USA > Iowa > Dickinson County > History of Emmet County and Dickinson County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 17
USA > Iowa > Emmet County > History of Emmet County and Dickinson County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 17
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
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
Subsequent to his marriage James Refsell purchased a farm in High Lake township on section 18, becoming the owner of two hundred and forty acres of land which is now splendidly improved. With character- istic energy he began to develop that property and soon brought his fields to a high state of cultivation, receiving therefrom a substantial annual income. Year after year he gathered good crops and in time acquired a very substantial competence. He lived upon that first farm until 1900, when he sold the property and invested in two hundred and forty acres on section 16, Twelve Mile Lake township. This is also a finely improved property and he accupied it for two years. He then bought another farm
MR. AND MRS. NELS OSHER
SISSEL PAULSON AND MRS. OLE REFSELL
THE OLD REFSELL HOME
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ANTON, LEMON 1LDA
221
EMMET AND DICKINSON COUNTIES
. on section 1 of the same township, comprising one hundred and eighty- seven acres of rich land which he still owns. His attention was given to its further development and improvement until 1915, when he retired and erected a fine residence in Wallingford, which he now owns and occu- pies, being there pleasantly situated. He was one of the organizers of the Farmers' Savings Bank, of which he is now the president, and his financial interest in that institution contributes to his success, as does the farm, from which he derives a gratifying annual income.
Mr. and Mrs. Refsell are the parents of two children: Emma, at home, and O. N. The son is a graduate of the Lutheran College at Red Wing, Minnesota, also of the University of Wisconsin and the University of Chicago and is now a professor in Jewell, Iowa.
Mr. Refsell is a stanch supporter of the republican party and keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day. He has served as township trustee but otherwise has not sought nor desired office. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran church and take an active part in its work, doing all in their power to advance the moral progress as well as the material development of the community. Mr. Refsell is truly a self-made man and has become one of the prosperous residents of Emmet county.
ANDREW MITCHELL.
Many of the influential residents of Armstrong are retired farmers and among this number is Andrew Mitchell, whose birth occurred in Ontario, Canada, June 1, 1861. He is a son of James and Susan (McFar- land) Mitchell, natives of Scotland, who settled in Canada in 1854. After farming there for sixteen years the father removed with his family to Emmet county, Iowa, and homesteaded land in Armstrong Grove township, one mile south of Armstrong. For many years he was identified with the agricultural development of that section but at length retired and removed to Armstrong, where he lived until his demise in February, 1901. The mother died in September, 1898.
Andrew Mitchell received his education in the schools of Canada and of Emmet county, Iowa, and remained at home until he was twenty- eight years old. He then bought one hundred and sixty acres in Armstrong Grove township and concentrated his energies upon the opera- tion of that farm for many years, or until March, 1916, when he sold the place and took up his residence in Armstrong. He is there enjoying all the comforts of life.
On the 12th of December, 1888, Mr. Mitchell was united in mar- riage to Miss Jennie Carroll, a daughter of John and Mary A. (Dundas) Carroll, natives respectively of Ireland and of Canada. They became pioneer settlers of Kossuth county, where the father died February 13, 1879, and the mother in March, 1898. Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell are the parents of two children : Lila V., who was born in September, 1889, and
222
EMMET AND DICKINSON COUNTIES
is now the wife of George Beck, of Armstrong; and Nellie M., born . June 17, 1902.
Mr. Mitchell is a stanch democrat and has held a number of local offices, having been trustee, constable and road superintendent while living upon the farm. Fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order, the Yeomen and the Modern Woodmen of America. The fact that he is enabled to live retired although still a comparatively young man is proof of the ability with which he managed his affairs while actively engaged in farming and with the high esteem in which he is held is evidence of the high moral standards which he has constantly followed in all relations of life.
