USA > Iowa > Webster County > Fort Dodge > History of Fort Dodge and Webster County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 9
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Mr. Lindquist was united in marriage in Gowrie, July 30, 1885, to Miss Olivia Larson, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Larson. The father died in Henry county. To Mr. and Mrs. Lindquist three children were born: Daisy, who is the wife of A. C. Norman, a car- penter contractor of Gowrie, by whom she has one child, Ruth Norma ; Ruth, a graduate of the high school, who is a music teacher and or- ganist of the Lutheran church; and Carl G., who died in infancy. The mother of this family died in 1895 and the father was married in February, 1906, to Miss Adla Liljegren, a daughter of S. J. and Ma- tilda (Bloomquist) Liljegren. The father was a Lutheran clergyman and died at Kiron, Iowa. The mother now maintains her residence on a farm in Lost Grove township. Mr. Lindquist by his second mar- riage is the father of one son, Irving M., who was born September 24, 1908.
Mr. Lindquist is affiliated with the republican party and has taken a laudable interest in matters of public importance. In 1900 he was elected treasurer of Webster county and served in this office for four years with ability, discharging his duties with circumspection and promptness and looking after the finances of his county in just such a manner as he would after his own interests. His record based upon absolute integrity is well remembered and highly appreciated and must be a source of gratification to him. He has held various local offices in Gowrie and as member of the city council has become known as a man who stands for progress and improvement, having in no incon-
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siderable way contributed to the up-building of his city and the wel- fare of its people. Mr. and Mrs. Lindquist are members of the Swed- ish Lutheran church. He is a man whose integrity in business af- fairs has never been questioned and one whose high ideals of character place him among the influential, desirable citizens of his city and county.
JOHN D. FORTNEY.
John D. Fortney, a successful and esteemed citizen of Otho, is well known in business circles as secretary, director and a stockholder of the Otho Mercantile Company and also as bookkeeper for the Kalo Brick & Tile Company. His birth occurred in Otho township, this county, on the 19th of December, 1876, his parents being David and Isabelle (Todd) Fortney, more extended mention of whom is made on another page of this work in connection with the sketch of George William Fortney, a brother of our subject.
John D. Fortney obtained his early education in the schools of Webster county and subsequently continued his studies in Ellsworth College at Iowa Falls, while later he entered Tobin College of Fort Dodge, Iowa. After leaving the latter institution, being well qualified for the work as he had been reared in the atmosphere of mercantile life, he went into the grain and live stock business in association with his father, who conducted a general store, also. When his father had sold out our subject became identified, in 1900, with the Great Western Elevator Company at Otho, remaining in charge of that business for five years. On the expiration of that period he resigned and took charge of a farmers' elevator at Moorland, which he man- aged until the Ist of February, 1908. He then accepted the position of bookkeeper with the Kalo Brick & Tile Company and in that ca- pacity has continued to the present time. He is also the secretary, a stockholder and a director of the Otho Mercantile Company, which concern owns a new and modern two-story brick building and car- ries a comprehensive stock of goods. The second floor of the struc- ture is used as an opera house. In association with his brother. George William, John D. Fortney owns an interest in a farm in Hum- boldt county.
On the 6th of March, 1901, Mr. Fortney was united in marriage to Miss Elma McIntire, a daughter of Elisha and Ann McIntire, natives
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of Illinois. To Mr. and Mrs. Fortney have been born two children, as follows : Madge Lucile, whose birth occurred on the 30th of March, 1903, and who died on the 6th of September, 1906; and Isabelle Maxine, whose natal day was March 16, 1911.
John D. Fortney gives his allegiance to the republican party and is now serving as trustee of Otho township, while formerly he acted as township clerk for many years. He belongs to the local organization of the Modern Woodmen of America. A lifelong resident of Web- ster county, he has been closely associated with its interests for a num- ber of years and during that time has become widely known through- out the community, his many excellent traits of character winning him a circle of friends which is almost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintances.
OLAF MARTIN OLESON.
