USA > Iowa > Dickinson County > History of Emmet County and Dickinson County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 26
USA > Iowa > Emmet County > History of Emmet County and Dickinson County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 26
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CHARLES F. MAUSS
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Mr. Mauss was married in 1904 to Miss Frieda Rasmussen, a daugh- ter of Peter and Mary Rasmussen. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he was formerly a member of the town council. Since 1903 he has served on the school board and is always willing to give of his time and energy to the solution of problems pertaining to the wel- fare of the schools. He belongs to the Congregational church and takes a commendable interest in the furtherance of its work.
W. H. McCLUNE.
W. H. McClune, who is successfully engaged in farming on section 21, Lincoln township, Emmet county, is a native of Iowa, his birth having occurred in Keokuk county on September 23, 1883. His parents, William R. and Elizabeth (Galbraith) McClune, were both born in Illinois, but during their childhood accompanied their respective parents to Iowa, one family settling on the county line in Keokuk county, and the other in Iowa county. After their marriage they located on a farm in the former county, where Mr. McClune resided up to the time of his death which occurred in 1909. His wife passed away in 1916.
In the common schools of this state W. H. McClune acquired his education and in early life became familiar with agricultural pursuits. In 1906 he began farming on his own account, operating rented land in Poweshiek county for a time. The following year, however, he came to Emmet county and located upon his present home farm which had previously been purchased by his father. After the latter's death he acquired the property through inheritance and has since engaged in its operation. In connection with general farming he breeds thoroughbred Shire horses, and in his undertakings he is prospering, being regarded as one of the most successful farmers in Lincoln township.
On the 11th of March, 1913, Mr. McClune was united in marriage to Miss Ethel Adams of Decatur county, Iowa, and to them have been born two children, Harland A. and Melba E. In politics Mr. McChine is a republican and he takes a commendable interest in public affairs, giving his support to all worthy enterprises calculated to advance the public welfare.
WILLIAM EDWIN BRADLEY, M. D.
Dr. William Edwin Bradley, successfully engaged in the practice of medicine at Estherville, comes to this field well equipped by liberal uni- versity and college training for the responsible duties which devolve upon him in this connection. He was born in LaCrosse county, Wis- consin, February 14, 1865, a son of Albert O. and Jennie (Mois) Bradley.
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The father was born at Spring Prairie, Walworth county, Wisconsin, November 13, 1838. The mother, a native of England, born April 11, ' 18.10, came to America when four years of age and passed away in Estherville on the 9th of July, 1911. The family lived for many years in La Crosse county and during the period of his youth William E. Bradley mastered the branches of learning that constitute the curriculum of the public schools there, becoming a high school pupil at Sparta. Subsequently he entered the University of Wisconsin, in which he remained a student from 1886 until 1890, winning the Bachelor of Science degree. He next entered the Rush Medical College of Chicago and com- pleted his professional course by graduation with the class of 1892. For six months he practiced in Stanley, Wisconsin, and since November, 1892, has resided continuously in Estherville, where during the inter- vening period of twenty-five years he has built up a very successful and gratifying practice. He is most conscientious in the performance of all his professional duties, recognizing fully the obligations and respon- sibilities that devolve upon him, and he has ever kept well informed concerning the latest discoveries in medical science, and while never hasty in discarding old and time-tried methods, he is yet quick to appre- ciate the worth of new ideas advanced and to utilize them in his pro- fessional labors.
On the 17th of July, 1895, in Estherville, Iowa, Dr. Bradley was united in marriage to Miss Eva C. Robinson, daughter of John M. and Martha Robinson. They are now the parents of two children, Janet Marian and William Robinson. Dr. Bradley and his wife are consistent members of the Presbyterian church and in social circles they occupy an enviable position, the hospitality of the best homes of the city and sur- rounding country being cordially extended to them in appreciation of their sterling worth. Dr. Bradley is also a well known Mason, holding membership in lodge, chapter and commandery, but he makes all other interests subservient to his professional duties and in his chosen calling he has continuously progressed by reason of his wide study, his broad experience and his sympathetic and almost intuitive understanding of people.
JOHN SILVER BLOW.
