USA > Iowa > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 18
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Mr. Wehrheim is progressive in his political beliefs and has always taken an active interest in the affairs of his community. He has served as township trustee and school director for ten years and has done able and competent work in both capacities. He has also served as road supervisor. In community affairs affecting the material, political or moral progress of the section he has always been prominent and is recognized today as one of the loyal and public-spirited citizens of Hamilton county.
M. J. MATTICE.
M. J. Mattice, for ten years a practitioner at the Webster City bar, during which period he has made continuous progress, was born here February 18, 1874, a son of John W. and Emmaretta (Van Bramer) Mattice. The father arrived in Hamilton county when this was a pioneer district in which the work of development and improvement had scarcely been begun. With the business interests of the county he became closely and prominently identified. He became a stock and grain buyer and his operations in that line were quite extensive, and also engaged in banking and subsequently served as president of the Farmers National Bank. He died in California
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in 1888, at the age of forty-two years. He is survived by his widow, who is a resident of Los Angeles, California.
M. J. Mattice mastered the elementary branches of learning in the public schools of Webster City, and in private schools in Cali- fornia, to which state he removed when thirteen years of age. He subsequently entered for professional training Drake University at Des Moines and was graduated therefrom with the class of 1902, the degree of LL. B. being conferred upon him. His training was thor- ough and established him so well in his profession that he secured immediate admission to the bar upon examination before the su- preme court. He then returned to Webster City, where he has since engaged in practice.
In September, 1906, Mr. Mattice was married to Miss Blanchie Russell, a daughter of D. D. Russell, of Reedsburg, Wisconsin, and they reside at No. 925 Water street.
ANDREW JACKSON FRAKES.
Although he is now residing in Wright county, Andrew Jackson Frakes was for many years actively identified with the agricultural development of Hamilton county, which was his home during his youth and early manhood. He was born in Logan county, Illinois, May 7, 1840, but at the age of thirteen years he accompanied his par- ents on their removal to Iowa. They located in Hamilton county, where the father entered a half section of government land which he cultivated during the remainder of his active life.
The education of Andrew Jackson Frakes was begun in the schools of his native state and completed in those of Hamilton county. At the age of twenty-two years he enlisted in Company K, Thirty-sec- ond Iowa Volunteer Infantry and remained in the service for three years. He was taken prisoner at the battle of Pleasant Hill, April 9. 1864, but his parole was effected two months later and he was ex- changed February, 1865. Shortly thereafter he was seriously wounded in the left leg and was sent to the Marine hospital where he was re- tained for three months. The wound sustained was so serious as to cripple him practically for life and in consequence he has been a suf- ferer therefrom to this day. At the expiration of the three months in the hospital he was given a three-months furlough and returned home, and while here he bought some land in Hamilton county. He
A. J. FRAKES AND FAMILY
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was mustered out on August 23, 1865, and upon his return home ini- mediately began cultivating and improving his farm, upon which he located after his marriage. Three years later he sold this place and bought another farm in the county, which he cultivated for ten years. At the end of that time he likewise disposed of it and removed across the boundary line into Wright county, and bought a half section of land. Mr. Frakes cultivated the latter place until 1898, when he with- drew from active work and removed to Woolstock, where he bought a residence and has ever since lived retired.
Soon after returning from the war Mr. Frakes married Miss Mary Calkins, of Hamilton county, and they were the parents of twelve children, seven of whom are living and five married. In order of birth they are as follows: Anna M., who became the wife of A. Baine; Hattie E., who married F. A. Doolittle; William W .; Andrew J., Jr .; Fannie, who is the wife of James Pierce; and Charles A. and Walter C.
Mr. and Mrs. Frakes are members of the Baptist church at Wool- stock, and fraternally he is affiliated with the Webster City Post of the Grand Army of the Republic. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party. Both Mr. and Mrs. Frakes enjoy a wide and favorable acquaintance among the citizens of Hamilton county, where they resided for many years and have a large circle of stanch friends.
CHARLES F. HAMMER.
