USA > Iowa > Dickinson County > History of Emmet County and Dickinson County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 15
USA > Iowa > Emmet County > History of Emmet County and Dickinson County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 15
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38
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for a number of years and met with gratifying success. He died in Armstrong, February 9, 1891, and four days later his wife also passed away.
David Dundas received his education in the public schools and remained at home until he was twenty-three years of age, when he took up a homestead in Armstrong Grove township which he operated for thirty-one years, at the end of which time he traded that property for eighty acres on section 10, Armstrong Grove township, adjoining the town of Armstrong, where he has since resided. He has made a num- ber of improvements upon the place and his well directed labors are rewarded by good crops.
Mr. Dundas was married in November, 1874, to Miss Hattie Churchill, a daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Smith) Churchill, who were born in New York. They were pioneers of this county, where the father homesteaded land, and he was identified with agricultural interests here until his death in 1886. The mother is still living. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Dundas, namely: Alfred; Ella, the wife of John Fox; Cora, who married Peter Richardson; Archie; Libbie, the wife of Lee Hoppus; Walter, who died when nine months old; and Leonard, who died at the age of two years.
Mr. Dundas is a republican in his political belief and in religious faith is a Methodist and the fact that those who have known him inti- mately since boyhood are his stanchest friends is evidence of the upright- ness and rectitude of his life.
CLARENCE G. LIGHTER.
Clarence G. Lighter, whose life work has been that of newspaper publication, is now editor and owner of the Terril Tribune. He was born on the 6th of March, 1879, upon a farm in Melrose township, Grundy county, Iowa, a son of Joseph H. and Emma F. Lighter, who were pioneer residents of Grundy county. The father engaged in the newspaper business for thirty years and for more than twenty-five years was connected with newspaper publication at Rolfe, Iowa, but failing health at length obliged him to retire and after an illness of five years he passed away in March, 1916. He was the first mayor of Conrad, Iowa, and throughout his active life filled many positions of public honor and trust.
Clarence G. Lighter enjoyed the educational opportunities afforded in the graded schools of the towns in which he lived. He was a little lad of but nine years when he went with his parents to Conrad, Iowa, and two years later to Hubbard, Iowa. In 1890 he removed to Rolfe, this state, where he resided until February, 1914. From early boy- hood he has been connected with the newspaper business, assisting his father and thereby gaining practical and comprehensive knowledge of
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the trade. He worked as devil in his father's printing office when but ten years of age while attending school. When a youth of sixteen he was able to hold positions in the mechanical department, and he served as foreman of several printing offices through a period of thirteen years. In 1903, in connection with his father, J. H. Lighter, he purchased the Rolfe Reveille, which they sold in February, 1914, and during the last three years of that period Clarence G. Lighter was active as its business manager. On the 18th of February, 1914, he purchased the Terril Tribune, which at that time had almost reached a point where it could exist no longer. He took charge, bent every energy to the upbuilding of the paper by making it an attractive and readable journal carefully managed in its business interests, and today it is one of the best of the country papers of the state.
On the 4th of February, 1898, at Havelock, Iowa, Mr. Lighter was united in marriage to Miss Emma C. Gill, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Gill of that place. She is a high school graduate and prior to her marriage was a successful school teacher. Mr. and Mrs. Lighter now have six children, namely: Norma, Theron, Charline, J. H., Kings- ley and Jeane. Fraternally Mr. Lighter is connected with the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Brotherhood of American Yeomen and has filled several offices in all of these. He is a man of social disposition, has a wide acquaintance and his substantial qualities have won him the friendship and regard of all with whom he has come in contact.
ERIC JUHL.
Eric Juhl, a resident farmer of Center township, his home being on section 4, was born in Lee county, Iowa, near Keokuk, on the 13th of January, 1876, a son of Gregers and Dorothy Juhl. He was about eleven years of age when the family removed to Emmet county and under the parental roof he spent the days of his boyhood, attending the district schools until he reached the age of eighteen. He was early trained to the work of the fields and he continued to assist his father until he reached the age of twenty-five. He then rented land in Ellsworth township, upon which he lived for four years, and for three years thereafter he engaged in the cultivation of a rented farm in Center township. During that period he carefully saved his earnings until his industry and economy enabled him to purchase land. He then bought a farm in Dickinson county upon which he lived for two years, after which he sold his prop- erty and invested in two hundred and ten acres in Center township, in- cluding the northeast quarter of section 4. Upon that place he now makes his home and he has converted the tract into one of the splendidly improved farms of the district.
