USA > Iowa > Dickinson County > History of Emmet County and Dickinson County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 31
USA > Iowa > Emmet County > History of Emmet County and Dickinson County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 31
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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
To Mr. and Mrs. Daniels have been born five children: Ursula, Warren G., Hazel A., Everett A, and Noel D., all at home with their parents. Mrs. Daniels is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and is a most estimable lady. Since attaining his majority Mr. Daniels has affiliated with the republican party and he has been called upon to serve as township trustee several years and also as a member of the school board. Fraternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America. He is a stockholder in the Terril Savings Bank and is one of the leading citizens of his community, taking an active and commendable interest in public affairs. He never withholds his support from any enterprise which he believes will prove of public benefit.
CHARLES CHRISTIAN.
The wealth of Emmet county consists largely of its productive and finely improved farms and its prosperity depends more largely upon the farmers than upon any other class of people. Among the most pro- gressive and successful agriculturists of Jack Creek township is Charles
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Christian, a native of La Salle county, Illinois. He was born on the 2d of February, 1862, a son of Thomas and Hellen (Rasmussen) Christian, who were born in Norway. On emigrating to America both located in Illinois, where their marriage occurred. From La Salle county they went to Livingston county, that state, whence they later removed to Cass county, Iowa. There the father died but the mother is now living in Ada, Minnesota.
Charles Christian is one of five living children of a family of nine and his education was that afforded in the public schools of Illinois. When twenty-two years of age he left home and went to South Dakota but after spending a year in that state returned to Cass county, Iowa, where he worked on a farm for two years. The succeeding three years were devoted to the cultivation of rented land in that county. In the spring of 1901 he came to Emmet county and bought one hundred and sixty acres on sec- tion 6, Jack Creek township, to the development of which he has since devoted his energies. He has erected fine buildings upon the place and has otherwise improved it and his hard work and good management have led to the accumulation of a competence.
In 1892 Mr. Christian was united in marriage to Miss Christina Paulson, who was born in Minnesota, and they have nine children, Gilbert T., Hazel A., Tomena G., Carl C., Anna D., Melvin R., Milford J., Edward L. and Agnes J.
Mr. Christian supports the republican party at the polls and is now serving his third year as township assessor and is also township trustee. His interest in the schools is indicated by the fact that he is serving upon the board of school directors. Both he and his wife are identi- fied with the Lutheran church and in their daily lives practice the teach- ings of Christianity.
W. G. GORDON.
One of the valuable and highly improved farms of Emmet county is the property of W. G. Gordon and comprises two hundred and eighty-one acres on section 33, Center township, on which he took up his abode in 1915. He was born in Forest county, Pennsylvania, May 23, 1870, his parents being Alexander and Mary (McBride) Gordon, both of whom were natives of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. There they were married and later they became residents of Elkhart county, Indiana. They had a family of eight children, of whom six are now living. In the year 1882 the father came to Emmet county, Iowa, which was then largely an unsettled and unimproved district, and purchased a large tract of land at four dollars per acre. He afterward gave to his son, W. G. Gordon, part of the farm which he now owns. He died at Elkhart, Indiana, in August, 1904.
W. G. Gordon was reared in the Hoosier state and completed his edu-
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cation at Notre Dame University. He lived with his parents until he reached adult age and then removed to Oregon, settling near Medford. For seven years he devoted his time and attention to the developmnt of a fruit farm in that district and was quite successful in its conduct. In 1915 he came to Iowa and established his home in Emmet county upon the farm on section 33, Center township, where he now resides. This is an excellent tract of land, naturally rich and productive, and the fields respond readily to the care and labor which he bestows upon them. The farm methods which he employs are most progressive and in all that he undertakes he is systematic and persistent.
In 1894 Mr. Gordon was united in marriage to Miss Florence Throop, a native of Indiana and a daughter of Samuel B. and Helen F. (Evans) Throop. The father is a native of Canada and the mother of Indiana and they are still living in the Hoosier state. They became parents of three children, all of whom survive. Mr. and Mrs. Gordon have a daughter and son, Margaret H., and Howard T.
