USA > Iowa > Dickinson County > History of Emmet County and Dickinson County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 21
USA > Iowa > Emmet County > History of Emmet County and Dickinson County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 21
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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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trade which is accorded the Terril Grain Company is the direct result of his energy and business ability.
In 1903 Mr. Skewis was married to Miss Martha Townsend, a native of New York state, who, however, at the time of her marriage was living with a sister in Inwood, Iowa. Mr. Skewis is a strong republican and has been an active factor in local public affairs, having served ably as mayor of Terril. He belongs to Richloyd Lodge, No. 612, A. F. & A. M., of Terril and Inwood Lodge, No. 521, I. O. O. F. of Inwood, and both he and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. In all relations of life his conduct has measured up to high standards of manhood, and he is recognized as a public-spirited citizen as well as a suc- cessful and enterprising business man.
THEODORE STRATHMAN.
Since 1887 Theodore Strathman has been a resident of Lake Park, Iowa, and has been prominently identified with its business and finan- cial interests, having served as cashier of the German Savings Bank since its establishment in 1901. A native of Iowa, he was born in Scott county, March 25, 1863, and is a son of Henry and Anna (Bock) Strath- man, who were born in Germany and came to America in 1855. After spending a short time in St. Louis, Missouri, they became residents of Scott county, Iowa, where the father died in 1897, and the mother now makes her home with her son Theodore, who is the oldest of the three children. The others are Clara, now the wife of Alex Lindsay, . of Davenport, Iowa; and Anna, the wife of E. Wellhausen, of Round Lake, Minnesota.
Theodore Strathman was educated in the common schools of Daven- port and began his business career as a clerk in a store at that place. being thus employed for four years. He was subsequently manager of a store at Big Rock, Iowa, for the same length of time and in 1887 came to Lake Park, where he engaged in mercantile business for thirteen years. On selling out, he assisted in organizing the German Savings Bank in 1901 and has since served as its cashier. Owing to his untiring efforts it has become one of the prosperous moneyed institutions of Dickinson county and is a credit to the men at its head. Besides his city property Mr. Strathman owns three hundred and twenty acres of land in Iowa and also a half interest in another three hundred and twenty acre tract in Dickinson county.
In 1896 Mr. Strathman was united in marriage to Miss May Hatch. a native of Hardin county, this state. Her parents, Frank and Jerusha (Gregory) Hatch, were born in New York state and on coming west located near St. Paul, Minnesota, but subsequently removed to Hardin county, Iowa, and later to Lake Park, where they both died. The chil- dren born to Mr. and Mrs. Strathman are Thelma, who is a graduate
THEODORE STRATHMAN
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of the Lake Park high school and has attended Grinnell College for one year; Stewart; Ruth, deceased; and Helen.
The family are affiliated with the Presbyterian church and in politics Mr. Strathman is identified with the republican party. For the long period of twenty-five years he has been secretary of the school board and he has always taken an active interest in public affairs, never with- holding his support from any enterprise which he believes will benefit the community in any way. He is a Knight Templar Mason, belongs to Blue Lodge No. 527, A. F. & A. M., and also to the Mystic Shrine. He has filled all the chairs in the local lodge and is a man of prominence in both business and social circles.
JORGEN N. HOIEN.
Jorgen N. Hoien, a resident farmer of Jack Creek township, his home being on section 2, is a native of Denmark and his birth occurred on the 30th of March, 1866. He is a son of Jens Peter and Else Marie Hoien, who came to the United States in 1888, settling in Ohio, and in 1893 made their way to Iowa, establishing their home in Blackhawk county, where the mother passed away. The father afterward came to Emmet county to make his home with his son Jorgen, with whom he continued until his death, which occurred in June, 1912.
