USA > Iowa > Dickinson County > History of Emmet County and Dickinson County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 2
USA > Iowa > Emmet County > History of Emmet County and Dickinson County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 2
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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
PAUL R. JOHNSON.
Paul R. Johnson, who is now filling the position of assistant cashier of the Terril Savings Bank, was born on the 20th of June, 1893, in Butler county, Iowa, his parents being F. H. and Anna (Roalfs) John- son, both natives of Germany. In early life they emigrated to the new world and in 1901 became residents of Emmet county, Iowa, taking up their abode upon the farm where they now reside.
Paul R. Johnson spent his boyhood and youth upon his father's farm and after attending the district schools for some time entered the Terril high school, from which he was graduated in 1910. After putting
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aside his textbooks he followed farming until the 1st of January, 1910, when he entered the Terril Savings Bank as assistant cashier and has since acceptably filled that responsible position.
It was in 1916 that Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Bess Trenary, who is a native of Wisconsin and a daughter of Charles Trenary. Her father is deceased but her mother is still living. Mr. Johnson affiliates with the republican party and is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He is one of the progressive young business men of Terril and merits the confidence reposed in him.
P. S. MOTT.
Since 1869 P. S. Mott has been a resident of Dickinson county and has borne an active part in its development along agricultural and com- mercial lines. A native of Vermont, he was born under the shadow of the Green mountains, September 4, 1839, and there passed his boyhood and youth in much the usual manner of farm boys. On coming west he first located at Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and from there walked into the country a distance of sixty miles to get work on a farm, and for one year was employed at twelve dollars a month. Later he drove the stage coach from Stevens Point to Portage City for two years, making forty-seven miles per day.
While a resident of Wisconsin Mr. Mott was married in Hancock, that state, in 1862, to Miss Angeline Hart, who was born in Pennsylvania but was reared in Wisconsin, where she came when twelve years old. They have become the parents of three daughters, namely: Amarette, the wife of H. A. Miller, a merchant and farmer of Sibley, Iowa; Katy, the wife of M. C. McGrew, a prominent business man and druggist of Spirit Lake; and Eva, the wife of John A. Miller, also a business men of Spirit Lake.
After his marriage Mr. Mott purchased a farm of eighty acres in Wau- shara county, Wisconsin, and to its further improvement and cultivation he devoted his energies for about eight years. Selling out at the end of that time he came to Iowa in 1869, driving across the country, a distance of four hundred miles, in a covered wagon. He brought some stock with him and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land near Spirit Lake. In order to build his house he had to haul lumber a distance of one hundred miles. He broke, fenced and improved his farm and resided thereon for about six years. He then took a contract to carry the mail from Spirit Lake to Sidney, a distance of forty miles, and also drove the stage on the mail route for one year. He next opened a livery stable at Spirit Lake, which was the first at that place, and he continued business along that line for twenty-six years. He also dealt in stock, brought the first imported stallion to Dickinson county and was considered the best judge of imported horses in the county. He made a specialty of fine, high- grade horses and also dealt in pure-bred Jersey cows and Holstein and
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Aberdeen Angus cattle. At one time he owned more than thirteen hun- dred acres of land.
Mr. Mott has always affiliated with the republican party and in 1879 ran for sheriff of Dickinson county upon that ticket. He was elected and so acceptably did he fill the position that he was twice reelected, serving three terms in all. He has borne an important part in the development and upbuilding of Dickinson county and is the owner of a neat residence and a large livery stable in Spirit Lake. His wife and daughters are members of the Presbyterian church and the family is one of prominence in the city where they have made their home for many years.
CHARLES OGILVIE.
Charles Ogilvie conducted a grocery business in Armstrong until November, 1916, when he retired. He was born in Forfarshire, Scot- land, November 2, 1832, a son of William and Susan (Gilbert) Ogilvie. The father was a laborer and neither he nor his wife ever came to the United States. They were the parents of two daughters and three sons, of whom Charles was the only one to emigrate to America, com- ing here when sixteen years of age. He attended school in his native land until fourteen years old and during the intervening two years until his emigration to this country he was employed as a clerk in a dry goods store. After remaining for a year in New York City he went to the province of Ontario, Canada, where he worked on a farm for some time. At length he removed to Iowa and for a period engaged in teach- ing school south of Algona during the winter months and during the summer seasons worked on the farm of James Mitchell, with whom he made his home. At that time conditions in this state were largely those of the frontier and the schoolhouse in which he taught was made of sod. It was known as the Carroll school and was one of the first established in that section.