Olaf Martin Oleson was born in Stod parish, Trondhjem county, Norway, June 29, 1849, his parents being Ole and Olava ( Brunstad) Five, who were natives of the same country. The father was a schoolteacher for a number of years and at the same time carried on farming. He was recognized as a public-spirited citizen and capably filled a number of public offices. . Both he and his wife passed away in 1881, he being then about ninety-two years of age. Their religious faith was that of the Lutheran church and to its teachings they were ever loyal. In the family were seven children, four sons and three daughters: Martha; Lorense ; Eilert ; Caroline ; Ingebrigt, who died in America ; Ole ; and Olaf. With the exception of the last named those still liv- ing are all residents of Norway.
(). M. Oleson was reared in the land of the midnight sun and there received a common-school education. His early experi- ences were those of the farm boy but in his youth he made his way to Christiania, the capital, where he secured employment with a florist and landscape gardener. Thinking that better op- portunities would be afforded in the new world, he came to the United States in 1870 and secured a position upon a farm near Fort Dodge, being thus employed for two years. At the end of that time lie became connected with the drug trade and has
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continuously engaged in that business to the present time. He started in a small way but has built up a fine business. He grad- uated from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, in 1870.
Selling good goods at the right price has been the principal feature in his success and as president of the Oleson Drug Company he is at the head of one of the important mercantile enterprises of the city. He is president of the Fort Dodge Telephone Company, of the Fort Dodge Light & Power Company, also of the Oleson Land Company, the Fort Dodge Hotel Company and the Iowa Trust & Live Stock Company.
Mr. Oleson has been married twice. He first wedded Lucy Deming, a daughter of John and Mariette (Belcher) Deming, who came from the state of New York and lived in Webster county for many years. Mrs. Oleson passed away in 1904. Mr. Oleson was again married to Miss Julia Haskell, a native of this city and a daughter of A. E. and Martha G. Haskell, who were born in Connecticut but became early settlers of Fort Dodge. Her father was connected with staging in the early days both in Iowa and on the Pacific coast. Mrs. Oleson is a member of the Congregational church, while Mr. Oleson still belongs to St. Olaf's Lutheran church, of which he is treasurer. In politics Mr. Oleson stands with the progressive element which is seeking the betterment of political conditions and endeavoring to thwart the use of the party for individual or corporation inter- ests instead of promoting the welfare of the great majority. He was elected state senator and he represented his district in the upper house of the general assembly in 1892 and 1894.
JULIUS C. FALLON.
One of the enterprising and progressive agriculturists of Douglas township is Julius C. Fallon, who owns a well improved farm on section 9 in the cultivation of which he is meeting with success. He is a native of Webster county, his birth having occurred in the town- ship where he now resides on the 17th of August, 1870. His father was John Fallon, a native of Ireland, who came to America with his parents when a child of two years. The family located at Moore's Village and there John Fallon was reared and educated and acquired his early agricultural training. In 1866 he came to Iowa and pur- chased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Douglas township, this
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county. He immediately began cultivating his farm, meeting with such success that he was later able to increase his holdings until at one time he held the title to four hundred and eighty acres. He was diligent and enterprising and the development of his property en- gaged his undivided attention until his death, which occurred on the 9th of December, 1896. The mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Mary Gannon, is a native of New York city. She is seventy-two years of age and continues to make her home on the farm, where she has resided since early womanhood.