Jorgen N. Hoien pursued a common school education to the age of seventeen yars, or until 1883, when he came to the United States. While in Ohio he was employed in a nail factory at Martins Ferry for two years, after which he came to Iowa and for a similar period worked as a farm hand in Blackhawk county. He then went to the Pacific coast and spent two and a half years in California, working with the bridge gang of the Santa Fe Railroad Company. Subsequently he returned to Blackhawk county, Iowa, and began farming on his own account as a renter. There he remained for eleven years, or until 1900, when he took up his abode in Emmet county, where he has since lived. He first bought one hundred and sixty acres of land and later purchased two quarter sections. He has since sold one quarter and now owns three hundred and twenty acres of rich and valuable farm land in Emmet county. His time and attention are concentrated upon the work of the farm and the neat and thrifty appearance of his place indicates his practical efforts and progressive methods. He has good buildings upon his farm and the latest improved machinery to facilitate the work of the fields and there is nothing that he can do to enhance the value and productiveness of his place that he neglects.
In 1890 Mr. Hoien was united in marriage to Miss Anna Lund, of Blackhawk county, Iowa. They have become the parents of seven children: Jens, who is engaged in farming in Emmet county ; Soren, who occupies the position of clerk in the Farmers Savings Bank at
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Ringsted, this county ; and Jorgen, Christina, Iver, Else Marie and Annetta, all at home.
In politics Mr. Hoien is a democrat and has served as township trustee and as a member of the school board for a number of years. He belongs to the Danish Brotherhood and to the Lutheran church and his life is guided by high and honorable principles that make him a man fully worthy of the high regard which is everywhere entertained for him. He came to the United States a poor boy but with the passing years has steadily worked his way upward and is now one of the sub- stantial and worthy citizens of Jack Creek township.
MISS VERA M. COLEMAN.
Miss Vera M. Coleman, now serving as postmistress of Dolliver, is a native of Humboldt county, Iowa, and a daughter of Isaac and Nettie (Moulton) Coleman. Her father was born in Toronto, Canada, and when about sixteen years of age removed to New York state, where the fol- lowing five years were passed. At the end of that time he came to Iowa and spent three years at Lost Nation, Jackson county. Subse- quently he made his way to Livermore, Humboldt county, Iowa, and in 1899 came to Emmet county. For four years he was engaged in the hardware business at Dolliver and then turned his attention to agricul- tural pursuits, which he continued to follow throughout the remainder of his active life. Since 1914, however, he has made his home in Esther- ville and has lived retired. His wife was born in Maquoketa, her parents having become residents of Jackson county, Iowa, in 1844. They were from New York and were early settlers of Jackson county.
Miss Vera M. Coleman was given good educational advantages and is a graduate of Dolliver high school. She also spent one year at the Iowa State University. In 1914 she was appointed postmistress of Dol- liver by President Wilson and has acceptably filled that position ever since. She is one of the most prominent ladies in the town and is an earnest member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
G. W. NEFZGER.
G. W. Nefzger, who for about seventeen years has been actively and prominently identified with the business interests of Terril as a hardware merchant, was born in Fayette county, Iowa, on the 7th of January, 1858, and is a son of George and Leah (Hizerman) Nefzger, the former a native of Germany, while the latter was born in Pennsyl- vania. In early life they removed to Iowa and their remaining days were spent in this state, where they reared their family of seven children, of whom four are yet living.
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G. W. Nefzger spent the days of his boyhood and youth in Fayette county and his education was acquired in the common schools. He occupied the same farm until he was forty years of age and there is no phase of agricultural life in Iowa with which he is not familiar. In 1898 he removed to Dickinson county and established a drug store in Terril, which he conducted for a year. In 1900 he opened his present hardware store, of which he has since been proprietor. In the inter- vening period he has built up a trade of gratifying proportions and has today a well appointed store, carrying a large stock to meet the con- stantly growing demands of his patrons.
On the 11th of June, 1902, Mr. Nefzger was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Kendrick, a native of Wales and a daughter of John and Mary Kendrick, who established the family home in Wisconsin. Her father is now deceased, but her mother is yet living and makes her home with Mr. and Mrs. Nefzger, to whose marriage has been born a daughter, Leah May.
Mr. and Mrs. Nefzger hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and fraternally he is connected with the Masonic lodge of Terril, in which he has filled all the chairs. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party and on the 1st of October, 1914, his wife was appointed postmistress of Terril. Both are widely and favorably known and possess many sterling traits of character which have won for them the warm and enduring regard of those with whom they have been associated.