A year before Armstrong was platted Mr. Ogilvie removed to this locality and became one of the first merchants of the new town, carry- ing a well chosen general stock. He was thereafter continuously con- nected with the business interests of the town and conducted an up-to- date and well patronized grocery store until November, 1916. He is enjoying good health at the age of eighty-four years.
In 1899 Mr. Ogilvie was married to Mrs. Laura (Bunt) Dutton, a daughter of Renben and Eunice (Springsteen) Bunt, natives of New York, who were among the first settlers of Estherville, Iowa. They drove from Winnishiek county with an ox team and knew by experience all the hardships of frontier life. Both are buried in Seneca, this state. Mrs. Ogilvie was first married to Ed Dutton, of Armstrong, and by that union had six children: Ella, who is the widow of E. P. Wood and with her five children is residing in Armstrong; Eunice, who married James
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Iluff, of Armstrong; Lucinda, deceased; Edna, at home; Carrie, also deceased ; and Alice, now Mrs. Harold Atwood, of Armstrong.
Mr. Ogilvie is a democrat in politics and although never an office seeker has always discharged to the fullest the duties of a good citizen. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Armstrong and is highly esteemed by all with whom he has come in contact as he has consistently ordered his life in accordance with high ethical standards.
CHARLES B. MATHEWS.
For almost half a century Charles B. Mathews has been a resident of Emmet county, and he has taken a very active and prominent part in its development and improvement along agricultural lines. He was born in Erie county, Ohio, on the 12th of December, 1844, and is a son of John and Mary (Bowen) Mathews, both natives of England who came to America before their marriage and located in Ohio. There the father died in 1847 and subsequently the mother removed to Wisconsin, where she lived for several years. Her last days, however, were spent in Nebraska. In the family were two children both of whom are still living.
Charles B. Mathews was quite small when he accompanied his mother on her removal to Wisconsin, and there he was educated, attend- ing the common schools. When the country became involved in Civil war he offered his services to the government, enlisting in 1863 in Com- pany H, Thirty-third Wisconsin Infantry as a private. He participated in several hard fought battles including the engagement at Nashville and the siege of Mobile but fortunately was never wounded, and at the close of the war was mustered out at Mobile in 1865. On leaving the service he returned to Wisconsin but remained there only a short time and then removed to Minnesota, where he took up a claim. In 1871, however, he came to Emmet county, Iowa, and located on a farm in Armstrong Grove township, where he has since made his home, his time and energies being devoted to agricultural pursuits.
In 1870 Mr. Mathews was married to Miss Laura Matteson, who was born near Freeport, Illinois, and is a daughter of Truman and Maria (Chapman) Matteson, natives of New York and Connecticut, respectively. Both of her parents are now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Mathews have been born eight children, namely: Claude A .; Eva, the wife of Thomas Akre of Algona, Iowa; Mary, the wife of Frank Dundar; George W., a resident of Wisconsin; Daniel W., of South Dakota; Martha E., a nurse who is a graduate of the City Hospital at Minneapolis ; Nellie, who is a graduate of the Cedar Falls Normal School and is now teaching at Ashland, Oregon; and Hattie K., who is pursuing a three years' course at the City Hospital in Minneapolis.
Mr. Mathews is a prominent Mason and has filled all the chairs
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in both the Blue Lodge and the Eastern Star Chapter. He is a Knight Templar and exemplifies in his life the teachings of the craft. He sup- ports the democratic party at the polls and his fellow citizens, recog- nizing his worth and ability, have called upon him to serve in several official positions of honor and trust. For four years he held the position of county supervisor and for the long period of sixteen years was a member of the school board. He has also been assessor, trustee and clerk of his township. At the present time he is practically living retired, having sold his land, but still owns a fine residence, which he occupies, in Armstrong Grove township. He is one of the honored veterans of the Civil war and is a man highly respected by all who know him.
JULIUS DENKMANN.
