USA > Iowa > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 29
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HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY
Mr. Lundell was united in marriage to Miss Jessie R. Hakes on the 18th of March, 1903. She is a daughter of David Brainard and Maria A. (Cleveland) Hakes, the former a native of New York and the latter of Wisconsin. The father came to Hamilton county at an early day and was engaged in work at Hooks Point for some time. He later acquired an interest in a general store, which he conducted for several years. He then purchased an improved farm located east of Stratford, which he operated for a number of years and then re- moved to Dakota, where he was successfully engaged in the cattle business. He later returned to Hamilton county and reestablished his home on his farm located in Marion township, where he still lives.
Mr. Lundell is affiliated with the republican party and he and his wife are members of the Methodist church of Stratford. Mr. Lun- dell enjoys the confidence and esteem of all his fellow citizens and is a man who readily gives his influence to the advancement of any public measure which will improve the conditions of the people in his state and county.
ANDREW OWENSON.
Andrew Owenson cultivates two hundred acres of fine farm land on section 35, Ellsworth township, and owns fourteen acres in the same district. The care which he bestows upon the development and improvement of the farm together with his modern methods rank him among the representative agriculturists of Hamilton county. He is a native son of the section in which he now resides, having been born in Ellsworth township on October 29, 1864. His parents were Owen and Carrie Owenson, natives of Norway. His father was born in 1830 and came to America at an early date. He died in Ellsworth township, August 4, 1878. The mother of our subject was born in 1831 and died April 24, 1902. They became the parents of five children : Mary, who passed away April 5, 1881, when she was twenty-seven years of age; Gertrude, deceased; Andrew, of this review; Mrs. Carrie Boyd, who was born in Ellsworth township, January 8, 1867; and Peter, whose birth occurred June 12. 1869, and who is now residing in this section. The two elder children in this family were born in Norway, but the others are natives of Ells- worth township.
MR. AND MRS. OWEN OWENSON
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Andrew Owenson was educated in the public schools of his na- tive section and since the beginning of his active career has been identified with progressive farming. He now cultivates two hun- dred acres of fertile and productive land on section 35 and is one of the most widely known and highly respected citizens of his com- munity. He gives his allegiance to the republican party and is a devout adherent of the Norwegian Lutheran church of Randall. He has won success by steadily adhering to high business standards and by keeping pace with the modern advancement of agricultural meth- ods, while the firm qualities of honorable industry and unquestioned integrity which are elements in his character, rank him among Ham- ilton county's most deservedly honored sons.
PETER FROHLING.
Peter Frohling, who lives on a farm of three hundred and thirty- seven acres located on section 35, Cass township, which he has been cultivating for the past fourteen years, was born in Ost Friesland, Germany, on the 12th of February, 1865. He is the youngest of the five children born to George and Nettie Frohling, natives of Germany, where the father is still residing at the age of seventy-eight years. The mother, however, is deceased, her death having occurred in 1890, at the age of sixty-five years.
At the age of twenty years Peter Frohling took passage for the United States, with Monticello, Illinois, as his destination. He was familiar with agricultural pursuits and readily found employment on a farm, where he worked for three years. As he was thrifty and diligent he managed to save enough money during that time to begin farmning for himself, so he rented some land which he cultivated until 1892. In the latter year he removed to Indiana, continuing to farm as a renter in that state until 1898, when he came to Hamilton county. Upon his arrival here he rented the place where he now resides and he has ever since engaged in general farming and stock- raising, meeting with a fair measure of success. Since locating here he has bought a farm comprising eighty acres of land, on section 36, this township, which he is renting to his son-in-law, W. A. Walker. The place is well improved and his fields are tiled and fenced, partly hog tight, and under high cultivation. Mr. Frohling devotes much of his attention to stock-raising, making a specialty of Duroc Jer-
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sey hogs and Belgian horses, and he also buys and feeds cattle for the market. He is prospering in his undertakings, his persistency of purpose and honorable, straightforward methods in the conduct of his undertakings bringing him well merited success and the esteem and respect of his fellow citizens.