T. M. HANSON.
An excellent farm of one hundred and sixty acres situated on section 25, Swan Lake township, is the property of T. M. Hanson and pays to him substantial tribute for the care and labor which he bestows upon the fields. He was born in Norway, November 25, 1867, a son of Mons and Johanna (Hatteberg) Hanson, both of whom were natives of Nor- way. Coming to America in 1869, they settled first in Kendall county, Illinois, taking up their abode upon a farm whereon they resided for seven years. They afterward became residents of Ford county, Illinois, and there resided for twelve years, after which they came to Iowa, estab- lishing their home in Emmet county, where their remaining days were passed. They had a family of six children, of whom five are now living.
T. M. Hanson was reared and educated in Illinois, having been less than two years of age when brought by his parents to the new world. He left home at the age of nineteen and began earning his own living as a farm hand, being employed in that way for about seven years. He afterward came to Emmet county, Iowa, and invested the money which he had saved from his earnings in one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 25, Swan Lake township, which he has improved. He has made
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a specialty of raising hogs and that branch of his business adds mate- rially to his income.
In 1911 Mr. Hanson was united in marriage to Mrs. Rachel (Thomp- son) Wetterhus and to them was born a daughter, Johanna Elmira, who died at the age of seven months. By her former marriage Mrs. Hanson had a daughter, Maurine, who is now at home. Mr. and Mrs. Hanson hold membership in the Lutheran church and he gives his political allegiance to the republican party but has never sought nor held office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs. He is a self- made man whose prosperity has all been won through his own efforts since he started out in life on his own account. Diligence and determi- nation have characterized his entire career and made him one of the substantial citizens of Swan Lake township.
JOHN FOX.
Among the representative and progressive farmers of Armstrong Grove township is John Fox, who resides on section 27. He also owns land on section 22, that township, and on section 36, Swan Lake township. His birth occurred in Jasper county, Iowa, May 13, 1864, and he is a son of Robert and Rachel (Conn) Fox, who emigrated from Ireland to America many years ago and located in Jasper county, Iowa. There the father purchased land and during the remainder of his life engaged in agricultural pursuits there. He died in October, 1881, but the mother is still living at the age of eighty-five years.
John Fox was reared and educated in Jasper county, Iowa, and remained at home for several years after he attained his majority, reliev- ing his father of the work of operating the farm. In December, 1890, however, he came to Emmet county county, Iowa, and bought one hundred and sixty acres on section 27, Armstrong Grove township, paying there- for ten dollars an acre. Something of the marvelous rapidity with which land values have advanced in this county is indicated in the fact that the same land would now sell for one hundred and fifty dollars an acre. He at once began bringing his land under cultivation and as the years have passed has continued its development. He has also added to his holdings from time to time and now owns an addition to his home place eighty acres across the road on section 22 and one hundred and sixty acres on section 36, Swan Lake township. He operates all his land and his annual income is an enviable one. He has found stock raising especially profit- able and feeds about four carloads of cattle per year and ships ten car- loads of hogs. He engages to some extent in the business of buying and selling hogs and cattle.
On the 23rd of September, 1894, occurred the marriage of Mr. Fox and Miss Ella Dundas, a daughter of David and Harriett (Churchill) Dundas an account of whose lives appeared in the sketch of David Dundas
JOHN FOX AND FAMILY
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elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Fox have become the parents of four children, Lloyd S., Vernon, Florence, and one who died in infancy.
Mr. Fox is much interested in affairs pertaining to the general wel- fare and can always be counted upon to further worthy public projects. His religious faith is that of the Methodist church and in all relations of life he has held to high standards of conduct.