-
IT'S
GREGERS JUHL AND FAMILY
D
NS
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In 1901 Mr. Juhl was united in marriage to Miss Carolina Hanson, her father being Christian Hanson, who is a native of Denmark and still resides in that country, To Mr. and Mrs. Juhl have been born three children, Dorothy, Clarence and Edwin. Mr. Juhl is connected with the Woodmen of the World and his moral standards are indicated in the fact that he is a consistent member of the Presbyterian church. His political endorsement is given to the republican party and for two years he filled the office of constable, but he prefers to concentrate his efforts upon his business affairs. He has won success by hard work and his life proves the force of diligence, indefatigable energy and sound judgment as factors in the attainment of prosperity.
HUGH B. LAWRENCE
Hugh B. Lawrence is proprietor of the leading clothing store of Estherville-an establishment which would be a credit to a city of much larger size, for he carries a complete and well selected stock of clothing and his store is tastefully appointed, neatly arranged and systematically conducted. Mr. Lawrence has been proprietor of this establishment since 1907 and in the intervening years his business, as the result of his careful management and enterprise, has constantly expanded. Iowa numbers him among her native sons, his birth having occurred at Lawler in 1883, his parents being William and Pauline Lawrence, natives of Mary- land and of Michigan respectfully. They became residents of Iowa in childhood days and after attaining his majority the father engaged in the harness and implement business at Lawler, where he became known as a representative citizen and business man. To him and his wife were born four children: Nellie, the wife of H. G. Graaf; Cora, the wife of L. S. Kucker; Mary, the wife of G. E. Ridley; and Hugh B., of this review.
In the attainment of his education Hugh B. Lawrence completed a course in the high school at Lawler and later attended the Nora Springs Seminary. He has been identified with commercial interests in Estherville since 1899, at which time he accepted a clerkship in the Graaf clothing store, where he remained for seven years, gaining com- prehensive knowledge of the business and wide experience during that period. He afterward conducted business along the same line on his own account in Parker, South Dakota, for a year, but in 1907 returned to Estherville and purchased the store of Mr. Graaf. Since then he has successfully conducted and managed the business, handling a large and well selected stock, making a specialty of the Hart Schaffner & Marx clothing, the Walkover shoes and the Stetson hats-all standard goods.
In August, 1904, Mr. Lawrence was united in marriage to Miss Marybelle Scoville, a daughter of George and Bertha Scoville, of Grundy
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Center, Iowa. The mother passed away and was laid to rest in the cemetery at Vinton, Iowa, while the father is now a resident of Conrad, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence have one son, George, who was born in 1909.
Mr. Lawrence is identified with all the different Masonic bodies and with the Eastern Star and he likewise has membership with the Bene- volent Protective Order of Elks. In politics he is a republican with independent tendencies, for while he is a believer in the principles of the party, he does not consider himself bound by party ties and at local elections considers the capability of a candidate rather than his party affiliation. Ile and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church and they occupy a prominent social position in Estherville, where they have an extensive circle of warm friends.
THORWALD B. PETERSEN.