One of the most influential and highly esteemed citizens of Lake Park, Iowa, is Julius Denkmann, cashier of the Lake Park State Bank. A native of Iowa, he was born in Walcott, Scott county, October 10, 1883, and is a son of Frederick and Wilhelmina (Telsro) Denkmann, both natives of Germany. The father was a young man when he came to the United States and took up his residence in Scott county, Iowa, where he subsequently married Miss Telsro, who crossed the Atlantic when a young woman. During his active life he continued to follow farming in that county but is now living retired in Walcott. His wife died in 1915.
During his boyhood and youth Julius Denkmann attended the graded and high schools of Walcott and also pursued a course in the Davenport Business College, from which he was graduated in the spring of 1901. For three years following his graduation he was employed at office work in Davenport and in 1904 went to Round Lake, Minnesota, to become assistant cashier in the Bank of Round Lake, in which capacity he served for three years. He resigned that position to accept the assistant cashier- ship of the Lake Park State Bank of Lake Park, Iowa, and four years later was made active vice president of the institution. On the 1st of January, 1916, he succeeded A. C. Robertson as cashier and is now serving in that capacity to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. The Lake Park State Bank is the oldest institution of the kind in the city, having been founded in 1892, and its affairs have always been conducted along safe conservative lines, which have won for it the patronage of many of the most substantial people of the community.
Mr. Denkmann was married on the 2d of September, 1908, to Miss Marie Flentje, of Round Lake, Minnesota, and to them have- been born two sons, Reginald and Harlan Earl. In religious faith both Mr. and Mrs. Denkmann are Presbyterians, and fraternally he is a member of Estherville Lodge, B. P. O. E., and the Modern Woodmen of America. By his ballot he supports the men and measures of the republican party
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and his fellow citizens recognizing his worth and ability have called upon him to serve as a member of the town council for seven years, he having filled that oflice almost continuously since coming to Lake Park.
ALBERT ANDERSON, M. D.
The consensus of public opinion places Dr. Albert Anderson in the from rank among the ablest and most distinguished representatives of the profession in northwestern Iowa. Indeed his ability makes him the peer of the ablest physicians and surgeons of the state. He was born in Linn county, Iowa, near Cedar Rapids, December 5, 1861. His great- great-grandfather, John Anderson, emigrated from the north of Ireland and settled in the wilds of western Pennsylvania before the Revolutionary war. The great-grandfather and the grandfather of Dr. Anderson were both born in that state. The wife of the latter was a native of Maryland but of English descent and the maternal grandparents of Dr. Anderson were both natives of Virginia and were of Scotch-Irish lineage. His father, Thomas H. Anderson, who was born in Ohio, became a resident of Iowa in 1854 and in 1860 he wedded Mary E. Blair, who was also a native of the Buckeye state but came to Iowa in 1848 and is now living with a daughter in Oklahoma. At the time of the Civil war Thomas H. Ander- son responded to the country's call for troops, enlisting in the Union army in 1862. He remained on active duty until January, 1865, when he died in the service.
Dr. Anderson acquired a common school education, supplemented by two years' study in a private school, after which he began preparation for the practice of medicine and surgery as a student in the medical depart- ment of the State University of lowa, from which he was graduated on the 12th of March, 1890, the degree of M. D. being then conferred upon him. In the meantime he had taken up the profession of teaching and had won a teacher's first class certificate. Since completing his course in the State University he has taken post-graduate work, completing his studies in the Post-Graduate Medical School of Chicago in May, 1896. His preparation for a professional career followed two years of teaching in the country schools and four years of service as telegraph operator and railroad agent. Laudable ambition, however, prompted him to enter a larger field of labor and after winning his professional degree he at once entered upon the active practice of medicine. His advancement since that date has been continuous and his practice has been of constantly growing extent and importance. From 1896 until 1912 he owned an interest in one of the leading drug stores of the city and in 1896 he was appointed division surgeon of the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railway and in 1902 local surgeon for the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway. He has since occupied the latter position. In 1900 he built a
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private hospital, which he conducted for nine years. His practice is now largely limited to surgery and to consultation and his increasing powers have gained him distinction along professional lines. He has been a close and discriminating student of everything bearing upon the science of medicine and surgery and he keeps abreast with the latest researches and discoveries. He is now chief surgeon for the Anderson Hospital at Esther- ville and is chief medical examiner for twenty-five old line life insurance companies and medical examiner for the Dakota division of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway.