M. F. KOHL.
Since 1904 M. F. Kohl has engaged in farming on section 8, Den- mark township, and is recognized as one of the leading agriculturists of his locality. He was born in Linn county, Iowa, in the vicinity of Lisbon, on the 15th of January, 1863. His parents, Simon and Catharine (Blessing) Kohl, were born respectively in Berks and Dauphin counties, Pennsylvania, and their children were eight in number, M. F. Kohl being the sixth in order of birth. The mother's natal day was March 8, 1827, and in 1845 she married Joseph Keller, by whom she had two children, both of whom died in infancy. She and her husband joined a party of emigrants bound for Iowa and embarked on the ill-fated steamer Belle of the West. The vessel was burned near Warsaw, Ken- tucky, and Mr. Keller with fourteen others perished, but Mrs. Keller was rescued from the water. She lost all her effects but was cared for by the other survivors and at length reached Iowa, where the party founded the town of Lisbon. In 1851 she was married to Simon Kohl. She reached the age of seventy-one years, dying on the 30th of October, 1898. Mr. Kohl was born on the 3d of July, 1827, and lived to an advanced age as his death occurred on the 31st of December, 1912. He was an active member of the United Brethren church and in his daily life exemplified the teachings of Christianity. Five of his eight chil- dren survive: Mrs. Lavina Koch, of Hampton, Iowa; M. F .; Albert, a resident of Cedar Rapids; Mrs. Elizabeth Walmer, of Lisbon; and Mrs. Barbara Andre, of Mechanicsville.
M. F. Kohl received his education in the common schools and devoted his time and energy to farming rented land until he was twenty-eight years old, when he bought a farm in Cedar county. After operating that place for nine years he sold it and cultivated rented farms for three years, but in 1903 came to Denmark township and erected buildings upon the north half of the northwest quarter of section 8, which he had purchased, and in the spring of 1904 took up his residence upon the farm. He is there engaged in grain and stock raising and his familiarity with agricultural work and his enterprise are important factors in his success.
In 1892 occurred the marriage of Mr. Kohl and Miss Ida A. Yessler, a daughter of Henry and Mary Yessler, residents of Linn county. Two children have been born to this union, namely: Alma, who married
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Joseph Madden, of Swan Lake township; and Alta, the wife of George Madden, also of Swan Lake township.
Mr. Kohl supports the republican party at the polls and is faithful in the discharge of all his duties as a citizen but has never been an office seeker. He has, however, served as school director and his interest in the forces that make for advancement is also manifest in the fact that he is a trustee of the Presbyterian church at Halfa. He is a self-made man and is entitled to all the credit which that term carries with it, implying as it does determination, sound judgment and industry.
THE ESPESET FAMILY.
The name of Espeset has been well known in Emmet county and has been associated here with integrity, ability and public spirit for more than fifty years, or ever since the arrival within the county of Knute Espeset, who was one of the early settlers, coming in 1865. He was long prominent in business and political circles of the community. His attention was first given to farming and subsequently he engaged in the farm implement and hardware business, becoming one of the foremost as well as one of the early merchants of the county. He also figured prominently in connection with political interests and held the office of county sheriff and county treasurer. His son, James Espeset, was a native of Allamakee county, but was reared upon the home farm near Estherville and in early manhood took up the profession of teaching. At one time he served as deputy county treasurer and was also deputy postmaster. Later he entered the employ of the Estherville State Bank, with which institution he was identified for a quarter of a century, being the cashier thereof at the time of his retirement in 1910. Since then he has devoted his attention to the abstract business. He married Edith Graves, who was born in Winneshiek county, Iowa, but was reared in Emmet county, having been brought to this county during her infancy by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Howard Graves. Her father was one of the founders of Estherville and became the pioneer banker of this sec- tion of the state. Mrs. Espeset has always been prominent in church work and social activities and is a member of the P. E. O., the Eastern Star and the Daughters of the American Revolution.
From such ancestry comes Howard Espeset, a son of James Espeset, and fortunate is he that his lines of life have been cast in harmony with the untarnished family record. He was born in Estherville, April 2, 1882, and attended the Estherville public schools, being graduated from the high school with the class of 1898, after which he studied for a year at Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa, and for three years in the State University of Iowa at Iowa City, being graduated from the latter insti- tution in 1902, at which time the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy was
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conferred upon him. He then entered the field of banking and continued to occupy the position of assistant cashier of the Estherville State Bank until 1912. Since that time he has been engaged in the abstract business with the firm of Graves & Espeset. This firm was established by Howard Graves in an early day, and as the county records were burned in the courthouse fire of 1876, the only evidence of title to lands in Emmet county prior to that time is found in the old abstract books used by this firnı.