Thorwald B. Petersen, of Ringsted, is devoting his best energies to the conduct of his hardware business and his well directed efforts have been rewarded by a trade of gratifying volume. He was born in Clinton, Iowa, on the 23d of October, 1881, and is a son of Morton and Anna Petersen, natives of Denmark. For some time after the emigration of the family to America the father was employed in a sash factory in Clin- ton, Iowa, but in 1883 removed to Emmet county and purchased the southwest quarter of section 1, Denmark township, which he farmed until he retired from active life in 1902 and took up his residence in Ringsted, where he passed away in 1913. He won a competence through his hard work and was held in high esteem by all who knew him. He was honored by election to a number of township offices and gave the same careful attention to the discharge of his official duties that he dis- played in the management of his private interests. He was survived a year by his widow, who died in 1914, and both are buried in St. Paul's cemetery. To them were born six children, namely: Robert P., who engaged in farming in Denmark township until his death in 1911 and whose widow resides in Ringsted; Christina, now Mrs. P. C. Petersen, of Denmark township; Chris M., who lives near Armstrong; Peter W., of Ringsted; Thorwald B .; and Marie, who is now Mrs. Sirl Nelson and lives near Ringsted. The mother also had a daughter by a former marriage, Augusta, the widow of Lana Juhl, Askov, Minnesota.
Thorwald B. Petersen attended the public schools until he was nine- teen years old and was subsequently for one term a student in the United Lutheran College at Elk Horn, Iowa. He then returned to the home farm and worked for his father for a time, after which he entered Highland Park College at Des Moines, Iowa, remaining there during the year 1901-2, while the succeeding school year was spent as a student in the Iowa Teachers' College at Cedar Falls. He followed the pro-
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fession of teaching in district No. 7, Denmark township, for one year, but in 1904 turned to commercial interests, joining his brother, Peter W. Petersen, and his father in the establishment of a hardware store in Ringsted. After the father's demise the two brothers continued the business until 1916, when Mr. Petersen of this review bought out his brother's interest and has since been sole proprietor of the store. In addition to handling a full line of general hardware he specializes in the sale of gasoline engines and also carries lightning rods and his thor- ough familiarity with the conditions of the trade and his up-to-date business methods have made him one of the most successful merchants of the town.
On the 15th of December, 1909, occurred the marriage of Mr. Peter- sen and Miss Anna C. Sorensen, whose parents, J. A. and Marie Soren- sen, were former residents of Denmark township but are now living retired in Ringsted. Mr. and Mrs. Petersen have two daughters, Elfredo and Phyllis.
Mr. Petersen endorses the principles of the republican party but at local elections votes for the best candidate irrespective of his political affiliation. He was city clerk for several years and is never indifferent to matters affecting the general welfare. He holds membership in the Danish Brotherhood lodge, No. 134, at Ringsted and also belongs to St. John's church. The gratifying measure of success which is his is the direct result of his own industry and good management and has never been won at the price of questionable dealings.
E. M. IVERSON.
E. M. Iverson, actively engaged in general farming on section 9, Lincoln township, Emmet county, is numbered among Iowa's native sons, for his birth occurred in Franklin county on the 22d of August, 1869. Like many of the most substantial citizens of the state, he is of Nor- wegian descent, his parents, Erick S. and Martha (Erickson) Iverson, being natives of Norway, whence they came to the new world in young manhood and young womanhood. They first settled in Green county, Wisconsin, and were there married. They established and maintained their home in that county until after the birth of three of their children and in 1868 they removed to Iowa, settling in Franklin county, where they continued to make their home until called to their final rest. At the time of the Civil war Mr. Iverson had responded to the country's call for aid and went to the front with a Wisconsin regiment of volunteer infantry, with which he participated in a number of important engage- ments that contributed to the victory that finally crowned the Union arms. He died August 23, 1903, in his seventy-second year, and his death was deeply regretted by all who knew him. He was a devout Christian man, a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church and was
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one of the most highly esteemed citizens of Franklin county. His widow survived him until 1907, when she, too, passed away.
E. M. Iverson, following the acquirement of a common school edu- cation, came to Emmet county in the spring of 1893, when a young man of about twenty-four years. He had purchased one hundred and sixty- two and one-half acres of land in the previous fall and upon his arrival he began the cultivation of this tract. He further completed his arrange- ments for having a home of his own by his marriage on the 11th of July, 1894, to Miss Olena Ula, of Blanchardville, Wisconsin, in which state she was born and reared. Her parents came to this country from Norway in childhood with their respective parents, who were among the earliest settlers of Green county, Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Iverson have two children, Elva J. and Maurice T., both at home.