In 1889, Mr. Frohling was married to Miss Fannie Hayungs who was born in Germany on the 9th of July, 1865, and is a daughter of John and Hannah Hayungs, who came to America in 1902. Both parents are now deceased, the father's death occurring in February, 1909, and that of the mother on the IIth of April, 1912. They are buried in Graceland cemetery, Webster City. Mrs. Frohling, who is the second in order of birth in a family of six, had six children, as follows: John, who died at the age of seventeen years; Nettie, the wife of W. A. Walker of Cass township and the mother of one child; George, who is living at home; Henry, who died at the age of two years; and Henry and Hannah, who are also at home.
Mr. Frohling enjoys the full rights of citizenship, but he has never identified himself with any political body, giving his support to such men and measures as in his opinion are best adapted to serve the interests of the people. Before coming to the United States he served two years in the German army, and while he has never had occasion to regret transferring his allegiance to this country and is perfectly loyal to its institutions, he yet finds much to commend and admire in the land of his birth.
TIMOTHY C. O'CONNOR.
Timothy C. O'Connor, who owns and operates a farm of two hundred acres located on section 12, Independence township, was born in Henry, Marshall county, Illinois, and is a son of Michael and Elizabeth (M'Cauliff) O'Connor. The father was born in Ireland but when a youth of sixteen he emigrated to the United States, and for four years thereafter worked on a farm in the vicinity of Roches- ter, New York. He subsequently went to Rockford, Illinois, where he was married about 1860, and during the next three years was em- ployed in a foundry. At the expiration of that time he once more turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, and during the succeed- ing eight years farmed as a renter in the vicinity of Henry, Marshall county, Illinois. In the spring of 1871, he came to Iowa with his
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family and settled on forty acres of land in Independence township. He diligently cultivated his farm for twenty-one years, but in 1892 he sold it and invested the proceeds in the place owned by our sub- ject, which they operated jointly for eight years. Both parents are now deceased, the mother having passed away in 1884, and the father on the 29th of March, 1910. The family of Mr. and Mrs. O'Connor numbered eight, our subject being fifth in order of birth.
Timothy C. O'Connor was reared on his father's farm and edu- cated in the common schools. He passed the early years of his life in very much the same manner as other lads who are reared in rural districts, and after leaving school assisted with the work of the fields and care of the stock until his father bought the place, where Mr. O'Connor is now living. For eight years thereafter the father and son engaged in cooperative farming, but at the end of that time they sold their equipment and stock and the latter bought eighty acres of land near Kamrar, which he cultivated for five years. He subse- quently disposed of that place and bought the old homestead to which he returned in the spring of 1907. Here he engages in general farm- ing and the raising of stock, making a specialty of Percheron horses and Duroc Jersey hogs, and he also buys and feeds cattle for the mar- ket. His land is tiled and fenced, some of it hog tight and his fields are largely devoted to the raising of corn and oats, which are his chief crops. Mr. O'Connor takes a great deal of pride in keeping up his property and his farm is equipped with everything essential to its operation. In 1907 he erected a large barn, forty by fifty feet, and four years later he remodeled the residence, which was built in 1901. He holds the original deed from the government for his land, bearing the signature of Franklin Pierce.
In 1905 Mr. O'Connor was married to Miss Dorothy Waddell, a daughter of John and Margaret (Wright) Waddell. The parents were born and reared in Ireland and there they were also married, coming to the United States upon their wedding journey. They first located in Boston, where he was engaged in contracting and building until 1876. In the latter year they came to Iowa and for four years thereafter the father farmed as a renter, but at the end of that time he gave up agricultural pursuits and went to Eagle Grove and re- sumed contracting and building. The first white child born in the town was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Waddell, who were among the very early settlers there. He erected the first hotel, and the first re- ligious services were held in his carpenter shop. The remainder of his life, with the exception of seven years spent on a farm in South
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Dakota, was passed in Eagle Grove, where he passed away on the 14th of September, 1911. He is survived by the mother, who is now seventy-seven years of age and continues to make her home in Eagle Grove. Fourteen children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Waddell, Mrs. O'Connor being the thirteenth in order of birth. Mr. and Mrs. O'Connor have one child, Claude Waddell, born October 15, 1908.
Fraternally Mr. O'Connor is affiliated with the Benevolent Protec- tive Order of Elks, and his political support he accords the republican party. He and Mrs. O'Connor attend the Congregational church at Blairsburg, and contribute toward its maintenance.