Mr. Gordon is a stalwart champion of republican principles but has never been an office seeker. He belongs to the Masonic lodge at Celina, Ohio, and he and his wife are members of the Eastern Star. They also attend the Presbyterian church and their genuine worth entitles them to the high regard in which they are uniformly held. While residents of Emmet county for but a brief period, they have already become quite widely known and their circle of friends is constantly increasing as their circle of acquaintance broadens. Mr. Gordon has proven himself a capable business man and his genuine worth is seen in many other ways.
RANSOM R. WILLCOX.
Ransom R. Willcox, deceased, came to Dickinson county in 1863 and for a third of a century was identified with the upbuilding and development of this section of the state. He was born in Sherbrooke, Canada, June 25, 1826, and was a son of Joseph and Sophia (Blodgett) Willcox. The father was born on the ocean while his parents were com- ing to the new world, and the mother was a native of England. They became residents of Canada, where Mr. Willcox followed farming until his death, which occurred in 1839. He served as captain of militia in Canada for a time. His widow afterward came to Dickinson county, Iowa, and here died in 1882.
During his boyhood and youth Ransom R. Willcox attended school in Canada and also began the study of medicine, but never completed the course and finally turned his attention to mechanical pursuits, becom- ing a bridge contractor and millwright. On leaving the Dominion he went to New York and later to Illinois, where during the Civil war he enlisted at Durand in Company C, Fifty-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infan- try. While in the service he was taken ill and sent home to die, but
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eventually recovered and in 1863 came to Diekinson county, Iowa. Here he built all the early bridges and also many in Emmet county, some of which are now being replaced by cement structures. He also erected the first mill at Milford and built all the early schoolhouses in Diekinson county. Later he purchased a farm in Okoboji township and operated the same for many years, but in 1897 removed to Sanborn, Iowa, where he passed away May 29, 1908. when almost eighty-two years of age, honored and respected by all who knew him.
In December, 1865, Mr. Willcox married Miss Sarah C. Meeker, a daughter of Ilenry and Sarah (Gaylord) Meeker, natives of Vermont and New York respectively. Her father was also a mechanic, working at the millwright's trade in connection with farming. He came to Diek- inson county, lowa, in 1861, and took up a homestead near Milford, whereon he died October 10. 1889. His wife had passed away in 1860. To Mr. and Mrs. Willeox were born nine children, of whom Ransom Err, O. B., Henry, William, Ed, Guy and Sadie are still living. Charles was killed in an automobile accident in August, 1915, and Kittie died in 1886. Mr. Willcox was three times married and by the first union had two children: Emma, the wife of M. F. Doolittle; and Mina, the wife of A. L. Corkins. There were also two children by the second marriage, namely : J. A. Willcox, of Redmond, Oregon ; and Err, deceased. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Sarah Willcox has returned to Milford, where she now makes her home.
Mr. Willeox voted with the republican party and held office con- tinuously during his residence in Dickinson county, serving as justice of the peace for twenty-two years. He was also a school director and filled other positions of honor and trust. He was a member of Waller Post, G. A. R., of Milford, and was also a consistent member of the Methodist church, in the faith of which he died.
HENRY KRUSE.
Henry Kruse, interested in general farming on section 7, Center township, Emmet county, was born in Germany on the 13th of November, 1846, a son of Fred and Bendena Kruse, who were also natives of that country. In 1866 they left the fatherland and started for the new world but the mother died while on the ocean and was buried at sea. The father continued the journey with his children and they were seven weeks on the ocean on a sailing vessel. Eventually he took up his abode upon a farm in Ogle county, Illinois, where his death occurred a year later.
Henry Kruse is the only survivor of a family of five children. He was reared and educated in Germany, being twenty years of age at the time of the emigration of the family to the new world. He was employed as a common laborer in this country for about a decade and in 1876 began farming on his own account in Grundy county, Iowa, where he rented land
MR. AND MRS. HENRY KRUSE
1
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for two years. During that period he carefully saved his earnings and was thus able to purchase a farm in Grundy county, which he continued to own, occupy and cultivate until 1895. He then sold out and removed to Emmet county, where he purchased two hundred and ten acres of sec- tion 5, which he sold, and then bought his present eighty acres on section 7, Center township. The soil is naturally rich and productive and responds readily to the care and labor which he bestows upon it. He has improved the place with fine buildings and through the careful conduct of his busi- ness affairs has become one of the prosperous citizens of the community. .