Politically Mr. Iverson is a stalwart republican and for seven or eight years served as a member of the township board of trustees, while for two years he was a member of the school board. He and his wife are identified with the Norwegian Lutheran church and his influence is always on the side of progress and improvement, of truth and right. His life, ever a busy and useful one, has been devoted to agricultural pur- suits and his present farm comprises a little more than two hundred and eight acres of land, constituting one of the well improved properties of Lincoln township.
JAMES C. SMITH.
James C. Smith, the well known cashier of the Superior Bank at Superior, Iowa, is a native of this state, his birth occurring in Delaware county, January 11, 1867. His parents were Don B. and Rachel (Johnson) Smith, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio. In 1857 they became residents of Iowa and when the country became in- volved in civil war the father enlisted as a private in an Iowa regiment, remaining in the service for over three years. In the family were six children, five of whom are still living.
In this state James C. Smith grew to manhood and is indebted to its common schools for the education he acquired during his youth. In 1884 he came to Dickinson county and settled on a farm, being engaged in agricultural pursuits for some time. Later he devoted eleven years to the grain business and in 1907 entered the Superior Bank as cashier, in which capacity he has since served. Much of the success of that insti- tution is due to his capable management and he is regarded as one of the leading business men of the community.
In 1900 Mr. Smith married Miss Anna Reilly. By a former marriage he has two sons, namely: Don B., who is now connected with a bank in Canada; and Harry, a farmer of Dickinson county, Iowa. Mr. Smith is a prominent member of North Star Lodge, No. 447, A. F. & A. M., of
JAMES C. SMITH
TUBAC LIS -1.
AMICO L'
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Estherville, Iowa, and Lodge No. 674, I. O. O. F., in which he has filled all the chairs. By his ballot he supports the men and measures of the republican party, and he is now serving as treasurer of the school board. He stands high both in business and social circles and is regarded as one of the foremost citizens of Superior.
GUS W. DEIBNER.
One of the most prominent business men and foremost citizens of Spirit Lake is Gus W. Deibner, who was born in DeKalb county, Indiana, May 9, 1870. His parents, John and Erenstina (Snyder) Deibner, were both natives of Essen, Germany, in which country they were reared and educated. After their marriage they came to America and first located in DeKalb county, Indiana, where the father engaged in rail- road work for a time. Subsequently they removed to Hays Center, Kansas, where he followed farming until coming to Dickinson county, Iowa, in 1881. For a number of years he conducted a livery, feed and sale stable in Okoboji but in 1914 retired from active business and he and his wife now reside in Spirit Lake, enjoying a well earned rest.
Gus W. Deibner began his education in the district schools of Kansas and attended school in Dickinson county after the removal of the family to this state. He early took an interest in live stock and for some time was a horse dealer at Okoboji, but in 1897 removed to Spirit Lake, where he has since been prominently identified with the stock business, owning a fine modern feed and sale stable. He is today one of the leading stock dealers of northwestern Iowa. During his entire business career he has been in partnership with his brother John and they have done much to advance the interests of their locality along various lines. They built the Hawkeye Hotel and the postoffice in Spirit Lake besides many other business houses, including the Deibner block, which is one of the town's best buildings, and they have also erected ten or twelve good residences. They own one tract of three hundred acres, one hundred and twenty acres of which is within the city limits of Spirit Lake and besides this property they have two highly improved farms in Dickinson county ; also a ranch of one thousand acres in North Dakota and some very valuable lake shore acreage, their holdings now aggregat- ing sixty-five hundred acres.
On the 21st of October, 1901, at Algona, Iowa, Mr. Deibner of this review married Miss Daisy A. Rhodes, who was born in Dickinson county and is a daughter of Samuel Rhodes, a native of Iowa and pioneer of Dickinson county. He died at his home in Superior township, and the mother is now living at Mountain Grove, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Deib- ner have five children, namely : John H., Thelma, Paul, Ruth and Wesley, all born in Dickinson county.
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By his ballot Mr. Deibner supports the men and measures of the republican party, but has never sought nor cared for office, preferring to devote his undivided attention to his extensive business interests. He and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and she takes an active part in Sunday school work and in the Ladies' Aid Society. Fraternally Mr. Deibner is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America. He is a conservative business man of much more than ordinary ability and is usually able to carry forward to successful completion- whatever he undertakes.