LAEL M. AND CARL E. PETERSON.
Lael M. and Carl E. Peterson, owners and publishers of the Stratford Courier and also dealers in musical instruments, are num- bered among the enterprising, successful citizens of Stratford. Lael M. Peterson was born January 3, 1880, at Moline, Illinois, and Carl E. Peterson was born August 6, 1881, at Des Moines. They are the sons of Clement P. and Josephine C. (Lindstrom) Peterson, the for- mer a native of Sweden. The father at the age of seven years emi- grated to America with his parents, who located first at Chicago and later at Moline, Illinois, where the grandfather was engaged as super- intendent of the woodworking department of the John Deere Plow Works and continued to be identified with that company for thirty continuous years, after which time he took up his abode in Chicago, and died in the spring of 1910. The grandmother died in 1900. Clement Peterson, the father of our subject, was reared at home and received his elementary education in the public schools of Mo- line, Illinois. After completing his school days he engaged in work in a drug store and later bought a drug store, which he conducted un- til 1880. He then moved to Des Moines and there became connected with the drug business, in which occupation he continued until 1884. He then came to Stratford, Iowa, and in company with J. D. Math- ews established himself in the drug business under the firm name of Peterson & Mathews, and continued in that partnership until 1897. In that year he was appointed postmaster of Stratford, a position which he held until the time of his death, which occurred June 29, 1905, at the age of forty-eight years. The mother, now fifty-six years of age, lives in Boulder, Colorado.
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L. M. and C. E. Peterson were reared at home and received their early education in the schools of Stratford. Immediately following the close of their school years, on March 1, 1899, they purchased the Stratford Courier, a weekly paper, which they have since continued . to publish. In 1909 they added to their publishing business a musical business and in that department they handle the Hobart M. Cable piano, the Moline and Baldwin, making a specialty and leader in their business of the Hobart M. Cable instrument. The Peterson brothers own their own plant and building in which it is installed and each of them also owns his own residence.
L. M. Peterson was united in marriage August 8, 1910, to Miss Maude Tuel, a daughter of John and Alice (Van Wonner) Tuel, the father a native of Iowa, and the mother of Michigan. C. E. Peter- son was married on the 4th of July, 1904, to Miss Grace Whiteman, a daughter of William and Mary (Atkinson) Whiteman, the former a native of Illinois, and the latter of California. The brothers are stanch progressives in their political beliefs. C. E. Peterson was ap- pointed postmaster of Stratford in 1905, in which office he served until April, 1908. He has fraternal relations with the Modern Wood- men of America. L. M. Peterson is a member of the Masonic lodge and is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Rebekahs. The brothers are members of the Swedish Lutheran church of Stratford. They are business men whose integrity has never been questioned and they are numbered among the progress- ive and useful citizens of that part of the state.
PETER M. PHILLOPS.
One of the representative agriculturists of Scott township is Peter M. Phillops, who owns four hundred and forty acres of choice land located on section 33, which he devotes to diversified farming and stock-raising. His entire life has been passed in this immediate vi- cinity, his birth having occurred on the farm where he now resides on the 18th of January, 1869. His father, Canute Phillops, was born in Bergen, Norway, on September 12, 1834, and there passed the first sixteen years of his life. In 1850, the family emigrated to the United States, arriving in this country after a long and exceedingly rough passage, which occupied ten weeks and three days. They first settled in Dane county, Wisconsin, but later they removed to La Salle
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county, Illinois. The family consisted of two sons and two daugh- ters, Ann M., Helen, Canute and Peter. When the call came for troops during the early days of the Civil war, Peter and Canute en- listed as members of Company F, Thirty-sixth Illinois Volunteer In- fantry. They gave valiant service to the land of their adoption, Peter having given his life to the cause, his death occurring in the hospital at Murfreesboro in February, 1864. Canute participated in the bat- tles of Pea Ridge, Perryville and Stone River. At the latter place he was taken prisoner, but was subsequently paroled and sent to An- napolis, where he did provost duty until 1863. He rejoined his regi- ment just prior to the battle of Missionary Ridge and was also at Adairsville, where he was wounded in the thigh. The succeeding few weeks were spent in army hospitals at various points, and in Septent- ber, 1864, he was discharged and returned to La Salle county. Very soon thereafter he came to Hamilton county, where he acquired the land now owned by our subject, in Scott township, and devoted the remainder of his active life to the development of his farm. Here he was married on the 9th of July, 1865, to Mrs. Melinda Christian- son Larson, who was born in Norway on May 12, 1827, and passed away in Scott township on the 10th of July, 1896. The maternal grandparents passed their entire lives in the Norseland. To Mr. and Mrs. Phillops was born, beside our subject, one daughter, Petra Chris- tina, who died in infancy. The father, who was one of the highly es- teemed pioneer settlers of Hamilton county, passed away on his farm on the 2d of April, 1906. Among the valued possessions of the Phil- lops family are two letters written by the brothers, Canute and Peter, while at the front during the Civil war. The one from the father is from Camp Hoffman and bears the date of April 2, 1862, while the other is a joint letter from the two brothers, and was written on No- vember II, of the same year.