In 1878 Mr. Kruse was united in marriage to Miss Ida Smith, who was born in Ogle county, Illinois, a daughter of Thomas and Eliza (Dubert) Smith, the former a native of Canada and the latter of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Kruse have become the parents of eleven children: Fred P., born February 14, 1879: Effie E., who was born March 12, 1881, and is the wife of Orlando Anderson, of Brookings, South Dakota; Etta E., who was born April 4, 1883, and died December 16, 1886; Roy E., who was born September 20, 1885, and died November 8, 1887 : Elmer E., who was born June 8, 1887, and died September 4, 1916; Guy, who was born July 15, 1889, and is now in South Dakota; Otto Leo, born October 1. 1891 ; Mattie Izetta, born May 27, 1893 ; Earl Smith, born March 7, 1895; Ray, who was born April 15, 1897, and passed away in 1898; and Henry A., born July 16, 1901.
Mr. Kruse votes with the republican party, which he has supported since becoming a naturalized American citizen. He has served on the school board and is interested in all matters pertaining to the general welfare. He may indeed be called a self-made man and deserves all the credit which that term implies, for he had only five cents when he landed in New York City and since that time has made a substantial fortune through honorable methods, being now one of the men of affluence in Center township.
R. W. RAEBEL.
Business enterprise at Montgomery finds a substantial represent- ative in R. W. Raebel, who is conducting a thoroughly modern and up-to-date general store, while his business methods have gained for him a liberal and well deserved patronage. He was born in Germany, May 10, 1880, a son of Edward and Wilhelmina Raebel, both of whom were natives of Germany, where they remained through the period of child- hood and youth. In 1883 they came to the United States and first set- tled in La Salle county, Illinois, whence they removed to Iowa in 1894. Their remaining days were passed in this state and here they reared their family, numbering five children, three of whom yet survive.
R. W. Raebel was a youth of fourteen when he came to Iowa and his early education, acquired in Illinois, was supplemented by further
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study in the common schools of this state and in a business college. He spent a year upon the road after putting aside his textbooks and later went to Omaha, Nebraska, where he worked for a year, traveling for a com- mercial college. Later he was employed in a drug store in Audubon county for two years and afterward was deputy treasurer in that county for a similar length of time. He also spent a year as a newspaper reporter, at the end of which time he came to Montgomery and embarked in merchandising, making investment of the capital which he had saved from his earnings and which was the evidence of his industry and economy. He is now conducting a general store which is well equipped and appointed. He carries an attractive line of goods and his reasonable prices and honorable dealing are features in his growing success.
In 1912 Mr. Raebel was united in marriage to Miss Esther White, a native of Wapello county, Iowa. In 1915 Mr. Raebel was appointed postmaster of Montgomery. He and his wife are members of the Metho- dist Episcopal church, in the work of which he takes active and helpful part, serving as one of its trustees and also as superintendent of the Sunday school.
NELS P. NELSEN.
One of the finest farms in Denmark township, Emmet county, is owned by Nels P. Nelsen, a native of Denmark and characterized by the sterling qualities which have enabled the men of his race to make so creditable a place for themselves in America. He was born on the 1st of June, 1850, and is a son of Nels and Mary (Clouson) Olsen, who passed away upon the home farm in Denmark.
Nels P. Nelsen, who is one of a family of ten children, received his education in his native country and remained there until he attained his majority. He then emigrated to the United States and after living in Clifton, Illinois, for four months was for a year and a half a resident of Chicago and later lived in Springfield, that state, for two years. He next spent two years in New York city and was then again a resident of Chicago for a year. Upon leaving that city he purchased a farm near Clifton, Illinois, but a year later disposed of that place and turned his attention to blacksmithing, which he followed there for a year. For a third time he located in Chicago and after working for the Pullman Car Company for a period he conducted a blacksmith shop in Roseland, now a part of Chicago, for four years. After selling that business he came to Emmet county, Iowa, and moved on the northeast quarter of section 14, Denmark township, which he had purchased four years before, or in 1880. He has since lived on that place and during the three decades intervening has brought it to a high state of development, spar- ing no expense nor labor that would increase its productiveness or its attractiveness as a place of residence. He also owns the east half of
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the southeast quarter of section 13 and for twelve years was president of the Denmark Cooperative Creamery.