A. H. SCHOOLEY, M. D.
Dr. A. H. Schooley is actively engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery in Terril and his ability places him in the front rank among the foremost physicians of Dickinson county. He was born in Henry county, Iowa, on the 7th of October, 1871, and is a son of Jonathan H. and Helen (Lennox) Schooley, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Eng- land. In her girlhood days the mother came to the United States with her parents. While a resident of Virginia, Jonathan Schooley was united in marriage to a Miss Price, by whom he had four children. They removed to lowa and Mrs. Schooley passed away five years later. Subsequently Mr. Schooley wedded Helen Lennox and they became the parents of six chil- dren. All ten of Mr. Schooley's children are yet living. At the time of the Civil war the father enlisted for active service at the front and was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant. In 1863 he returned home, was then married the second time and soon afterward reenlisted for active duty, remaining with his command until 1865, when he was mustered out. At that time the papers were in Washington which would commission him captain of his company. It was in 1851 that he came to Iowa, crossing the Alleghany mountains by team and then floating down the Ohio river. He afterward came up the Mississippi to Burlington and thence traveled westward to Henry county, Iowa, where he purchased government land at four dollars per acre. He continued to make his home in that county until his death, which occurred in 1890. For a considerable period he had survived his wife, who passed away in 1876.
Dr. Schooley was reared on the old home farm and supplemented his early educational privileges by studying in the State Teachers College at Cedar Falls, Iowa. This he attended for two years and in the fall of 1898 he took up the study of medicine, entering the medical department of the State University, from which he was graduated with the class of 1902. While in school he also read as opportunity permitted in the office of Dr. E. F. Clapp, thus improving every hour of his time in an effort to acquire a knowledge that would enable him to enter actively upon the practice of
223
EMMET AND DICKINSON COUNTIES
medicine and surgery. Immediately after his graduation he came to Terril, where he has since been located. Here he opened an office and has been very successful in the conduct of a growing practice. At the present time he is building a modern hospital which will be a credit to the city and to the medical profession. He is a surgeon of marked ability and has handled some of the most delicate and important major surgical cases in the state. He is constantly studying along lines promoting his efficiency and keeps abreast with the best thinking men of the age concerning modern methods of medical and surgical practice.
In 1907 Dr. Schooley was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Allen, of Arnolds Park, Dickinson county, Iowa, by whom he has a son, Allen H. Politically, Dr. Schooley is an earnest republican and at all times recog- nizes the duties and obligations of citizenship, which he fully meets. He is president of the school board of Terril and was a member of the board at the time of the erection of the new consolidated school building, which was put up at a cost of fifty thousand dollars. He does everything in his power to advance and improve the educational system, recognizing that public instruction is one of the bulwarks of the nation. Fraternally he is connected with Richloyd Lodge, No. 612, A. F. & A. M., with Spirit Lake Chapter, No. 132, R. A. M., and with the Modern Woodmen of America. He also belongs to the Dickinson County Medical Society, the Iowa State Medical Society and the American Medical Association and his ability is widely recognized by colleagues and contemporaries in the profession. He never deviates from a course which he believes to be right, but at all times he is careful to conform his practice to the highest standard of profes- sional ethics.
EBEN SEELYE.
Eben Seelye, a valued resident of Huntington, where he has made his home since 1914, was born in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, August 8, 1836, and is a son of Shoobel and Martha (Moon) Seelye, who were natives of New York. They removed to Pennsylvania, where the death of the father occurred, and subsequently the mother became a resident of Minne- sota, where her remaining days were passed. In their family were nine children but Eben is the only one now living.
Spending his boyhood and youth in Pennsylvania, he mastered the branches of learning taught in the common schools and was a youth of nineteen years when he left the Keystone state for the west. He spent one winter at Elgin, Iowa, and then went to Fillmore county, Minnesota, where he resided until 1871. In that year he became a resident of Martin county, Minnesota, and took up a homestead claim, upon which he lived for six years, during which period he carefully and systematically developed the fields. He then sold out and returned to Fillmore county, Minnesota, where he resided for a number of years. He afterward again became a
ยท
224
EMMET AND DICKINSON COUNTIES
resident of Martin county, where he made his home until 1911. In that year Iowa gained a substantial citizen through his removal to Estherville. After living for a short time at that place he returned to Minnesota, set- tling in Jackson county, but in 1914 established his home in Huntington, Emmet county, where he owns a residence and seventeen lots.