Charles F. Hammer is numbered among the representative and public-spirited citizens of Webster City, Iowa, where he is now living retired after an active and honorable life spent in agricultural pursuits and in mercantile enterprises. He owes his success to his personal ability and energy. He started in life as a poor boy and has been guided in the expansion and development of his career by many out- side influences. At seventy-eight years of age he has laid down the implements of his labor and is living among his friends in a happy and dignified old age. He is a native of Germany and his birth occurred in the province of Wurtemberg, in 1834. His parents, Fred and Christina (Meyer) Hammer, came to the United States in 1854 and settled in Houston county, Minnesota, where the father spent his youthful and active life as an agriculturist.
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Mr. Hammer received an efficient education in the public schools of his native county and remained in Germany until he was twenty years of age. He learned the details of farming and of the general merchandise business before he came to America and had already de- termined upon developing his career along one of these lines before he settled in Minnesota. He remained in the latter state until 1871 when he went to Gallatin, Missouri, where he established an independ- ent dry goods and clothing business. His commercial career was distinguished by honorable, sagacious and high-minded methods and the ten years which he spent in Gallatin were rewarded by financial success and by the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens. When he came to Webster City in 1881 he still,continued his identification with the dry-goods business and became associated with his father-in- law in a large mercantile enterprise under the name of Hammer & Altmeyer. The copartnership was continued until 1899 and the energies and activities of Mr. Hammer resulted in the upbuilding of a flourishing and progressive enterprise. He continued his con- nection with the dry-goods business until 1899, when the stock of the concern was sold and Mr. Hammer retired from active life. He had always been keenly interested in the agricultural develop- ment of the state of Iowa and was actuated by a firm faith in its future prosperity along this line. With the judicious discrimina- tion which always distinguished his investments Mr. Hammer in 1895 bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Blairsburg township, six miles from the town seat. He paid for his property thirty-one dollars per acre and held it until 1910. During this time he received a large income from the rent of his land and eventually sold it for one hundred and twenty-five dollars per acre. He always regarded this as an evidence of the rapid rise of land values in Iowa and as a prophecy of the future prosperity of the state.
Mr. Hammer has been thrice married. In 1867 he wedded Miss Mary Altmeyer, whose death occurred in 1872. In the following year Mr. Hammer was united in marriage to his first wife's sister, Miss Rachel Altmeyer and their married life continued until her death in 1903. In 1904 occurred Mr. Hammer's third marriage. He wedded Mrs. Emma Hyatt, the widow of Judge Hyatt, a prominent politician and lawyer of Webster City, by whom she had one son, who is now residing in California. Mrs. Hammer gives her alle- giance to the Christian Science church and is a practitioner in that or- ganization. Mr. Hammer keeps his religious views independent and liberal and acknowledges the right of every man to think for himself.
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His life was representative of the conservative German idea of un- wavering and conscientious activity. With him retirement has not meant a mere quiescent waiting for the final summons. It is rather a pause after the heat of a struggle, a rest after a well lived life and a leisure for enjoying the advantages of intercourse with his many friends.
PETER TODNEM.
Farming interests in Hamilton county, Iowa, owe much to the life and activities of Peter Todnem, who, during the course of his life in this section, was one of the foremost factors in its agricultural development. His death, which occurred upon his farm in Liberty township, Hamilton county, in 1892, was the occasion of deep and widespread regret, and brought a distinct loss to the community in which he lived. He was born in Norway in 1851. His father, Olson Todnem, was also a native of that country and came to Amer- ica at an early date. He followed farming in Liberty township and died in this section. His wife was in her maidenhood Miss Carrie Skilbred, also a native of Norway. She is still residing in Liberty townshp at the age of eighty years. Seven children were born to their union, only one of whom still survives, namely, Mrs. Olena Holt, of Liberty township.
Peter Todnem came to America in 1873 and first located in Illi- nois where he was prosperous as a general farmer for seven years. His residence in Hamilton county dates from 1880, in which year he settled in this section and rented a tract of land which he improved and developed. He soon had his acres under cultivation, and increas- ing harvests every year rewarded his energy and enterprise. He saved his money, and by thrift and industry secured a sufficient sum to purchase a tract of eighty acres in Liberty township upon which he moved. Until the time of his death he never abandoned per- sonal activity in the development and expansion of this enterprise. He planted his soil in the most suitable grains, fenced his fields and constantly improved and developed his land along modern agricultural lines. After Mr. Todnem's death the family acquired by purchase eighty additional acres, making one hundred and sixty now devoted to general agriculture.
