elsewhere, cultivating it until 1893, when he took up his abode in Denison. Since then he has operated chiefly in real estate, con- tracting, building and architectural work, assisting materially in the growth of the city. He is recognized as a public-spirited and progressive citizen, ever willing to give his support to any enterprise that he believes will advance the public welfare.
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On the 20th of May, 1908, Mr. Jones was married to Miss Bertha McAn- drews, a native of Crawford county, who received her early education in the public schools at Vail, but was graduated from the parochial school at that place in 1893 and later entered college at Denison in order to fit herself for a teacher. She successfully followed that profession in the schools of Iowa and South Dakota for a number of years. She is a daughter of James and Lizzie (Molseed) McAndrews. Her father was born in Indiana but removed to Clin- ton county, Iowa, in his boyhood, remaining there a few years, after which the family came to Crawford county in September, 1865. They settled on a farm in West Side township, when their nearest neighbor on the east was eighty miles away. They were, therefore, pioneers of this county. Mrs. McAndrews was born in Clinton county and with her parents came to Crawford county in June, 1873. She was married to James McAndrews, December 25, 1876, and to them six daughters were born, namely : Bertha, Emily, Lillie, Clara, Jennie and Pearl.
Mr. Jones has been successful in his business affairs and by his genial man- ner and kindly disposition has made many friends in Denison and Crawford county. He and his wife are sincere believers in the Christian religion and are members of the Catholic church. He is identified with the Knights of Columbus and the Woodmen of the World. Politically ever since arriving at manhood he has given his adherence to the democratic party but is very liberal in his views and although he has never sought public office he served as a member of the city council of Denison from 1904 to 1908.
BENJAMIN F. ELLS.
Among the respective citizens of Crawford county none is more deserving of mention in this volume than Benjamin F. Ells, postmaster of Ells and a well known business man and farmer. He was born in Nova Scotia, June 30, 1846 a son of Benjamin and Eliza (Eaton) Ells. The father moved with his family to Wisconsin in 1850 and located upon a farm, where he and his wife continued during the remainder of their lives. There were eight children in their family, six of whom are now living.
Benjamin F. Ells came with his parents to this country in his infancy and received his early education in the district schools of Wisconsin, later attending college. He assisted his father upon the home farm as he grew up but at fifteen years of age began working as a farm hand and so continued for twelve years, gaining a thorough knowledge of the various details of agriculture and stock- raising. In 1873, having by diligence and economy acquired a moderate capital, he purchased eighty acres in Stockholm township, Crawford county, and five years later took up his residence upon his land, which he proceeded to develop according to the best methods. He first located where the Illinois Central depot now stands. As years passed he acquired more land and is now the owner of one hundred and twenty acres, all of which is well improved. He also conducts a general store at Ells and owns the store building. He was appointed post- master by President McKinley, also serving under Presidents Roosevelt and
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Taft and conducting the affairs of the office in such a way as to meet the general approval of the community.
In 1878 Mr. Ells was united in marriage in Wisconsin to Miss Julia A. Knilans, who was born in Wisconsin, and seven children blessed this union, namely: Adelbert, now living in Crawford county; Caroline, wife of Gust Carlson, of Denison; Ida G., now Mrs. J. E. Woolley, of Crawford county ; Laura, deceased ; Anna M .. at home ; Iris, also deceased ; and Prudence, at home.
The record of Mr. Ells reflects great credit upon him, as he started from a humble position empty-handed and by close application and great self-denial acquired the capital necessary as a foundation for his present condition of com- parative financial independence. He has received constant encouragement from his estimable wife, who has been an invaluable assistant and as a mother has reared a large family to become useful and progressive members of the commu- nity. He and his wife are connected with the Methodist church and active work- ers in its behalf. Politically, he gives his allegiance to the republican party and the confidence in which he is held by his neighbors and friends is shown in his elec- tion as justice of the peace, in which office he served with marked ability for twelve years.
ALFRED M. CONYNE.