On the 30th of May, 1883, in Palo, Iowa, Dr. Anderson was married to Miss Effie A. Conley, a daughter of J. W. Conley, who was a prominent farmer of Linn county, Iowa, emigrating westward from New York. He married Marietta J. Hutchins, a native of the Empire state, and their daughter Effie was born in Linn county, Iowa. Dr. and Mrs. Anderson are the parents of a son, Lloyd L., who married Mary Ferguson, of Spirit Lake, Iowa, and they have a daughter, Alberta F.
Dr. and Mrs. Anderson attend the Presbyterian church and he holds membership with the Masons, belonging to lodge, chapter and commandery. He is also connected with the Knights of Pythias, the Benevolent Protec- tive Order of Elks, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Woodmen of the World and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. In politics he is a republican and was formerly chairman of the county central committee, taking an active and helpful part in promoting party success. For three years he was a member of the board of education and served as its president. For four years he has served as a member of the city council and for thirteen years he has been commissioner of insanity in Emmet County. He belongs to the Sioux Valley Medical Association, the Iowa State Medical Association, the Ameri- can Medical Association, the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway Surgeons' Association and the American Association of Railway Surgeons.
FRANK IRWIN.
Frank Irwin is one of the proprietors of a well appointed general merchandise establishment at Wallingford and is accounted one of the progressive and enterprising business men of his town. He was born in the state of New York, March 6, 1873, a son of Eugene and Margaret Irwin. The father was a farmer by occupation and about 1880 removed westward to Iowa, settling at Lyons, where he turned his attention to horticultural pursuits. Mr. Irwin passed away in 1902, his remains being interred in Sullivan county, New York, and his widow now resides with her elder daughter. To him and his wife were born three children: Myra, now the wife of J. A. Haring, of Wallingford; Flo, the wife of S. B. Hill, of New York : and Frank.
The last named was a little lad of but seven summers when he
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accompanied his parents to the middle west and through the period of his boyhood he attended the public schools and also worked with his father until he reached the age of about eighteen years. In 1900 he came to Emmet county and spent two years on a farm in High Lake township. He afterward purchased a general store in Wallingford and was associated with E. G. Sando in the conduct of the business for two years. In 1908 he removed to Marseilles, Illinois, where he spent two years, and in 1910 returned to the old store in Wallingford, entering into partnership with J. A. Haring in the sale of general merchandise, hardware and meats. They enjoyed a good trade and their close appli- cation and enterprise have developed their business along substantial lines.
In 1897 Mr. Irwin was united in marriage to Miss May Adams, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Adams. The father died during her girlhood and the mother afterward became a resident of Morrison, Illi- nois, where she passed away in 1915. Mr. and Mrs. Irwin have two children : Basil, born in 1902; and Ray, in 1908. The parents have the warm regard and friendship of those with whom they come in contact. Mr. Irwin belongs to the Mystic Workers and in politics maintains an independent course, voting for the candidates whom he regards as best qualified for office rather than for party.
GUSTAV GILBERT.
Gustav Gilbert, whose well improved farm on section 10, Twelve Mile Lake township, gives evidence of the careful supervision and pro- gressive methods of the owner, is numbered among Iowa's native sons, his birth having occurred in Fayette county on the 20th of February, 1869. His parents, Ingebret and Emily Gilbert, were natives of Nor- way and in early life the father followed the occupation of farming, while later he turned his attention to merchandising in Elgin, Iowa. In 1878 he became a resident of Emmet county and purchased a farm in Ellsworth township, comprising the south half of the southeast quar- ter of section 30. There he continued to devote his attention to general agricultural pursuits until the last ten years of his life, which were spent in honorable retirement from labor. He died at the home of his son Gustay in 1908, having for six years survived his wife, who passed away in 1902. The family was well known in this county and Mr. Gilbert served as township clerk and was also a school director for a number of years. To him and his wife were born ten children, of whom five are yet living.