Born and reared amid pioneer conditions, Julius C. Fallon passed his early life very much as did the other youths living in the rural sections of Iowa at that period. He attended the district school in the acquirement of an education, and during his spare hours assisted about the farm. At the age of twenty-two years he rented eighty acres of land from his father and began farming for himself. His training had been thorough and he was well qualified to begin his independent career, as is evidenced by the capable and successful manner in which he directed his undertakings. Six years later he purchased a part of the old homestead, on which he has wrought extensive improvements during the period of his ownership, making it one of the most valuable properties in the district. Subsequently he bought another eighty acres of the home place, but he sold this tract to his brother-in-law.' Since he never married Mr. Fallon em- ploys the services of a man and his wife, the former assisting about the farm while the latter does the housekeeping. He engages in both diversified farming and stock-raising and is meeting with suc- cess in both lines of activity, as he gives careful attention to details. He annually markets about fifty hogs, raises such cattle as are needed about the place and keeps twelve head of horses. His pro- gressiveness is evidenced by the general appearance and condi- tion of his property and stock, as well as by the many modern conveniences and appliances which have been installed about his farm. His equipment comprises every machine or implement deemed essential by the modern agriculturist, and he keeps 2 touring car for his convenience and pleasure. Mr. Fallon is dili- gent and enterprising and earnestly applies himself to anything he undertakes with the firm conviction that he is going to make a success of it, and this he invariably does. He takes great pride in his farm and is constantly making plans for its further im- provement and development, and each year shows progress in this direction. He likes his work and enjoys the life of a farmer, and
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while he is fully aware of its disadvantages, feels that there are compensations.
Despite the exactions of his business he has always devoted con- siderable time to local political affairs, supporting the democratic party. At the present time he is one of the county trustees, and is discharging his official duties in a manner highly satisfactory to his constituency and the community at large, He is a communicant of the Roman Catholic church. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Eagles, being a member of the lodge at Fort Dodge. Mr. Fallon is popular and has many friends, as he possesses the affable and genial manner generally characteristic of the Celt, while in both business and public affairs he manifests those qualities which universally com- mand respect.
P. T. FLYNN.
Varied and diversified business interests claim the attention of P. T. Flynn, one of Webster county's enterprising citizens, who for twelve years has been cashier of the Duncombe Savings Bank. His birth occurred in Pleasant Valley township, this county, in the month of August, 1870, his parents being Timothy and Emma (Burke) Flynn, natives of Ireland. The father came to the United States in 1849, first locating in Des Moines, and to Web- ster county in 1855. Later he took up a homestead in Cherokee county, industriously devoting himself to its further improvement until 1870. In the latter year he disposed of his interests there and came to Webster county, continuing his agricultural pur- suits in Pleasant Valley township until his death in 1876. The mother had passed away two years previously.
Left an orphan at the tender age of six years, P. T. Flynn was reared by his maternal grandmother, Mrs. Winnifred Burke, where he worked on the farm and labored in and around the mines, attending the district school at such intervals when his labor was not required at home. So diligently did he apply him- self to study, both at school and during the long winter evenings at home, that at the age of nineteen he was teaching school on a first-grade certificate. With the money earned as a country schoolteacher, he entered Highland Park College of Des Moines, in September, 1891, from which institution he graduated in 1894.
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After graduation, he again devoted himself to teaching and news- paper work, putting in some time as city editor of the Fort Dodge Chronicle in 1896. In 1897, he entered Drake University, Des Moines, spending a year in special work. In 1898 he went to North Dakota, where he received a state certificate and taught language, literature and higher mathematics in the graded schools.
In 1900 he accepted the position of cashier in the Bank of Dun- combe, now the Duncombe Savings Bank. This enterprise, which is incorporated for twenty-five thousand dollars, is one of the conservative and thriving banking institutions of Webster county. Peter Mallinger is president; B. J. Stack, vice president ; P. T. Flynn, cashier; and L. V. Miller and John Heffner, assistant cashiers. They are all reputable men, of recognized business ability and high standards of integrity, who enjoy the confidence of the community by reason of their upright principles. Mr. Flynn also engages in the real-estate business, in which he has met with a good measure of success, having acquired title to about one thousand two hundred acres of rich farming land around Dun- combe, besides valuable city property both in Duncombe and Fort Dodge. He is one of the shareholders in the Duncombe Cement Tile Company, and owns a one-third interest in the Duncombe Auto Company, which maintains garages both in Duncombe and Fort Dodge, Peter Mallinger and James Toohey being the other members of the firm.