Alfred M. Conyne, deceased, was a native son of Crawford county, having been born in 1866 in Denison township on the farm where he continued to make his home until his death in 1911. He was identified with the agricultural in- terests of the community for more than twenty years. He was a son of Alfred B. and Cordelia (Martin) Conyne, the father coming from near Watertown, New York and the mother being born in the vicinity of Lexington, Kentucky. They were married hear St. Joseph, Missouri, and the following year they removed to Fowa, coming as far as Council Bluffs by boat and then driving to Crawford county, where the father entered land. They were among the very carly pioneers, the deed to their homestead being signed by Franklin Pierce in 1855. Mr. Conyne cultivated and improved his land and had the satisfaction of seeing it develop into one of the best farms in this section before his death, which occurred in August, 1871. He was the type of a pioneer who leaves the impress of his personality on the country in the development of which he has been an active factor. Public-spirited and enterprising, he was one of the citizens who enthusiastically urged the incorporation of the city, assisted in the framing of the articles for that purpose, and at the time of their adoption was the justice of the peace. Ile constructed many of the bridges which span the Boyer river in the vicinity of Denison.
Mr. and Mrs. Conyne were the parents of three children, who are as follows : Silas, living in Chicago, where he is engaged in business ; Alfred M., our subject ; and Ada, who was born in 1868 and died in 1873. Five years after Mr. Conyne's demise Mrs. Conyne was united in marriage to William Cochran, of Pennsyl- vania, and unto this union one child was born, John, who died at the age of six
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years. Mrs. Cochran passed away on the 7th of July, 1908, and was laid to rest in Oakland cemetery, near Denison, where Mr. Conyne was also buried.
The boyhood and youth of Alfred M. Conyne was very similar to that of the other boys reared in Iowa in the pioneer days. He attended the district schools, where he obtained his education, performed such tasks as he could upon the farm and enjoyed the recreations indulged in by all young people in the more sparsely settled districts. He spent his entire life on the farm where he was born, with the exception of about eight years, during which period he engaged in railroading. He owned one hundred and two acres on section 13, Denison township, within the corporation limits of the city of Denison. His land was well improved and carefully cultivated, which in addition to its location made it one of the most desirable as well as valuable properties of the county. Mr. Conyne never married and was a member of the Methodist church.
Although he supported the republican party, believing that its policy is best adapted to promote the interests of the majority, Mr. Conyne was never an aspirant for public office, but at the same time he always fulfilled the require- ments of good citizenship by going to the polls on election day and casting his ballot for the candidates of the party of his choice. He was a quiet, unobtrusive man, who was largely engrossed in the development of his personal interests, at the same time he gave his support to any movement the adoption of which would be of advantage to the community.
PETER C. HOLLANDER.
Among the energetic young business men who have been active factors in the commercial development of Schleswig must be numbered Peter C. Hollander, who for the past four years has been conducting a men's furnishing goods store here. He is a native of Iowa, having been born in Hamilton county on the 22d of June, 1879, and is a son of L. A. and Annie (Simsen) Hollander. The parents were natives of Germany but emigrated to the United States and located in Clinton county, Iowa, in 1877. The wife and mother passed away in 1907, but the father is still living and makes his home in Schleswig. Unto them were born the following children: Amos, who lives in Nebraska; Peter C., our sub- ject; Mattie, who became the wife of Henry M. Kolls, of Nebraska; August, deceased; Thomas, who is a resident of Ida county; Annie, who is at home; Laura, the wife of William Stegemann, of Schleswig; Bernhart, residing in Ida county ; Celia, deceased; and Lilly, who is at home.
Peter C. Hollander obtained his education in the common schools of Iowa, and when he had acquired such knowledge as he deemed essential to enable him to enter the commercial world he laid aside his text-books to assume the heavier responsibilities of life. At the age of twenty-seven years he entered a lumber- yard in Schleswig, with which concern he was identified for three years, but at the end of that period he decided to go into business for himself and opened a men's clothing and furnishing goods store. The large patronage which he has enjoyed proves conclusively that his choice was a most excellent one. He carries
HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY
a large and well selected stock of goods, the quality of which is always commen- surate with the price, while the treatment accorded patrons is such as to invite their return without further solicitation. His is one of the promising businesses of the town and his friends feel assured of his success in the vocation which he has elected to follow.
Mr. Hollander chose for his wife Miss Adeline Lorenzen, a daughter of A. B. and Hannah (Christensen ) Lorenzen, of Denison. Mr. and Mrs. Lorenzen are the parents of five children, who are as follows: Annie, the wife of John Weise, of Denison ; Ida, who married Louis Evers, also of Denison; Laurence, who resides in Gilmore City ; Adeline, the wife of P. C. Hollander ; and Andrew, living in Denison.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Hollander are communicants of the Lutheran church. Ever since acquiring the full rights of citizenship he has taken a most active interest in all local political issues and has been elected to various offices of the municipality. Ile always gives his support to the candidates and principles of the democratic party, feeling that its policy best subserves the interests of the majority. He is now serving as treasurer of the village, which position he has held for the past two years, and he is also secretary of the fire department, both of which he is filling in a manner which is meeting with the general satisfaction of the community.