In 1885 Mr. Seelye was united in marriage to Miss Jane Potts, a native of Pennsylvania and a daughter of Ephraim and Elizabeth Potts, both now deceased. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Seelye were seven children : Ella, the wife of G. Payne; Charles; Lanson; Cora; Etta, the wife of F. K. Celley; Walter; and Addie, the wife of Louis Barth.
Mr. Seelye gives his political allegiance to the republican party, which he has supported since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He has served on the town board but has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking. His religious faith is that of the Methodist Episco- pal church and his life has been guided by its teachings. He has now passed the eightieth milestone on life's journey and his has been an hon- orable and upright career and characterized by fidelity to duty and by straightforwardness in all business relations. In spirit and interests he seems much younger, keeping in touch with the trend of modern thought and progress, and Huntington numbers him among its valued as well as its venerable citizens.
JOHN C. RENO.
John C. Reno, one of the representative farmers of Dickinson county, Iowa, his home being on section 24, Lloyd township, was born in Norway on the 7th of October, 1850, his parents, Christopher and Agatha (Olson) Reno, spent their entire lives in the land of the midnight sun. During his boyhood our subject attended the common schools of Norway and he remained there until nineteen years of age, it being 1869 when he came to the United States. He located in Winneshiek county, Iowa, and found employment as a farm hand. Having no money, he was obliged to borrow ninety dollars in order to pay his passage to this country and on his arrival here was obliged to begin work at once. For the first two years he received fifteen dollars per month and he continued to work for wages for about sixteen years. During that time he saved money and in 1875 was able to purchase his present home farm on section 24, Lloyd town- ship, Dickinson county. He did not locate thereon until 1885, since which time he has devoted his attention untiringly to the operation of his farm. Here he now owns one hundred and sixty acres of some of the most pro- ductive land in the county and in its cultivation he has met with most excellent success.
On the 12th of December, 1885, Mr. Reno married Miss Mary Elling- son, of Dickinson county, who passed away September 6, 1896. To Mr. and Mrs. Reno were born five children, four of whom survive, namely :
JOHN C. RENO
T . FULLY
--
C
LIONS
BILD. .
225
EMMET AND DICKINSON COUNTIES
Oliver O., at home ; Emma J., now engaged in teaching school in Superior, Dickinson county ; and Mattie J. and Andrew R., both at home. Amanda was born December 3, 1886, and died March 10, 1904.
Mr. Reno affiliates with the republican party, and, although not an office seeker, has been called upon to serve as township treasurer. In religious faith he and his family are Lutherans but they are now attend- ing the Methodist Episcopal church, there being no Lutheran church nearer than Estherville. Wherever known they are held in high esteem and they have a host of warm friends in both Emmet and Dickinson counties.
ELLEF E. ELLEFSON.
The northwest quarter of section 2, Twelve Mile Lake township, in Emmet county, is the farm property of Ellef E. Ellefson, a self-made man whose life indicates what may be accomplished through determined pur- pose and unfaltering industry. He was born in Hallingdal, Norway, Decem- ber 2, 1869, a son of Ellef and Birgit (Knutson) Ellefson, who came to the United States when their son Ellef was a babe of but six months. They established their home in Emmet county in 1870 and the father pur- chased a homestead right covering the tract of land upon which the sub- ject of this review now resides. There he engaged in farming for many years, becoming one of the active and representative agriculturists of his district as well as one of its substantial and valued citizens, for he took an active interest in public affairs and supported all movements that he believed would benefit the community. His fellow townsmen, appreciative of his worth, called him to serve in various township offices. He passed away in 1910, his remains being interred in Riverside cemetery, but his widow still survives and on the 18th of January, 1917, celebrated the eighty-seventh anniversary of her birth, being still in good health. In the family were but two children, the younger being a daughter, Anna, who is now the wife of Nels Michelson, of Twelve Mile Lake township. By, a former marriage the mother had a daughter, Gumil, who was the wife of Severt Severtson, of Twelve Mile Lake township, but is now deceased.
Reared in Emmet county, Ellef E. Ellefson of this review attended the district schools to the age of thirteen years and afterward gave his undi- vided attention to the work of the home farm until he reached the age of twenty. He then rented the home place for three years, after which he purchased the property, of which he is still the owner, so that it has been continuously in possession of the family for forty-seven years and his labors have largely converted it into the productive and valuable tract which it is today. In addition to the home farm Mr. Ellefson owns a house and lot in Wallingford on Fifteenth street, near Wall street.