Gustav Gilbert of this review spent his youthful days like the other children of the household, dividing his time between the acquirement of a public school education and such tasks as were assigned him by parental authority. He continued to work for his father until after
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he had attained his majority and gained broad and valuable practical experience in that connection. He afterward rented land from his father for five years and eventually he purchased the south half of the north- east quarter of section 10, Twelve Mile Lake township, and is now the owner of an excellent farm of eighty acres. He carefully and persist- ently tills his fields, which return to him golden harvests as a reward for the labor which he bestows upon them. In addition to tilling the soil in the production of crops best adapted to climatic conditions here he is engaged in the raising of thoroughbred shorthorn cattle. His farm is splendidly improved with all modern equipments and his suc- cess is indeed the legitimate reward of his labor.
On the 27th day of September, 1894, Mr. Gilbert was married to Miss Barbara Sando and they have become the parents of seven chil- dren: Alma, who is in the city clerk's office in Estherville; Frithjof, who is attending the Jewell Lutheran College at Jewell, Iowa; and Viola, Luella, Odena, Rudolph and Margaret, all at home.
The religious faith of the parents is that of the Norwegian Luth- eran church and politically Mr. Gilbert maintains an independent course, supporting men and measures rather than party. He has been town- ship assessor for the past four years, was township clerk for eight years and for four years occupied that position in Ellsworth township. He is never neglectful of the duties of citizenship and always faithfully performs every public service entrusted to him. He has many genuinely fine qualities and he is a representative of that class of successful agri- culturists who have done much for the upbuilding of the state.
MARTIN H. PETERSEN.
Martin H. Petersen has passed his entire life in Denmark township and has continued the work of his father in the improvement and culti- vation of the homestead on section 12. His birth occurred May 11, 1894, and his parents were Robert P. and Kirsten (Jensen) Petersen, natives of Denmark, the former of whom was taken to Michigan when he was but six years old. The paternal grandfather, Morton Petersen, was one of the earliest of the Danish settlers in Denmark township, Emmet county, and took up land under the homestead act. Robert P. Peterson subse- quently joined his father in this county and worked in his employ until 1890, when he bought the farm now owned by Martin H. Petersen. There were eight children in the family of Mr. and Mrs. R. P. Petersen, as fol- lows: Anna, the wife of J. E. Hansen, a banker of Crystal Lake, Han- cock county, Iowa; Marie, who married O. E. Olsen, of Comfrey, Minne -. sota; Martin H .; W. E., of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and Ella, Dora, Eugene and Edna, all at home.
Martin H. Petersen entered the high school at Ringsted after com- pleting the course offered in the district schools and still later was a stu-
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dent in the lowa State Teachers' College at Cedar Falls, Dana College at Blair, Nebraska, and the Waterloo (Iowa) Business College, from the last of which he was graduated in 1913. His father died September 11. 1910, and after leaving business college Mr. Petersen of this review, began cultivating the place for his mother and since 1915 has owned the farm. He gives a great deal of careful thought to the management of his work, keeps in touch with the most advanced methods of agriculture and is meeting with highly gratifying and well-deserved success.
Mr. Petersen was married on the 22d of December, 1914, to Georgina Henricksen, a daughter of John and Hannah (Madsen) Henricksen, early settlers of Denmark township, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work.
Mr. Petersen is an adherent of the republican party but has never sought office. He holds membership in the Danish Lutheran church, which indicates the standards which have determined his life, and is one of the most highly esteemed residents of his township.
MARCUS SNYDER.
The business and financial interests of Spirit Lake have a worthy representative in Marcus Snyder, who is proprietor of a shoe store at that place and is also serving as vice president of the Spirit Lake National Bank. He was born in Dupage county, Illinois, November 6, 1849, and is a son of John I. and Hannah (Vandusen) Snyder. The father was a native of Dutchess county, New York, where he grew to manhood and followed farming until 1847, in which year he came west, making the journey by the Great Lakes and overland to Dupage county, Illinois. There he continued to engage in agricultural pursuits until 1852, when he removed to Winneshiek county, Iowa, and in 1865 he came to Dick- inson county, taking up a homestead in Lakeville township, where he followed farming for many years. Selling his farm, he then retired from active labor and spent his last days in Milford, where he passed away at the age of seventy-six years. His wife, who was also a native of Dutchess county, New York, died on the home farm in Lakeville town- ship in March, 1873.
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