John Silver Blow, who is now living retired in Spirit Lake, was for many years actively identified with the agricultural interests of Dickinson county and later filled the office of county auditor for three terms in a most creditable and satisfactory manner. A native of Canada, he was born in Woodstock, Ontario, October 23, 1861, and was a son of Mahlon and Violet (Naysmith) Blow. The father was also born in Ontario, where he was reared and educated, and after reaching man- hood followed farming in Ontario until 1862, when he came to the
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United States, locating on land which he purchased east of Woodstock in McHenry county, Illinois. After spending six years in that locality he removed to Kane county, Illinois, and farmed in Plato township, near Elgin, until 1884, when he sold his land and retired, becoming a resident of Estherville, Emmet county, Iowa. He made his home in that city until 1892, when he removed to Grinnell, Iowa, in order that his chil- dren might attend college at that place. There his wife died and he subsequently went to Lac qui Parle county, Minnesota, where he pur- chased a farm which his sons operated. There he passed away in Febru- ary, 1905. His wife was born at Newart Hill, Scotland, and was a young lady, when, in 1855, she went to Canada. They were married at Woodstock, Canada, on the 15th of May, 1856.
In the family of this worthy couple were ten children, all of whom are still living, namely: Cooper J., now a merchant of Griffin, Saskat- chewan, Canada; Jennie, the wife of James Wallace, of Austin, Texas; John Silver, of this review; Newman C., a farmer of Sugar City, Idaho; Ada, the wife of Edward Tompkins, a grain dealer of Minneapolis, Minnesota ; Lulu, a resident of Beaumont, Texas; Archie, a farmer of Chugwater, Wyoming: Frank T., a physician and surgeon of Call, Texas; Violet, the wife of Fred L. Abel, a merchant of Grinnell, Iowa; and Keith W., a traveling salesman.
It was during the infancy of John Silver Blow that the family removed to Illinois, and his early education was largely acquired in the district schools of Plato township, Kane county, that state. This was supplemented by a course at Elgin Academy in Elgin, Illinois. In the meantime he assisted his father in the operation of the home farm and subsequently taught school in Kane county. In 1883 he came to Dickinson county and purchased the northwest quarter of section 13, Lloyd township, where he followed farming until 1894. In that year he embarked in the real estate business in Terril but still continued to look after his agricultural interests. He finally retired from business on being appointed to fill out an unexpired term as county auditor of Dick- inson county and so acceptably did he fill the position that he was elected to the office in 1910 and reelected in 1912 and 1914, retiring on the 1st of January, 1917, with a record of which he has every reason to be proud.
On the 8th of January, 1902, at Spirit Lake, Mr. Blow was united in marriage to Miss May Kendrick, who was born near Barneveld, Wis- consin, where she was reared and educated. In 1899 she accompanied her mother, Mary (Evans) Kendrick, on her removal to Dickinson county, Iowa. Her father, John Kendrick, was a native of Wales and was twenty years of age when he came to the new world and settled near Barneveld in Iowa county, Wisconsin, where he followed farming until his death. His widow was also a native of Wales and was but three years of age when brought to America. For some years she resided in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and when a young lady went to Wisconsin, where she was married. She is now a resident of Lloyd town-
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ship, Dickinson county, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Blow have two children : Leta, born in Terril, December 2, 1902; and Wayne J., born in Terril, March 27, 1907.
Mr. Blow affiliates with the republican party and both he and his wife are active and consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he is serving as steward. He is one of the represent- ative citizens of Dickinson county, whose public and private life are alike above reproach, and he is held in the highest esteem by all who know him.
NELS MICKELSON.
Nels Mickelson, a resident farmer of Twelve Mile Lake township, living on section 2, is a representative of that substantial class of citizens that Norway has furnished to Iowa and that has contributed to the agri- cultural development of Emmet county. He was born in Norway, January 17, 1874, his parents being Mickel and Anna Mickelson, who were also farming people. They had a family of five children and in 1885 they left their native country for the new world. Crossing the Atlantic, they did not tary on the eastern coast but made their way at once into the interior of the country, establishing their home in Jackson county, Minnesota. The father was employed at farm labor there and subsequently engaged in farming in Dickinson county. His entire life was given to the culti- vation of the fields up to the time when death ended his labors, and his remains were laid to rest in the Riverside cemetery at Wallingford. His widow survives and is now living with her son, Nels.