CLAUS H. BIELFELDT.
Beginning as a farm laborer eighteen years ago Claus H. Bielfeldt has made such good use of advantages presented in America to young men willing to apply themselves that today he is the owner of a highly improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Hanover township and has practically made himself financially independent for the remainder of his life. His career is a remarkable illustra- tion of the result of perseverance when it is allied with sound judgment and energized by a worthy ambition.
Mr. Bielfeldt is a native of Germany, born March 8, 1869, son of Juergen and Christina ( Frahm) Bielfeldlt. The parents spent their entire lives in the fatherland, the mother passing away May 2, 1889, and the father March 23, 1906. Mr. Bielfeldt was a farmer and the father of fourteen children, six of whom came to America, namely: Katrina, Anna, deceased, Mary, Ingal, Claus and Henry. Of those remaining in Germany Casslen is deceased, the others being : Juergen, Peter, Fredrick. Henne, Wiebke, Matilda and Christina.
Claus 11. Bielfeldt was educated in the public schools of Germany and con- tinued in his native land until twenty-four years of age. Having determined to cast his lot with the people of America, he landed in Chicago, January 1, 1893, and proceeded at once to Clinton county, Jowa, where he worked on a farm for one year. He then began farming on rented land and after eight years purchased one hundred and sixty acres on section 27. Hanover township, Crawford county, which constitute the farm that he now owns. He devotes his attention to both agriculture and stock-raising, using up his entire crop in feeding his stock, which
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he disposes of at a good price. He has been highly successful in raising Poland China hogs and it is doubtful whether any farmer in the township has shown better judgment in a specialty to which he devotes his closest attention.
In 1894 Mr. Bielfeldt was united in marriage to Miss Catharina Joens, who was born in Germany, September 3, 1873, a daughter of Hans and Eva (Frahm) Joens. Her parents are still living in the old country, the father being sixty- three, while the mother is fifty-eight years of age. There were thirteen children in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Joens, three of whom, Catharina, Peter and Hans came to America. Peter is now living in Crawford county and Hans in South Dakota. Of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Joens remaining in Germany two, Cecelia and Carl, are deceased; the others being: Juergen, Margaret, Anna, Johannes, Claus, Fritz, Eva and Christine. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Bielfeldt has been blessed by the birth of five children: Christine, at home, who was born November 24, 1894, and received a good common-school education, being able to speak and write both German and English; Juergen, who died at the age of five months; John, who was born June 28, 1897, and is now attending a German school; Elva, born October 7, 1901; and Minnie, born November 20, 1905.
Mr. Bielfeldt owes his success to a willingness to labor and to the thorough training in work pertaining to agriculture and stock-raising, which he received from his father at the old home in Germany, Upon coming to this country he lost no time in finding congenial employment and he saved his money to invest it in land in a rapidly developing section, which is one of the best uses he could have made of it. He sees no reason to regret seeking his fortune in this republic. He ' and his family are consistent members of the German Lutheran church, and polit- ically he gives his earnest support to the democratic party.
G. C. POWELL.
There is a certain measure of gratification in the knowledge that one's success in life is due entirely to his own individual energy and personal application and this satisfaction is due to G. C. Powell, who is in every respect a self-made man. He was born in Herefordshire county, England, January 4, 1874, a son of Fred- erick and Elizabeth (Powis) Powell. The father died when his son was but six months old, after which event the mother came to the United States, locating in Denison, Crawford county, where her death occurred in 1886, when Mr. Powell was twelve years of age. The latter was left alone in the world with the excep- tion of one sister, Rose, three years his senior, who is now the wife of Charles A. Reed, a prosperous and well-to-do contractor and builder of Long Beach, California.
Mr. Powell early in life demonstrated the sturdy qualities of his character by determining to secure an education, realizing that this is the best foundation for every man's life work. When still very young he removed to Hardin county, Iowa, remaining there for a few years, after which he returned to Crawford county and took up land on section 8, Denison township, where he now owns in the aggregate two hundred and eighty acres of well cultivated land, upon which
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he has created all necessary buildings and has all the modern appliances that are connected with a well equipped and up-to-date farm. Having early become iamhar with the best methods of tilling the soil his fields today show the results of an acquired knowledge, his perseverance and his unfaltering industry.