In 1892 Mr. Ellefson was married to Miss Julia Michelson, a daugh-
226
EMMET AND DICKINSON COUNTIES
ter of Michael and Anna (Olson) Michelsen, of Dickinson county, Iowa. Her father passed away and was laid to rest in Riverside cemetery, but the mother is now living with her son Nels. Mr. and Mrs. Ellefson have one son, Elmer Martinus. They are members of the United Norwegian Lutheran church, in the work of which they take an active and helpful interest, Mr. Ellefson serving as church treasurer for a number of years. His political endorsement is given to the republican party and he is now filling the office of township trustee. He has also been school director and he is interested in all that pertains to public progress in his com- munity. He represents one of the old-time families of the county and his memory forms a connecting link between the primitive past and the pro- gressive present. He has done much to promote agricultural develop- ment and his labors have been productive of good results.
WILLIAM P. GALLOWAY, D. D. S.
Dr. William P. Galloway, ex-mayor of Estherville and one of the leading dentists of that city, is one of Iowa's native sons, having been born in Union on the 26th of December, 1861, a son of John and Lydia (Haas) Galloway, both of whom were natives of Ohio. He was the third in order of birth in their family of twelve children, two of whom died in infancy. In early life the father followed the cooper's trade but later engaged in farming and spent his last years in retirement at Marshall- town, Iowa, where he passed away October 6, 1913. His widow is still living there. In 1906 they celebrated their golden wedding.
Dr. Galloway began his education in the district schools near his boy- hood home and subsequently attended the high school at Union, Iowa, and completed a commercial course in the college at Valparaiso, Indiana, from which he was graduated in 1883. For one year he was engaged as book- keeper in a general store and bank at Melbourne, Iowa, and for three years taught school in Hardin county, this state.
On the 27th of August, 1885, Dr. Galloway was united in marriage to Miss Belle Northam, whose parents were residents of Indiana. To this union two children were born: Vera, who is now Mrs. P. J. Christensen, of Spirit Lake ; and J. Carlton, who is a graduate of the Iowa State Agri- cultural College at Ames and is now principal of the high school at San- burn, Iowa. He is also married.
For one year after his marriage Dr. Galloway was principal of the public schools of New Providence, Iowa, while his wife had charge of the primary department. The following year he accepted a position in the auditor's office of the Minneapolis & St. Louis Railroad at Marshall- town, where he remained for five years, during which time he was promoted to chief clerk in the ticket auditing department and served as such one year. For a short time he studied dentistry under Drs. Billings & Whinnery, of Marshallown, and for two years continued his studies in
229
EMMET AND DICKINSON COUNTIES
the University of Iowa. He was then given a permit to practice, receiving the highest marking ever received by an undergraduate student applying for a permanent permit. He bought a practice in Union, Iowa, where he remained until 1895, and then sold out in order to enter the Philadel- phia College of Dentistry, from which he received his degree of D. D. S. in 1896. The Doctor then reentered practice at Marshalltown, remain- ing there until coming to Estherville in 1900. Here he practiced in part- nership with his brother, Dr. C. C. Galloway, now of Washington, D. C., until 1904, when he purchased his brother's interest in the business and has since been alone. He has met with good success in his chosen pro- fession and is regarded as one of the foremost dentists of this part of the state.
The republican party has always found in Dr. Galloway a stanch supporter of its principles and he has been called upon to fill official posi- tions of honor and trust. He was a member of the city council of Estherville from 1903 to 1905, inclusive, and served as mayor of the city in 1906 and 1907. During his administration the city water plant was purchased and the deep well system superseded the old river system, which was a decided improvement. The Doctor labored untiringly for the interests of the city and never withheld his support from any measure which he believed would prove of public benefit. He is a member of the Presbyterian church and is past master of the Masonic blue lodge at Estherville and past noble grand of the Odd Fellows lodge. He is now serving as president of the Commercial Club and in this capacity is prominently identified with the upbuilding and development of the city.
CHARLES BLAIR.