On the 1st of December, 1880, in Hyde Park, Chicago, occurred the marriage of Mr. Nelsen and Miss Tomina Andersen, whose parents, G. P. and Christina Andersen, were natives of Denmark, but lived for a number of years in this country. They made their home with Mr. and Mrs. Nelsen in Chicago until 1882, when they came to Denmark township, where they passed away. To Mr. and Mrs. Nelsen were born six children : Martin M., of Ringsted; Mary, the deceased wife of Hans Christiansen, of Denmark township; Christina, the wife of Andrew Hansen, of Tyler, Minnesota; J. P., a partner of Chris Andersen in the hardware and implement business in Ringsted; and Lena and Minnus, both of whom died in infancy. The wife and mother passed away on the 2nd of March, 1892, and is buried in St. John's cemetery. She was a member of St. John's church and was a woman of many fine qualities of heart and mind. On the 10th of February, 1893, Mr. Nelsen was married in Denmark, where he had gone on a visit, to Miss Johanna Mikkelsen, whose parents were lifelong residents of that country. In 1893 Mr. Nelsen returned to America with his wife and they have become the parents of five children, Lawrence, Marius, Alma, Tomina and Alvilva, all at home.
Mr. Nelsen is a stanch democrat and has served as township assessor and as township trustee. His interest in the welfare of the schools is indicated in the fact that he was at one time school director and his concern for the moral obligations of life is manifest in his membership in St. John's Danish Lutheran church, of which he was formerly trustee and foreman. He had no unusual advantages but realized that energy, good management and perseverance would enable him to gain success and through making the most of the opportunities that were his has won a substantial competence.
WILLIAM H. HAYS.
William H. Hays, farming on section 14, Center township, Emmet county, was born in Stephenson county, Illinois, on the 11th of Sep- tember, 1868, his parents being Mathias and Elizabeth Hays, who were natives of Indiana and Ohio respectively. The father followed the occu- pation of farming in order to provide for his family, consisting of his wife and four children, and in the spring of 1869 he removed from Illinois to Dallas county, Iowa, where he purchased land.
William H. Hays was at that time an infant of but six months. . His youthful days were spent upon the home farm and he continued to attend the district schools of the neighborhood until he had reached the age of eighteen. He then concentrated his efforts upon farm work, assisting his father until he reached the age of twenty-six, when he
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started out in life independently upon a rented farm in Union county, lowa. where he remained for eight years. He afterward rented land in Dallas county for a decade and in 1913 came to Emmet county, where he purchased the north half of the northeast quarter of section 14, Center township, upon which he is now living. His farm of one hundred acres is a highly cultivated tract and the land. naturally rich and productive, responds readily to the care and labor which he bestows upon it. He manifests diligence and determination in his business affairs and his indefatigable energy is one of the basic elements of his growing success.
On the 8th of September, 1894, Mr. Hays was united in marriage to Miss Lettie E. Stevens, a daughter of Thomas and Nancy Stevens, formerly of Dallas county, Iowa, who now rest side by side in the Masonic cemetery at Dallas Center. Mr. and Mrs. Hays have one son. Elbert H., at home. Mr. Hays is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America at Gruver and his political support is given to the republican party, but he has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking. He and his wife hold membership in the Christian church and are highly esteemed wherever known, their sterling characteristics gaining for them the warm regard of all with whom they have been brought in contact.
WILLIAM STUART.
One of the most prominent and influential citizens of Armstrong is William Stuart, who has taken a very active part in the development of the town and has also borne a prominent part in public affairs. He was born in Ireland, January 10, 1851, and is a son of Alexander and Margaret (Ellis) Stuart, both natives of Ireland, though the father was of Scotch descent and the mother of English. In that country the former died and in 1857 Mrs. Stuart crossed the Atlantic with her family and located in Canada. Later she removed to Michigan, where her death occurred in 1876. In the family were eight children, six sons and two daughters, of whom four still survive.