In 1910, in California, Mr. Espeset was joined in wedlock to Miss Marie Thomas, of Las Vegas, Nevada. Mrs. Espeset is interested in church activities and in women's club work. Mr. Espeset holds mem- bership in the Presbyterian church and he is a member of the Masonic and Elks lodges at Estherville and of the Estherville Commercial Club. In politics he has always been a republican and for some time has been actively identified with the work of the party in Emmet county, but has never sought nor desired public office. He is interested in all that pertains to the welfare and upbuilding of city and county, however, and for a number of years was a member of the city library board. His influence is always on the side of progress and improvement and his entire career has been actuated by high and honorable purposes, his life measuring up to advanced standards of manhood and citizenship.
SILAS B. KNUDSON.
Silas B. Knudson owns one hundred and sixty acres of fine land in Armstrong Grove township and is concentrating his energies upon the development and improvement of that place. He was born in La Salle county, Illinois, July 10, 1872, and is a son of Henry and Martha (Knud- son) Knudson, natives respectively of Illinois and of Norway. When about five years old the mother was brought to America by her parents and received her education in this country. In 1881 the family removed to Humboldt county, Iowa, where the father rented land which he operated until 1887. He then purchased a farm and was engaged in its cultiva- tion until he retired from active life, removing in Humboldt, where he lived for a decade, or until his death in September, 1915, when seventy-three years old. The mother survives.
Silas B. Knudson remained under the parental roof until he became of age and received his education in the schools of Illinois and Humboldt county, Iowa. After leaving home he rented land in Webster county, Iowa, for five years but in 1901 came to Emmet county and for ten years there- after operated rented land here under lease. During this time he care- fully saved his money and at length had accumulated sufficient capital to purchase the northwest quarter of section 10, Armstrong Grove town- ship, which has since remained his home. The improvements upon the
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place compare favorably with those on other farms of the township and everything is kept in excellent condition, thus facilitating the farm work. He is also a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company of Armstrong, of which he was for a time trustee.
On the 27th of December, 1899, occurred the marriage of Mr. Knud- son and Miss Bertha Braland and they have had five children ; Angeline, Maymie, Lloyd and Arnold, all of whom survive; and one who died in infancy. Mr. Knudson gives his political allegiance to the republican party and is now serving his second term as township trustee. In religious faith he is a Lutheran and his sterling qualities of character have won him the unqualified respect of all who have come in contact with him.
FRANK H. RHODES.
Frank H. Rhodes, president of the First Trust & Savings Bank at Estherville and cashier of the Bank of Estherville, has figured promi- nently in financial circles of the city for twenty-three years. He was born in Brighton, Wisconsin, October 26, 1859, his parents being Thomas and Nancy Rhodes, who came from England in 1842 and settled in Kenosha county, Wisconsin, where they resided until called to their final rest.
After attending the public schools of Kenosha county, Wisconsin, Frank H. Rhodes continued his education in the Racine (Wis.) Business College and made his initial step in the business world as assistant bookkeeper and shipping clerk for the Dickey & Pease Manufacturing Company, with which he remained from 1879 until 1885. In the latter year he removed to Estherville, where he has since made his home, and was here engaged in merchandising for seven years. In 1892 he with- drew from commercial pursuits and turned his attention to the real estate and loan business in Estherville, in which he continued until 1894. He then entered the field of banking and is prominently known as a financier of northwestern Iowa by reason of his connection with the First Trust & Savings Bank and the Bank of Estherville, the com- bined resources of which are about seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars. His high standing in financial circles in the state is indicated in the fact that he has been a member of the executive committee of the Iowa Bankers' Association for a number of years. He is also owner of the Rhodes block and other valuable properties in Estherville, which indicates his wise investment and sound judgment in business affairs. He is also a director and treasurer of the Home Investment Company.
In 1887, in Estherville, Mr. Rhodes was married to Miss Hattie Culver, a daughter of L. M. Culver. Her father came to Estherville in 1883 as agent for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Com- pany and for a number of years was a leading citizen here. He was
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