Having spent the first eleven years of his life in his native country, Nels Mickelson came to the new world with his parents and through the period of his boyhood and youth worked with his father, so that he early became familiar with the practical methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. He has never cared to change his occupation, feeling that farm life gives him abundant scope for his energy and industry-his dominant qualities. He has purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land on the southwest quarter of section 2, Twelve Mile Lake township, and his farm is an excellent property now highly cultivated and well improved.
It was in 1898 that Mr. Mickelson was united in marriage to Miss Anna Ellefson, a daughter of Ellef and Birgit Ellefson, who became resi- dents of Twelve Mile Lake township. Her father has passed away and his widow is now living with her son, Ellef Ellefson, Jr., upon a farm in Twelve Mile Lake township. Mr. and Mrs. Mickelson have become the parents of three children: Adelia, Melvin and Norman, who are all at home. The family adhere to the faith of the Norwegian Lutheran church, to which Mr. and Mrs. Mickelson belong. His political views accord with the principles of the republican party and he regards its platform as the
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best exponent of the principles of good government. His life record indi- cates what may be accomplished by persistent, earnest effort, for he started out empty handed and has since been dependent upon his own resources. He early recognized the eternal principle that industry wins, and he has made industry the rule of his life.
HANS K. BONNICKSEN.
One of the prosperous farmers and leading citizens of Denmark township, Emmet county, is Hans K. Bonnicksen, who, like most of the residents of that locality is of Scandinavian birth. He was born in Den- mark on the 27th of February, 1865, and is the third in a family of six children, their parents being Knud and Katrina Bonnicksen. In 1872 the father brought his family to America and settled in Clinton, Iowa, where he was employed as a teamster for two years. The following six years were spent near Malone, Iowa, where he engaged in farming on rented land, but at the end of that time he returned to Clinton, where he again made his home for two years. Coming to Emmet county in 1883 he pur- chased the southeast quarter of section 23, Denmark township, and later added to this the south half of the northeast quarter of the same section, whereon he continued to reside for several years, his time and energies being devoted to the cultivation and improvement of his farm. During the last few years of his life, however, he lived retired, first in Armstrong and later in Ringsted, where he passed away July 18, 1913. His wife had died on the 6th of November, 1902, and both were laid to rest in St. Paul's cemetery.
Reared under the parental roof, Hans K. Bonnicksen attended the neighboring schools until sixteen years of age and gave his father the benefit of his services upon the home farm until he attained his majority. His life has practically been devoted to agricultural pursuits and at the age of twenty-six years he purchased the north half of the southeast quar- ter of section 22, Denmark township, to which he subsequently added the north half of the south half of that quarter section, making one hundred and twenty acres in all. Still later he purchased the north half of the south half of the northwest quarter.of section 23 and has since been actively engaged in the operation of this land.
In 1892 Mr. Bonnicksen married Miss Lena Schulz, a daughter of Peter and Krogh Schulz, who came to this country from Denmark and were early settlers of Denmark township, Emmet county. Her father is deceased and is buried in St. John's cemetery, but her mother is still living and is now Mrs. N. C. Nielsen, of Ringsted. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Bonnicksen are Carl, Katrina, Christina and Arnold, all at home.
The family hold membership in St. John's Lutheran church, and Mr. Bonnicksen affiliates with the republican party. He has been called upon to serve as township clerk two years, school director one year and road
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supervisor one year. For a number of years he has been a director of the Ringsted Creamery Company and is also a director of the Farmers Savings Bank of Ringsted. In business affairs he has steadily prospered owing to his wise judgment and untiring industry and he now ranks among the well-to-do farmers and representative citizens of his community.
CHARLES REPPIEN.