In June, 1899, Mr. Flynn was united in marriage to Miss Agnes Latta, a daughter of Johnson and Elizabeth (O'Neil) Latta. To Mr. and Mrs. Flynn have been born the following children : Dorothy, who has entered her thirteenth year: Pauline, who is ten years of age; Carl, who has passed his eighth birthday ; May. who has celebrated the fifth anniversary of her birth ; and John and Kathleen, twins, who are two years of age.
Mr. and Mrs. Flynn are communicants of the Roman Catholic church, and fraternally he is affiliated with the Knights of Co- lumbus, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Yeo- men. Despite the exactions of his extensive private interests, Mr. Flynn finds time to fulfill his civic duties, giving his political support to the democratic party, and is now representing his ward in the town council. His business career has progressed in the orderly manner characteristic of the man of definite pur- pose, his carefully considered plans and capably concentrated
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powers having been directed toward a single achievement at a time. Both as a business man and citizen he has manifested those qualities which highly merit the respect and esteem he is accorded by his fellow citizens, many of whom are stanch friends of long years' standing.
CHARLES ARENT.
Charles Arent was numbered among the farmers of Webster county whose progressive and intelligent labors are forces in local agricultural development. He cultivated a fine farm of three hun- dred acres in Badger township and by energy, industry and efficiency made it a model enterprise of its kind. He is now living retired in Badger, where he has just completed a beautiful modern home. Mr. Arent was born in Norway, September 20, 1853, and is a son of Frederick and Able (Arent) Arent, natives of that country. The father farmed in Norway all his life and his death occurred there in March, 1860. Two years later his wife with her three sons and two daughters came to America, settling in La Salle county, Illinois. She died on March 24. 1884, in De Kalb county, Illinois, whither she had come with her family in 1868.
Charles Arent completed an education begun in the schools of Norway in Illinois. He came to America with his mother when he was eight years of age and remained in La Salle county until 1868. He had farmed independently for four years in Illinois and on coming to Iowa, in 1880, purchased one hundred and sixty acres in Badger township, which he developed and improved for a short time, selling it later in order to purchase eighty acres in the same section, which he improved along progressive lines. He constantly added to his property until at the time of his retirement he was the owner of three hundred acres, constituting a valuable and well equipped farm. This he was successful in operating until the spring of 1912, when he moved to Badger, where he is now living in his new residence. He is well known in the village and has many friends who honor him for his upright character and straightforward manners.
On September 17, 1892, Mr. Arent was united in marriage to Miss Maggie Danielson, a daughter of Ole and Mary (Nelson) Danielson,
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natives of Norway. They came to the United States in 1866, settling in La Salle county, Illinois, whence they later moved to Livingston county, that state. After a period of residence in that section they came to Webster county. Iowa, where the father purchased a tract of land which he has improved and. operated since that time.
Mr. Arent is actively interested in the growth and development of the village in which he lives and is a stockholder in various local enterprises, among them the Farmers Elevator Company and the Badger Telephone Company. Politically he affiliates with the Roose- velt progressive party, being a stanch admirer of Mr. Roosevelt and a believer in the principles for which he stands. He belongs to the Lutheran church. He has earned by diligent and useful labor the rest which he is now enjoying, having made his active life valuable in an individual and in a public way by keeping his business methods upright and honorable and by adhering to high standards of citizenship.
WILLIAM E. HAVILAND.
William E. Haviland, who is now living retired, has extensive property and financial interests in Webster county. He was born in Illinois, June 16, 1846, a son of John P. and Cynthia ( Pepper) Haviland, both of whom were natives of Dutchess county, New York. The father removed to Illinois at an early date and settled in Dupage county, thirty-five miles from Chicago. He purchased an eighty acre tract of land, which he cultivated until 1865. During that time he made many improvements and brought it to a high state of productivity, later disposing of it at a good price. He came to Webster county, Iowa, in 1865, and purchased one hundred and seventy-five acres which he immediately began to improve. Ilis death occurred on the 28th of February, 1880, and the mother passed away on the 2d of July, 1889.