The experiences which came to Peter M. Phillops during his minority were very similar to those which fell to the lot of other lads reared in this section during the pioneer period. He obtained his education in the common schools of the community, his advantages being neither better nor worse than those of the average youth of that time. He early began rendering his father such assistance about the fields and barns as his age and strength permitted, thus qualifying himself for the duties of the vocation he is now following. As the years passed he assumed more and more of the responsibility about the farm, of which he had the entire management prior to succeeding to the title of the property. His fields are operated in accordance
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with the advanced methods of agriculture and in connection with gen- eral farming he is engaged in the breeding and raising of high-grade stock. He is a man of progressive ideas and enterprising methods, as is evidenced by his well improved place, which is provided with the most up-to-date machinery, implements, comforts and conveniences. Naturally he takes great pride in keeping up his farm, which is en- deared to him by associations of a life-time and was the birthplace of his children.
On the 6th of February, 1890, Mr. Phillops was married to Miss Anna Maria Peterson, whose birth occurred on a farm a mile north of Story City, Story county, Iowa, on the 14th of June, 1871. There she was likewise reared to womanhood and educated, her entire life having been passed in this section of Iowa. She is a daughter of Eric J. and Julia (Johnson) Peterson, the father having been born in Nor- way on the IIth of June, and the mother in Dane county, Wisconsin. The father, who is a veteran of the Civil war, was for many years actively engaged in farming in Story county, but he has now retired and he and the mother are spending their latter years in a comfortable residence in Story City. Their children, twelve in number, are as fol- lows: Mrs. Caroline Nordskog, who was born on the 6th of July, 1867, a resident of Des Moines ; Mrs. Phillops; Michael P., whose birth occurred on November 27, 1873, of Wyoming; Eric D., whose natal day was the 28th of November, 1875, living on the old homestead a mile north of Story City; Mrs. Julia Wick, who was born on January 23. 1878, a resident of Roland, Iowa; Mrs. Johanna Holland, who was born on the 6th of April, 1880, of Scott township; Peter J., whose birth occurred on the 2d of December, 1882, residing in Wyoming ; Mrs. Sarah Holland, who was born July 2, 1884, of Ellsworth town- ship; Margaret, whose natal day was the 4th of April, 1887, living on the old homestead; Gerhart R., who was born on June 26, 1891, also on the home farm; Peter J., who died at the age of eleven years ; and one, who died in infancy. The parents located in Story county in 1858, and there their children were all born and reared.
The family of Mr. and Mrs. Phillops numbers seven, all of whom have been born on the old Phillops homestead. In order of birth they are as follows : Mrs. Julia Melinda Vangness, who was born on the 27th of April, 1891, and is now a resident of Story county ; Clarence J., whose birth occurred January 6, 1895; Jennie Christina, whose na- tal day was the 5th of November, 1896; Myrtle Marie, who was born February 20, 1899; Harvey Davis, whose birth occurred February II, 1902 ; Joseph El Roy, who was born on the 5th of March, 1907; and
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Mildred Ruth, born March 25, 1911. All but the first named are liv- ing at home. Mr. and Mrs. Phillops also have one grandchild, Obert Melbourne Vangness, who was born on the 3d of March, 1912.