In 1001 Mr. Powell was united in marriage to Miss Lulu Bryan, a resident of Paradise township, and to them have been born four children, namely : Charles, Vernon. Clarence and Robert. Mr. Powell gives his support to the republican party and in his religious belief is a consistent member of the Baptist church. llis hic has been such as to merit the high regard in which he is held by the residents of his community.
BLUME BROTHERS.
The Blume Brothers, W. A. and F. G., have gained a wide reputation as stock-breeders and farmers and are also recognized as two of the most enter- prising and progressive business men of Crawford county. As a result of their energy and good judgment they are now the owners of one of the finest farms in the county.
Charles T. Blume, their father, was born in the province of Saxony, Ger- many, and came to the United States in his young manhood. He worked in various eastern states and then removed to a farm near Streator, Illinois. In ISSo he came to Crawford county, Iowa, and settled on section II, Hanover township, where he improved one hundred and sixty acres of land. He passed away in 1910 and was buried in Morgan cemetery, Morgan township. The mother, whose maiden name was Amelia Girard, is also a native of Germany and is of French Huguenot ancestry. She married Mr. Blume in Illinois and now makes her home with her two sons, F. G. and W. A. There were eight children in the family, namely: Theodore, who is living on the old homestead in Hanover township: Caroline, now the wife of J. L. Adams, of Maywood, Illinois; Clara, who married Ferdinand Hartman, of Klamath Falls, Oregon; Otto 11 .. of Albany, Oregon; F. G .; W. A .; and Edward and Rosie, who died in infancy.
F. G. Blume was born at Livingston, Illinois, December 14, 1869, and W. A. Blume was born at the same place, August 12, 1871. The brothers grew to manhood under the parental roof and received their education in the district schools. At twenty-one years of age F. G. Blume began farming for himself 11 Hanover township and three years later became associated with two of his brothers in operating a steam threshing machine, one of the first machines of the kind in this part of the country, and was identified with the threshing busi- ness for about seven years. In the meantime, however, he and his brothers, O II. and W. A., engaged in farming in partnership in Otter Creek township and subsequently removed to Woodbury county, where W. A. and F. G. lived together, but each had his own farm. They succeeded so admirably that in March. 1901, they located on section 13. Boyer township, Crawford county, where they are now conducting a thoroughly modern stock farm. The place
MR. AND MRS. CHARLES T. BLUME
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comprises three hundred and sixty acres and they have made extensive improve- ments, including large barns, repair shops where they do their own horseshoe- ing, a complete telephone system and a thorough equipment of machinery, the very best that can be bought in the market. They were the first in their part of the county to grow winter wheat successfully and they were also the first to rotate grain with clover. They have built a private steel bridge across Boyer river, the only individual enterprise of this kind in Crawford county. The pre- dominating feature of their business is their registered herd of Aberdeen-Angus cattle. Eighteen years ago they began breeding this kind of stock and about 1900 they started a thoroughbred herd, which is now headed by the noted sire, Bardolino. The herd numbers thirty-five head of cattle. They also have twen- ty-one head of high grade Percheron horses and are feeders of stock, shipping extensively to the market each year, having recently made a shipment of three carloads of hogs.
The brothers have demonstrated on an important scale the results which may be expected from cooperation when each individual in a firm thoroughly under- stands his business and is deeply interested in the work. Their splendid suc- cess cannot fail to inspire young men who have the ambition to accomplish a worthy object in life. Progressive in their methods and always reliable in their dealings, they have truly earned the confidence which is instinctively accorded them wherever they are known. F. G. Blume is a member of the Odd Fellows lodge at Dow City.
FRED J. LAHNDORF, SR.
Fred J. Lahndorf, Sr., a prosperous farmer of Hayes township, is numbered among the men of foreign birth to whom the opportunities of the new world have opened avenues of success. He is one of Germany's contributions to the citizen- ship of Iowa, his birth occurring in Holstein on the 5th of August, 1854. His parents, Frederick J. and Catherine (Brehmer) Lahndorf, were also natives of the fatherland and came to the United States in 1866, locating in Davenport, Iowa. After four years spent in that city, they farmed for four years in Scott county, Iowa, and in 1874 came to Crawford county, establishing their home in Hayes township. Under the careful supervision of the father the place became a highly improved and valuable property, and there he and his wife spent their remaining days. He reached the seventy-second milestone on life's journey ere passing away, while his wife was seventy-eight years of age at the time of her demise. Their family of three children consisted of the following: John, now deceased; Fred J., of this review ; and Amelia, the wife of Charles Hanneman, residing near Dunlap, Iowa.
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