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In 1875 Mr. Todnem was united in marriage to Miss Inger M. Hofland, who was born in Norway and is at present residing on the old home farm in Liberty township. Her parents were born in Nor- way and died in that country. Of the ten children born to their union three are still living: Mrs. Hannah Knutson, who resides in Norway; Mrs. Mary Todnem, of Canada; and Mrs. Todnem, the widow of our subject. To Mr. and Mrs. Todnem were born nine children, four of whom died in infancy. Those living are: Ole, a resident of Minnesota; Benjamin, who is living at home; Carl C., who also resides upon the home farm; Albert, of Minnesota; and Mrs. Martha Olson, a resident of Williams, Iowa.
In his political views Mr. Todnem was a consistent republican, and although he never sought public office was always intelligently inter- ested in local affairs and active in promoting the welfare and progress of his section. His widow holds membership in the Norwegian Luth- eran church of Rose Grove township. The usefulness and value of the life of Peter Todnem is readily discernible. He was a man of in- telligent public spirit and comprehensive grasp of the modern trend of agricultural conditions, and his activities as a farmer, centralized and directed by business discrimination, were a controlling factor in the growth of his section.
HENRY R. DODGE.
Henry R. Dodge has gained success as a business man and by reason of the honorable and upright policy which he has always maintained in his identification with the partnership of Dodge & Baker, marble and granite workers, has attained a reputation in Webster City as a representative factor in its industrial development. He was born in New Boston, New Hampshire, in 1846, and is a son of Israel and Priscilla (Andrews) Dodge. His father's family were early settlers in Massachusetts, representatives of the line having been prominent in that state since 1629. The first American of the name, Solomon Dodge, the great-grandfather of our subject, was a first lieutenant of a Massachusetts regiment during the Revolutionary war and he it was who founded the family in New Hampshire. On the maternal side Mr. Dodge comes of early Massachusetts stock. His maternal grandfather was a captain of an American privateer dur- ing the Revolution and afterward maintained his residence in Ver-
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mont. The Dodge family was founded in Webster City, on October 2, 1869, by the parents of the subject of this review. His father was extensively engaged in agriculture in Hamilton county for a number of years and died in that section in 1908 in the eighty-eighth year of his age. He had long survived his wife who passed away in 1882 at the age of sixty-two.
Henry R. Dodge received his early education in the public schools of New Hampshire and later received an academic course in that state. Even before his removal to Webster City he started in active life for himself as an agriculturist in his native state. When his parents removed to Hamilton county Mr. Dodge accompanied them and taught school near Webster City until 1880. He met with a gratifying measure of success in this line of activity but eventually abandoned it to form a partnership with J. A. Viquesney in the granite and marble monument business. This association existed for one year and in 1882 the partnership was dissolved. In the same year Mr. Dodge, in conjunction with Mr. G. W. Baker, established his present enterprise under the name of Dodge & Baker, and the as- sociation in the monument business is today the oldest copartnership in Hamilton county. They have kept exclusively to their original line and have always specified in high-grade monuments and granite work.
In 1875 Mr. Dodge was united in marriage to Miss Galatea Jen- kinson, a daughter of Jesse and Mary (Funk) Jenkinson of Phila- delphia, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Dodge resided in the latter state until her mother's death and was brought when a child of six years to make her home with her aunt, Mrs. Margaret (Funk) Entriken, who established her residence in Webster City in 1872. Mrs. Dodge's father died two years later in 1874. To our subject and his wife have been born eight children: Jessie, who became the wife of Mr. C. O. Barr of Webster City; Warren B., who married Miss Mabelle Joy, and who makes his home in Webster City; Bayard, born in 1888, who resides in the same place; John F., whose birth occurred in 1894; Almon V., born in 1886, and who passed away in 1889; Acis J., born in 1876, and who died in 1882; Earl E., who was born in 1883, and whose death occurred in 1884; and Emma, who was born in 1892 and died in 1910. The family reside at No. 717 Walnut street, Webster City.