Charles Blair, a merchant of Hoprig, was born in Edinburgh, Scot- land, on the 7th of February, 1860, a son of Charles and Margaret (Dick) Blair, who were also natives of the land of hills and heather and there spent their entire lives, the father being connected with the whole- sale stationery business.
Charles Blair when a youth of fourteen was apprenticed to the wholesale paper business, receiving about fifty dollars for his first year's services, out of which sum he paid for his board and also purchased his clothing. He remained with that house for six years and in 1881 he came to the United States, arriving in Emmetsburg, Palo Alto county, Iowa, on the 2d of April of that year. Two weeks later he removed to Emmet county and for six months he worked for his board for Joe Hardy. He afterward spent eighteen months in the employ of Samuel Blair, again working for his board, but during that period he was gain- ing valuable experience together with a knowledge of American manners and customs and, furthermore, a knowledge of land values. At the end of that time he bought three hundred and twenty acres of land
230
EMMET AND DICKINSON COUNTIES
for his brother, John G. Blair, and for two years operated the farm, or until his brother came to America. The brothers then cultivated the place in partnership for five years, at the end of which time Charles Blair went to Chicago, where he was employed in the wholesale grocery house of Sprague, Warner & Company, with whom he continued for fif- teen years. Later he became identified with the Northern Trust Com- pany Bank of Chicago, with which he remained for five years. On his return to Emmet county he established a mercantile business at Hoprig, with which he has since been identified.
Mr. Blair was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Thompson, of Emmetsburg, who passed away two years later. His political allegiance is given to the republican party but he does not seek nor desire the honors and emoluments of office, preferring to concentrate his efforts and interests upon his business affairs.
JOHN C. LARSEN.
A well improved farm property is that owned by John C. Larsen on section 10, Twelve Mile Lake township, and he is leading a life of well directed energy, enterprise and thrift in conducting his farm. He was born in Norway, August 23, 1871, his parents being Lars and Inger (Johnson) Larsen, who spent their entire lives in the land of the mid- night sun and there reared their family of nine children, of whom five are yet living.
John C. Larsen was reared and educated in Norway and in 1889 he came to the new world, being then a youth of eighteen years. He had heard favorable reports concerning the opportunities afforded to young men on this side of the Atlantic and he resolved to win success if it could be done through earnest, persistent and honorable effort. He first took up his abode in Jones county, Iowa, where he worked as a farm hand and later he embarked in the grocery business in Monticello, Iowa, but even- tually sold out there and came to Emmet county. Here he invested in his present farm on section 10, Twelve Mile Lake township, and has since given his undivided time and attention to its further development and improvement. His fields are now highly cultivated according to modern methods and all of his work in systematically done, so that he annually gathers substantial harvests, while his farm constitutes one of the attractive features of the landscape.
In 1909 Mr. Larsen was united in marriage to Miss Johanna Lavold who was born in Norway, and they have become parents of three chil- dren : Lester, Trygve and Inger. Mr. and Mrs. Larsen hold membership in the Lutheran church and he exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party. He has never had occa- sion to regret his determination to come to the new world, for here he has found the opportunities which he sought and which, by the way, are
MR. AND MRS. JOHN C. LARSEN
THE NEW Y " ESPLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR. LEROY .: D ... . TIONS
233
EMMET AND DICKINSON COUNTIES
always open to ambitious, energetic young men. He has never held to false standards of life but has ever realized that industry is the basis of all honorable success and by hard work he has won his present cred- itable position as a substantial farmer of Twelve Mile Lake township.
PAUL PAULSON.
Paul Paulson, who is now successfully engaged in farming on sec- tion 36, Estherville township, has spent his entire life in Emmet county, his birth occurring in High Lake township on the 14th of December, 1871. His parents, Paul and Carrie (Ellingson) Paulson, were natives of Norway and were among the first settlers of High Lake township, where the father secured a homestead and engaged in farming for many years. He died in March, 1882, and the mother passed away in the following July. Paul is the youngest child and only son in their family of four children, his sisters being Sarah, deceased; Julia, now Mrs. A. J. Anderson, of High Lake; and Carrie, now Mrs. Ole Newgard, of Pierce county, North Dakota.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.