The family are devout members of the Norwegian church. Fo- litically Mr. Phillops is a republican and has served creditably both as constable and school director. He is public-spirited in matters of citizenship and is ready and willing to support every worthy project. As a business man he is honorable and upright, conducting his trans- actions in an honest and straightforward manner, and is held in high esteem throughout the community, as was also his father, who is well remembered by many of the older residents and is spoken of in terms of the highest respect.
O. N. SEXY.
One of the representative citizens of Ellsworth is O. N. Sexy, who was formerly identified with the agricultural development of Lincoln township, but eighteen years ago withdrew from the active work of the farm and removed to town, and here he has ever since made his home. He is one of the public-spirited, enterprising men of the community and served with efficiency as mayor of the town, while for the past nine years he has been a member of the board of trus- tees of Lincoln township.
He was born in Norway, in June, 1852, and is a son of M. M. and Emily (Ophdahl) Sexy, who were born, reared and married in Nor- way, where the mother passed away in December, 1859. The father, who always engaged in farming in the old country, emigrated to America with his family in 1868, locating in Lee county, Illinois. There he worked out by the month until 1875, when he came to Story county, Iowa, and five years later he took up his residence with his children in Hamilton county, continuing to make this his home until he died in December, 1897.
O. N. Sexy was a youth of fifteen years when he emigrated to the United States with his father. He completed his education in the com- mon schools of this country, and then worked out by the month as a farm hand. He was ambitious and enterprising and subsequently ac- quired sufficient money to begin farming for himself, so he rented some land in Illinois, which he cultivated for two years. In 1875 he came to Story county, Iowa, where he continued to farm as a renter for a
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O. N. SEXY AND FAMILY
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few years. At the expiration of that period, in 1879, he bought eighty acres of land in Lincoln township, Hamilton county, and assidu- ously applied himself to its further improvement and cultivation. His efforts in this direction were gratifyingly rewarded and at various periods he increased his holdings until he at one time held the title to three hundred and sixty acres of land. He engaged in general farm- ing and stock-raising until 1894, when he withdrew from agricultural pursuits and removed to Ellsworth, where he owns a very pleasant and attractive residence property.
In August, 1877, Mr. Sexy was married to Miss Julia Reisetter, a daughter of Hogen and Maria (Sampson) Reisetter, natives of Nor- way. The parents emigrated to America in their early life, locating in Lee county, Illinois, where Mrs. Sexy was born on the 23d of De- cember, 1855.
Mr. and Mrs. Sexy are members of the Lutheran church. Frater- nally he is affiliated with the Masons, being a member of the Shrine, and he also belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America. In poli- tics he is a republican and takes an active interest in all municipal af- fairs, and has served both as a member of the council and mayor. Mr. Sexy is a man of many estimable qualities, and his record should be an incentive to every ambitious, enterprising youth, as it clearly manifests that perseverance and diligence are more essential factors in the acquirement of success than favorable circumstances. He started out in life with no capital save an inexhaustible supply of energy and unlimited faith in his own powers to achieve his ambition, and has attained a position that fully entitles him to the esteem and respect he is accorded by his fellow townsmen.
OLUF MARTIN CHRISTIAN BRANJORD.
Diversified farming and stock-raising successfully engage the en- ergies of Oluf Martin Christian Branjord, who is cultivating two hundred acres of the old Branjord homestead located on section 18 of Scott township and known as "Elm Lawn Farm." His birth oc- curred on the place where he now resides on the 30th of April, 1883, his parents being Ole O. and Helene Christina (Rahto) Branjord. They are both natives of Norway and there they were likewise reared and married. After the birth of their second child they emigrated Vol. II-20
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to the United States, first settling in Hardin county, where were born their next two children. In 1871, they became residents of Scott township, and here the father successfully engaged in farming for many years. He has now retired and he and the mother are spending their declining years in a comfortable residence in Ellsworth. To this worthy couple were born eleven children, of whom our subject is the youngest. The other members of the family are as follows : Olena Christina, Mary Antoinette and Martin, all of whom are de- ceased; Berent M., an attorney in Spokane, Washington; Olena and Mary, both deceased; Nettie, the wife of John H. Sparboe, whose biography appears in this work; and Christina, Oluf and Nettie de- ceased. The younger members of the family were born on the old homestead in this township, where they were all reared.
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