William Stuart was practically reared and educated in Canada where he attended both the common and high schools. In 1864 he went to Fulton, Illinois, where he learned the blacksmith's trade and continued to work at the same for some years. In 1879 he removed to Grundy county, Iowa, where he was also engaged in blacksmithing and wagon making for a time but later engaged in the implement business. Since 1892 he has been a resident of Armstrong and on locating here embarked in the bank- ing business, becoming identified with what is now known as the First National Bank, of which he is still vice president and one of the directors. This institution was organized as a national bank in 1901 and is regarded as one of the leading banks of this section of the state. Mr. Stuart is also president of the Armstrong Cement & Tile Company, which was
WILLIAM STUART
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organized about 1910, and is the owner of four hundred and thirty-two acres of land, and also a third interest in one thousand, six hundred and thirteen acres, all in Emmet county, and all improved and under excellent cultivation. Besides the property already mentioned he owns a fine resi- dence in Armstrong.
In 1882 Mr. Stuart was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Dunn, a native of Rock county, Wisconsin, and a daughter of Jacob and Maria (Dockstadter) Dunn, who were born in New York state but at an early day removed to Wisconsin and later to Iowa. Both are now deceased and of their eight children two have also passed away. Mr. and Mrs. Stuart have four children, namely: Grace M., now the wife of Dr. J. B. Knipe; Alta, the wife of O. Z. Burkhead, of Idaho: Hazel, the wife of Howard Smith ; and Mildred, who is now attending high school in Armstrong.
Mr. Stuart is a member of Armstrong Lodge, No. 335, A. F. & A. M., in which he has filled all the chairs, and he also belongs to the Eastern Star Chapter. The republican party finds in him a stanch supporter of its principles, and he has been elected to represent the ninety-sixth district in the state legislature. He is now serving his second term as president of the school board and has also filled the office of supervisor for three years. Both he and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he is one of the trustees. He has borne a prominent part in the development of his locality and his influence is always found on the side of right and order. In business circles he occupies an important position, and in all the relations of life he has been found true to every trust reposed in him.
JAMES D. WEIR.
For half a century James D. Weir has now witnessed the develop- ment and upbuilding of Emmet county and in its progress he has borne an important part since reaching man's estate. He is now successfully engaged in the hardware, implement and live stock business in Hunting- ton, being the senior member of the firm of J. D. Weir & Son, and has built up an excellent trade along those lines.
Mr. Weir was born in Quebec, Canada, on the 3d of August, 1863, and is a son of David and Christine (Richmond) Weir, natives of Scot- land. On coming to the new world they first located in Canada, but afterward came to the United States, becoming residents of Emmet county, Iowa, in 1867. The father purchased a farm in Armstrong Grove township, which he operated for eight years, and then removed to Emmet township, buying one hundred and sixty acres of land near Eagle Lake, whereon he followed farming for fourteen years. At the end of that time he retired from active labor and took up his abode in Estherville, where he was living when called to his final rest on Christ- mas Day, 1900. His wife had died in June of that year and both were
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interred in Oak Hill cemetery. To them were born nine children, of whom seven survive, namely: William and George, both residents of Emmet township; James D., of this review; Henry, of Martin county, Minnesota; Robert, of Otis, Colorado; Valentine, of Sterling, Colorado; and Matthew, of Alberta, Canada.
James D. Weir was only four years of age when brought by his parents to Emmet county, where he attended the district schools and assisted his father in the farm work until he attained his majority. During the following three years he engaged in farming in Texas and on his return north located in Martin county, Minnesota, where he rented land and followed farming for eight years. In 1900 he became a resident of Huntington, where he built a hardware and implement establishment, and has since carried on business along those lines, at the same time shipping stock quite extensively. He owns one hundred and forty acres of land on the outskirts of the village and all vacant lots within the limits of Huntington, having purchased the remainder of the town site the year after locating there. His son Roy is now a member of the firm, which is doing business under the name of J. D. Weir & Son.
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