WILLIAM H. MINOR.
Having now laid aside business cares, William H. Minor is living retired in Milford. A native of Wisconsin, he was born at Fox Lake, November 19, 1856, and is a son of John C. and Mary Ellen (Brimson) Minor. The birth of the mother occurred in England in 1833, but the father was a native of New York and a butcher by trade. In early life he removed to Fox Lake, Wisconsin, and in 1866 came to Iowa, locat- ing at Ackley. Two years later he took up a homestead in Kossuth county, where he followed farming until 1874, and then removed to Plymouth, Cerro Gordo county, Iowa, where he engaged in the butcher business. He died at that place in 1884. His widow now makes her home in Cincinnati, Ohio.
William H. Minor was practically reared and educated at Algona, Iowa, and he remained with his parents until twenty-four years of age. He then learned the mason's trade, which he followed for eighteen years, and in the meantime removed to Milford, Dickinson county, in 1895. Two years later he traded a stock of goods for a farm, which he operated for five years, and on selling that place purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 3, Okoboji township, Dickinson county, whereon he lived until the death of his wife in 1909. In connection with farming he also conducted a general store in Milford for some time, and since 1909 has lived retired at that place. He is the owner of considerable property, including four hundred and eighty acres of land in Richland county, North Dakota.
On the 16th of October, 1880, Mr. Minor married Miss Emma L. Morrison, who died after a lingering illness May 26, 1909. They became the parents of two children: Cassius B., who was born in October, 1883, and is now conducting a billiard hall in Milford; and Herbert B., who was born February 7, 1885, and died in September, 1886. The former was married January 12, 1909, to Miss Mabel Sheldon, and they have five children : Emma L., born August 26, 1909; Opal M., born April 2, 1911; Fay E., born November 11, 1912; Marion G., born May 22, 1914; } and Herbert Stanley, born March 6, 1917.
Mr. Minor affiliates with the republican party and is a Methodist in
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religious belief. He is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Yeomen. His success in life has been worthily achieved and is certainly well merited.
OLE K. BERVEN.
Ole K. Berven, one of the well-to-do farmers of Emmet county, re- siding on section 35, Swan Lake township, was born on the 4th of June, 1861, in Norway, of which country his parents, Knute and Christina (Jacobson) Berven were lifelong residents. They are now deceased and one of their nine children has also passed away. In his native land Ole K. Berven grew to manhood, his education being acquired in the local schools. It was in 1882 that he came to America and located in Lee county, Illinois, where he worked as a farm hand for some time. In 1884 he came to lowa, but after spending two years in Hamilton county removed to North Dakota, where the following ten years were passed. At the end of that time he came to Emmet county, Iowa, and purchased his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 35, Swan Lake township. He is an energetic and progressive farmer and has made ex- cellent improvements upon his place so that it now ranks among the best farms in the locality.
Mr. Berven was married in 1896 to Miss Julia L. Warberg, also a native of Norway, and they have become the parents of eleven children, namely: George; Anna, the wife of Luther J. Risk; Lewis; Knute; Emma; Antone and Oscar, both deceased; Antone, the second of that name; Joseph; Alma; and Theodore. The family attend the Lutheran church of which Mr. and Mrs. Berven are members, and he is now serv- ing as one of its trustees. He is also filling the office of trustee of his township and has served as school director. In politics he is an ardent republican. He is one of the self-made men of his community, as on coming to this country he was empty handed and all that he now possesses has been acquired through his own industry, good management and economy. He is one of the representative farmers of his township and is a man highly respected and esteemed by all who know him.
NIELS J. NIELSEN.
Niels J. Nielsen, a well-to-do farmer of Denmark township, was born in Denmark, January 28, 1871, of the marriage of Karsten and Kirstina (Jensen) Nielsen. The father, who was a farmer by occupa- tion, died when his son Niels J. was but three years old and the mother subsequently married Hans Nelsen, also an agriculturist. Five children
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were born to the second marriage and they and the parents are still liv- ing in Denmark.
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