Charles Reppien, manager and butter maker with the Farmers Creamery Company at Wallingford and thus well known in business circles of Emmet county, was born in Denmark, March 24, 1893. He is therefore yet a young man and in all that he undertakes is actuated by the spirit of enterprise and progress. He was reared and educated in his native country and learned the butter making trade in that land, which is famous as a butter producing center. He worked at the business there for four years before coming to America and in 1913 he bade adieu to friends and native country and sailed for the new world, hoping to find more remunerative employment on this side of the Atlantic. Cross- ing the country to Wallingford, he soon obtained a position as butter maker in a creamery there and his ability won him promotion to the position of manager. He is now conducting a large business at the creamery and has made its output famous for its excellence. There is no phase of the butter making trade with which he is not familiar and he is considered an expert in his line.
Mr. Reppien holds membership with the Modern Woodmen of America at Wallingford and he gives his political allegiance to the republican party. He is esteemed as an enterprising, progressive young man and one whose advancement has been the legitimate and logical outcome of his own labors and ability.
ALFRED M. JENSEN.
A fine farm on section 24, Denmark township, pays tribute to the care and labor bestowed upon it by its owner, Alfred M. Jensen. He was born in Denmark, April 6, 1873, the third in a family of seven children, whose parents were Robert and Lorina Jensen. The mother died when her son Alfred was but two years old and the father also passed away in Denmark. He was a farmer by occupation.
Alfred M. Jensen is indebted for his education to the public schools of Denmark, which he attended until he was confirmed. The next few years were devoted to work on farms in that country but when nine- teen years old he came to the United States and located near Goldfield, Iowa. After working as a farm hand in that locality for a year and a
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half he came to Denmark township, Emmet county, in 1895, and was in the employ of various farmers of the township until 1900. He then bought the north half of the southwest quarter of section 24, on which he is still living. He devotes his entire time to the cultivation of the fields and the care of his live stock and as the years pass his capital is steadily increasing, for he manages his business interests well.
Mr. Jensen was married in 1902 to Miss Henriette Hansen, the adopted daughter of Hans and Margaret Hansen, of Denmark town- ship. Mrs. Hansen has passed away and is buried in St. John's ceme- tery, but Mr. Hansen survives and is living in Ringsted. To Mr. and Mrs. Jensen have been born three children, Harold, Myrtle and Severin.
The democratic party receives the hearty support of Mr. Jensen and every duty devolving upon him as a citizen is discharged to the full, but he has never sought official preferment. He belongs to the Danish Brotherhood and is also a member of St. John's Danish Lutheran church. He is entitled to the honor which is accorded a self-made man, for he began his independent career empty handed and has been dependent solely upon his own resources.
NELS HANSON.
Nels Hanson has never had occasion to regret his choice of farming as a life work, for he has met with gratifying success in the cultivation of his land on section 9, Iowa Lake township. He was born in Norway, June 12, 1852, a son of Nels and Annie (Larson) Hanson, also natives of that country, where the father engaged in farming and fishing. He died there in 1878 and the demise of his wife occurred nineteen years previously, or in 1859.
Mr. Hanson was reared under the parental roof and attended the public schools in the acquirement of his education. When eighteen years old he came to America and for some time was in the employ of farmers in Polk county, Iowa. He next rented land in Hamilton county, this state, for six years, and in 1887 came to Emmet county, Iowa, where he has since resided. He operated rented land near Estherville for four years, but in 1891 purchased his present place, which comprises eighty acres on section 9, Iowa Lake township. He has improved the place in various ways and during the twenty-six years that he has engaged in its opera- tion has seldom failed to harvest good crops. He has also derived a gratifying profit from his stock raising interests.
On the 12th of February, 1878, Mr. Hanson was married to Miss Christine M. Stenerson and they became the parents of the following children: Annie; Nels, who died in 1881; Martha, now the wife of Fred W. Cheever; Lewis; Jennie; Hannah; Clarence; Hazel; Sanford; and Grace. In August, 1900, the wife and mother passed away and on the 3d of March, 1905, Mr. Hanson married Mrs. Sarah (Stenerson)
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Watland, a sister of his first wife and the widow of John Watland. By her marriage to Mr. Watland, who died in June, 1903, she had eleven children, two of whom died in infancy. the others being: Joseph, John, Edith M. and Martin, all of whom are also now deceased; and Edward, Jennie, Ollie, Eli and Irene, all of whom survive.