Fraternally Mr. Dodge is active in the Order of Odd Fellows, holding membership in Elmo Lodge, No. 62, of which he is past
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grand, and a member of Ridgeley Encampment, No. 9, of the same organization. His success has been won by indefatigable and un- wavering promotion of worthy principles in his life and has been attained at the expense of hard work and industry. He is a business man of marked ability and shrewd discrimination combined with a high standard of civic conscientiousness. Mr. Dodge is representa- tive of the spirit of industry which upbuilds our American municipal life, spreads our commerce and makes us great among commercial nations.
THOMAS E. PEDERSON.
Thomas E. Pederson, who in partnership with his brother, Peter, is conducting a modern blacksmithing enterprise in Randall, is repre- sentative in all his activities of high business standards and excel- lent qualities of citizenship. In achieving the prosperity which has come to him he has been aided by a natural mechanical ability, by long personal experience and by his unusual energy and determina- tion. He was born in the section where he now lives on January 2, 1889, a son of Thomas G. and Ellen (Moe) Pederson, natives of Norway. His father was born July 8, 1851, and came to America in 1881, landing in this country July 2d of that year. He journeyed westward, staying for a short time in Illinois, where he followed the carpentry trade although he had been a blacksmith in his native country. In 1887 the family moved to Randall where the father pur- chased a blacksmith shop which he continued to operate until 1906 when he sold the business to his eldest son, Peter. He and his wife were the parents of the following children: Peter G., who was born in La Salle county, Illinois, October 15, 1881, and who is associated with the subject of this sketch in the general blacksmithing business in Randall; Anna, whose birth occurred March 1, 1883, and who is residing in Randall; Julia, who was born September 19, 1884, and who makes her home in the same section; John, whose natal day was August 26, 1885, and who makes his home in Randall . Thomas E., the subject of this sketch; Henry, who was born May 7, 1896, and who died June 26, 1896; and Alvina, whose birth oc- curred June 8, 1900, and who also makes her home in Randall. The three youngest children were born in Randall and the older ones in La Salle county, Illinois.
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Thomas E. Pederson was reared at home and attended the Ran- dall public schools. When he was twenty years of age his brother took him into partnership in the conduct of the rapidly expanding blacksmithing business which his father had founded and since that time the two brothers have worked harmoniously and have achieved distinct and substantial success. They do general blacksmithing, woodworking and horseshoeing. Both are natural mechanics and have by industry and intelligent activity made their business grow into one of the most important enterprises of its kind in this section of the state.
Mr. Pederson gives his allegiance to the republican party but has never been active as an office seeker. He is a devout adherent of the Norwegian church. He makes his home with his parents who own one of the most pleasant and comfortable dwellings in Randall. He has many friends in this city where he has spent his entire life. He is always active in his support of movements for. the general growth and advancement and is intelligently interested in the af- fairs of his native city. Honorable, broad, liberal-minded, and never mercenary, he has always made financial attainment secondary to the methods by which it is achieved, and thus in gaining wealth and ยท prosperity for himself he has influenced the general welfare only for good.
C. A. RODINE.
C. A. Rodine is the junior member of the prosperous mercantile company operating under the firm name of Peterson, Rodine & Co., located in Stratford, Iowa. He was born July 22, 1881, and is a son of C. O. and Augusta (Swanson) Rodine, both of whom were natives of Sweden. The father emigrated to America with his parents who located first at Des Moines. He reached the shores of the new world when he was a boy of fourteen years and shortly after his father established his family at Des Moines, he went to Boone and there took up work in the hardware store owned and oper- ated by Crary Brothers, remaining in the employ of that firm until 1881. In that year he came to Stratford, Iowa, and erected a build- ing and engaged in the hardware business in partnership with Crary Brothers. He continued in that business until 1886, after which he purchased a farm near Stratford and upon that property he moved
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and was engaged in the cultivation of his land until 1889, when he rented the place and returned to Stratford. He then, in company with O. F. Swanson, opened a general mercantile store, with which he was identified until 1898, when he sold out and lived a retired life until the time of his death, which occurred January 13, 1900, at the age of forty-six years. The mother is still living at the age of fifty-two.