William E. Haviland was a pupil in the common schools of Illinois until he laid aside his text books to assist his father in his agricultural pursuits on the home farm. He came to Iowa with his parents when he was about twenty years of age and remained with them until their deaths. William E. being an only child, the father, shortly before his death, deeded to him the home farm.
Mr. Haviland has been twice married. On the 14th of July, 1868, he was wedded to Miss Catherine E. McMellan, a daughter of Dr.
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McMellan of Elmira, New York. Dr. McMellan was practicing medi- cine in Elmira until his death, while his wife's death had occurred many years previous. To Mr. and Mrs. Haviland one child was born, Nora E., who is an osteopathic physician in Grand Junction, Colorado, and the wife of R. D. Moore, also an osteopath. Mrs. Haviland's death occurred February 16, 1889. On the 25th of December, 1891, Mr. Haviland was again married, this union being with Amelia A. Haviland, a daughter of J. B. and Saba (LaDue) Haviland, natives of New York state. The father came to Webster county in the early '50s, and entered government land which he im- proved and operated until his death, in 1899. The mother passed away in 1894.
Mr. Haviland gives his political support to the republican party, to which he has always been loyal. He has served the town efficiently as township clerk, township trustee and assessor, and is at present treasurer of the Cooper township school board. He takes an active interest in religious affairs and is an ardent worker in church work. He holds membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Although he is living practically retired at present, he still takes a deep interest in his farms. He also owns a farm near Huron, South Dakota, and one in Wisconsin. He is a stockholder in the Corn Belt Meat Producers .Association, a packing company of Fort Dodge, and also a director in the Farmers Mutual Insurance Association and vice president of the Commercial National Bank of Fort Dodge. Because of the variety of his interests he is well known throughout the county, and his straightforwardness and enterprising spirit have won him the respect of the entire community.
JOHN 1. RUTLEDGE.
Iowa's greatness and prosperity is in a large measure due to its agricultural resources and development. The men who have given their energy and strength to improving the soil are responsible for present prosperous conditions. Many of the state's most fertile tracts are located in Webster county and have been brought to a high state of productivity through the activities of men who have spent their entire careers in agricultural pursuits. Among these is John I. Rut- ledge, who owns four hundred and ninety-six acres of valuable land in Cooper township. His birth occurred in Canada, .August 11, 1853,
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his parents being Crozier and Isabelle ( Rayburn) Rutledge. The father is of Scotch-Irish descent and the mother of Canadian birth. Crozier Rutledge came to this country with his parents and located in Canada, where he acquired his education. As soon as he became old enough to start upon an independent career he engaged in the mercantile business at Charleston, Canada, and continued there until he reached the age of forty-three years, in which year he was acci- dentally killed while riding to Toronto, forty miles distant, to purchase goods. The mother passed away fifty years later.
John I. Rutledge was reared and educated in Canada. He remained at home with his mother until 1873, when he was twenty years of age. At that time he came to Illinois and took charge of a farm for three years before he returned to Canada for a year's visit. In the autumn of 1877 he came to Iowa and located at Fort Dodge, where he remained until he removed to Humboldt county and purchased one quarter section of land. For two years he was engaged in improving and cultivating this property, but at the end of that time rented it and went to O'Brien county, where for three years he had charge of a five thousand acre farm for Pallin Brothers. He then returned to Fort Dodge, where he was married, and moved to his farm in Hum- boldt county. A year later, however, he sold that farm and came to Fort Dodge and rented his father-in-law's farm. For twenty-two years he was engaged in cultivating this property and during that time brought it under high cultivation and proved himself an agri- culturist of unusual worth. His determination to succeed, his unre- mitting energy and persistency were the salient characteristics in bringing about his remarkable success. In 1907 he purchased four hundred and ninety-six acres of land in Cooper township, and is still engaged in operating this farm. He has improved the property to such an extent that at present he has one of the finest farms in the county, provided with all modern equipments. In addition to general farming he has engaged in dairying and stock-raising, specializing in the better grades of stock. He has at present eighty head of cattle and raises from one hundred to two hundred head of hogs per year. Ile keeps about thirty horses.
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