The republican party receives the loyal support of Mr. Hanson and his keen interest in affairs concerning the public welfare is indicated by the fact that for ten years he has served as a member of the school board. In religious faith he is a Lutheran. He has found in the United States the opportunities for advancement which he sought and has been prompt and energetic in their utilization, thus gaining a place among the substantial men of his locality.
C. C. GRAVATT.
C. C. Gravatt, cashier of the First National Bank of Terril, was born in Traer, Tama county, Iowa, on the 10th of March, 1878, his parents being Albert and Irena (Morse) Gravatt. The father is a native of Celina, Ohio, and the mother of Belvidere, Illinois, and they came to Iowa in childhood with their respective parents in the early '50s. They attained adult age in Tama county and after reaching man's estate the father took up the occupation of farming, which he followed for many years, but during the past six or eight years he has lived retired in Traer, enjoying a rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves.
C. C. Cravatt had the usual experiences of the farm bred boy who divides his time between the duties of the schoolroom, the pleasures of the playground and the work of the fields. After attending the district schools he continued his education in the high school at Traer and on completing his studies there returned to the home farm, where he remained until he had attained his majority. He then started out inde- pendently and, thinking to find other pursuits more congenial to him than agricultural life, he accepted a clerkship in a grocery store in Traer, which position he occupied until the death of his employer eighteen months later. He subsequently clerked in a hardware store for a short time and in 1900 removed to Terril, where he accepted the position of bookkeeper and assistant cashier in the bank of Terril. In 1906 Howard Everett, who had been manager of the bank, sold his holdings to Harry H. Buck and B. B. Van Steenburg, at which time Mr. Gravatt was made cashier of the institution. In 1912 the bank was reorganized and was nationalized and the present modern bank building was erected. It is thoroughly equipped for the purpose intended and is one of the fine bank buildings in the smaller towns of the state. Mr. Gravatt con- tinues in the management of the bank and his enterprise and efforts have contributed in very substantial measure to its success. He is familar
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with every phase of the banking business and he does everything in his power to further the interests of the institution through the safe- guarding of the interests of depositors and the extension of a liberal credit to a point that will not jeopardize the business entrusted to their care.
In 1907 Mr. Gravatt was united in marriage to Miss Maud Win- slow, of Terril, by whom he has two children, Mabel Charlotte and Leonard Winslow. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, belong- ing to Richloyd Lodge, No. 612, A. F. & A. M., of Terril; Spirit Lake Chapter, No. 132, R. A. M .; Esdraelon Commandery, No. 52, K. T .; and Abu Bekr Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Sioux City, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Gravatt are also members of Gloaming Chapter, No. 225, O. E. S. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he is a member of the town council and is vitally interested in all that pertains to the advancement and welfare of Terril and for the past ten years has been secretary of the school board. He was largely instru- mental in bringing about the present efficient consolidated school sys- tem that resulted in the erection of a school building valued at fifty thousand dollars. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Epis- copal church and their influence is always on the side of progress and improvement, whether in behalf of the material, intellectual. social or moral development of the community.
LARS HANSEN.
Lars Hansen, who was one of the progressive and successful farmers of Denmark township, was a splendid representative of the excellent citi- zens whom Denmark has given to Emmet county. He was born in that country October 9, 1849, and was one of a family of seven children whose parents were Hans and Anna Marie Larsen. The father was a small farmer in Denmark and there both he and the mother spent their entire lives.
Lars Hansen received his education in the schools of his native country and remained there until 1872, when at the age of about twenty-three years he crossed the Atlantic to the United States and continued his journey westward to Clinton, Iowa. After working on a railroad there for a time he went to the vicinity of Cedar Falls and purchased a farm, which he operated until 1882. In that year he came to Denmark township, Emmet county, which was just being settled, and purchased the south half of the southwest quarter of section 27. That farm remained his place of resi- dence throughout the rest of his life and as the years passed he brought it to a high state of cultivation. He concentrated his attention upon his farm work and as a result received a gratifying income from his land. On the 13th of August, 1896, he met an accidental death and is buried in St. John's cemetery.
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