C. A. Rodine was reared at home and received his early education in Stratford. As a young man he was employed in a general mer- cantile store until 1901. He then rented of his mother a farm lo- cated in Webster county and was there engaged in general farming for five years, after which time he returned to Stratford and purchased an interest in the mercantile firm of Swanson, Peterson & Company. In January, 1911, the name of the firm was changed to Peterson, Ro- dine & Company, since which time Mr. Rodine has continued to give his entire attention to the interest of the business. In addition to his mercantile interests he is also the owner of the fine residence in which he lives in Stratford.
Mr. Rodine was united in marriage to Miss Mary L. Angstrom on the 5th of September, 1900. She is a daughter of Olaf and Ella Angstrom, both of whom are natives of Sweden. To Mr. and Mrs. Rodine four children have been born: Zola, Caro, Maurice and Clarence A., aged respectively eleven, nine, seven and four years. Mr. Rodine belongs to the republican party and has fraternal relations with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Wood- men of America. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Stratford. Mr. Rodine by public opinion is placed among the enterprising and successful business men of Strat- ford and is in every way entitled to be known as a desirable and use- ful member of the community in which he lives.
NICHOLAS F. CHRISTENSON.
Nicholas F. Christenson is a prominent feed and grain merchant in Webster City and is influenced in his business life by sound princi- ples of integrity and by intelligent industry, which qualities have domi- nated his career from its beginning and have brought it to its pres- ent successful issue. His offices are maintained at No. 539-541 Sec- ond street and his operations include dealings in flour, feed, seeds, hay,
N. F. CHRISTENSON AND FAMILY
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poultry remedies and many other kindred commodities. Mr. Chris- tenson is a native of Norway in which country his birth occurred on August 10, 1862. His parents, Nicholas N. and Elizabeth ( Peterson) Christenson, left their native country and came with four children to the United States in 1869. They settled in Webster City, in June of the same year, where the father followed the trade of tailor and was also active as a gardener until December 31, 1882. On this date his death occurred, when he was sixty-four years of age. Two years later, in February, 1884, his wife passed away when she was fifty- eight years of age. They were the parents of seven children : Adolph, who died in 1882; Nicholas, the subject of this review; Sigwal, who is a resident of Webster City; Dena, who is married and lives in Emmett county, Iowa; Lena, who is a trained nurse in Minneapolis ; Anna, who married and removed to Wright county, Iowa; and Olaf, who is still a resident of Webster City. The four oldest children of this family are natives of Norway, while the three youngest were born in Webster City.
Nicholas F. Christenson was seven years old when his parents came to America. He received a limited education in the public schools of Webster City but was forced by the necessity of earning his livelihood to lay aside his books at the age of eleven years. At that early period in his life he started on his active career, finding em- ployment in the nursery business of G. D. Sutton, of Webster City, under whom he worked for nine months, receiving for his services seven dollars per month. He then became a farm hand, working by the month on neighboring farms and continued in this line until 1882. He was economical in an intelligent way and was in that year en- abled to rent the Kendall Young farm in Hamilton county which he improved and developed for four years. In 1886 he entered the em- ploy of his father-in-law, Thomas Pringle, but this association lasted only four months. At the end of that time Mr. Christenson rented a part of the H. E. Schroeder farm and there carried on agricultural pursuits for two years. From 1888 to 1890 he was active in the cul- tivation of the Robert Foster farm which he had rented. Although his success was gratifying in all of these activities and his harvests abundant he made various removals, always farming upon land which he rented. In 1890 he moved to Wright county, Iowa, on the M. A. Michelson farm, four miles east of Woolstock and here he remained for four years before he moved back to Hamilton county. In 1892, however, while living on the Michelson farm he bought eighty acres of land known as the Tatum farm, one mile northwest of Woolstock,
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