USA > Iowa > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 30
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Practically the entire life of Oluf M. C. Branjord has been passed amid the scenes with which he is familiar. At the usual age he be- came a student in the district schools, completing his education with a business course pursued in the Capital City Commercial College at Des Moines in 1903. Having been reared on a farm, his energies were early directed along agricultural lines and upon his return home, he leased two hundred acres of the old homestead, and has ever since been engaged in its cultivation. In connection with diversified farm- ing he is raising full-blooded Shorthorn cattle and Chester White hogs, and is meeting with a good measure of success. He is a man of progressive ideas and energetic methods and in the development of his interests is winning the prosperity which invariably accompanies intelligently applied effort.
In April, 1905, Mr. Branjord was united in marriage to Miss Anna Christena Charlson, who was born in Scott township, Hamilton county, on the 17th of May, 1882, and was there reared to woman- hood. She is a daughter of Ole I. and Sarah (Knutson) Charlson, natives of Norway, and pioneer settlers of Scott township, where for many years the father engaged in farming. They subsequently removed to Story City, where the father lived in retirement until his death on August 15, 1911. The mother is still living and con- tinues to make her home in Story City. The Charlson family num- bered eight, Mrs. Branjord being the sixth in order of birth. The others are as follows: Edward, a resident of Canada; Chris, who is living in Minneapolis; Annis, whose home is in Minnesota; Mrs. Henrietta Knutson, who resides in the vicinity of Jewell, Iowa; Oscar, who is living on the home farm in Scott township; Mrs. M. G. Ol- son, of Randall; and Henry, who is deceased. They were all born
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and reared on the home farm in Scott township. To Mr. and Mrs. Branjord have been born two daughters and two sons, as follows: Olive Amanda, whose birth occurred March 15, 1906; Myrtle Leona, whose natal day was the 7th of February, 1908; Donald Lawrence, who was born on the 15th of December, 1910; and Vernon Marion, whose birth occurred on the 19th of August, 1912.
Mr. and Mrs. Branjord are members of the United Lutheran church and are rearing their family in that faith. In politics he is independent, giving his support to such men and measures as he deems best qualified to subserve the highest interests of the people, and is now serving on the local school board. Mr. Branjord is a young man of many estimable qualities and enjoys the esteem and respect of his neighbors and fellow townsmen, many of whom have known him from childhood and regard him as a worthy representa- tive of an honored pioneer family.
JOHN E. PETERSON.
A man who makes his way alone in a foreign land from early youth, and through his individual efforts attains a position that com- mands the respect of his fellow townsmen, is deserving of high com- mendation, as it not only bespeaks the possession of unusual powers but the persistency, energy and determination of purpose, which never recognize defeat. Of such as these is John E. Peterson, who is en- gaged in the retail drug business in Ellsworth, and is recognized as one of the representative business men in local commercial circles.
His birth occurred in Norway, on the 14th of February, 1873. The parents were born in the Norseland, where the mother still re- sides, but the father has passed away. When a child of twelve years, John E. Peterson left the parental roof and came to America in search of his fortune. He made the long, tiresome journey alone, coming di- rect to Ellsworth. Here he worked out by the week as a farmer's assistant and was accorded the privilege of attending school during the winter months. He was ambitious and enterprising, and deter- mined to make a name and a place for himself among the respected citizens of his community. Every moment of his leisure time was spent to good advantage in improving his education, while he saved his money with equal care, thus acquiring the means to continue his studies. He early resolved to become a druggist, and with this pur-
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pose in view, subsequently went to Highland Park College, Des Moines, Iowa, where he took a course in pharmacy. He satisfactorily passed the state examination and was awarded his license in 1904, following which he returned to Ellsworth and found employment in the store of C. D. Knapp & Company. In 1906 he bought out this firm and engaged in business for himself. He has been very success- ful, as he has manifested in the development of his business the same unabating energy, perseverance and unswerving purpose that char- acterized him in boyhood. He carries only drugs of first class qual- ity, and also handles toilet articles and such sundries as are usually found in establishments of this kind. Mr. Peterson owns his resi- dence in Ellsworth and he is also a stockholder in the Randall Lum- ber Company.
In 1898 he celebrated his marriage to Miss Laura Igon, a daugh- ter of M. G. Igon, formerly of this county, but now of Colorado. Mrs. Peterson is the second child in a family of five and was born on February 29, 1882. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Peterson : one, who died in infancy ; Ruth E .; and Mildred P.
Mr. Peterson gives his political allegiance to the republican party. He is public-spirited and takes an active interest in all local affairs and served for six years as committeeman from Lincoln township. Mr. Peterson is held in high esteem in the community and numbers among its citizens many stanch friends. He is a man of laudable am- bition, high standards of conduct, and unceasing diligence, and is meeting with the success in his career that invariably rewards capa- bly organized and intelligently directed activities.
HENRY THOMPSON.
Henry Thompson is one of the enterprising and prosperous farm- ers of Lincoln township, in which he resides and where he is success- fully operating a highly developed farm of two hundred and forty acres. He was born in Illinois, January 28, 1855, and is a son of Knud and Christina (Erickson) Thompson, both of whom were na- tives of Norway and who emigrated to America at an early day and located in Kendall county, Illinois, where the father was engaged in the cultivation of rented land for a period of ten years. He then purchased a farm on which the family lived for ten years, after which time he sold that property, and in 1862 he bought two hundred acres
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of land in Story county, Iowa, for which he paid ten dollars per acre, and on that property he continued to reside until the time of his death, which occurred in 1899. The mother died in 1902.
Henry Thompson was reared in his parents' home and received his early education in Story county, Iowa. He remained under the parental roof until he was twenty-one years of age, at which time he started in life for himself as a lessee of his father's farm, which he successfully operated for three years. Subsequently, in 1881, he re- moved to Hamilton county and there purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land located in Lincoln township and later bought addi- tional property adjoining his original purchase until he is now the owner of two hundred and forty acres, all of which he has improved by an expenditure of five thousand dollars invested in tile, with which he has established a perfect drainage system over his entire place. On his property he has a herd of fifty head of well selected dairy cat- tle and in his business he uses fifteen head of draft horses. He also raises an average of one hundred hogs per annum.
Mr. Thompson was united in marriage to Miss Belle Sexy in May, 1877. She is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Nels Sexy, of whom addi- tional mention is made in the sketch of O. N. Sexy, published in an- other part of this work. To Mr. and Mrs. Thompson twelve children have been born, as follows: Cornelius, who passed away on the 16th of April, 1902; and Nelson, Elmer, Harry, Andrew, Edward, Evelyn, Christina, Lillian, Olive, Cora and Cornelia. Mr. Thompson belongs to the republican party and was elected trustee of Lincoln township but refused to accept the office. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Ellsworth, Iowa, and he and his family are affiliated with the Lutheran church. Mr. Thompson is successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits and is numbered among the most enterprising and up-to-date farmers of the community in which he lives. He is a man who is interested in every public measure affect- ing the welfare of the people in his county and state.
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JAMES CARUTH.
The late James Caruth was for more than a quarter of a century actively and successfully identified with the agricultural develop- ment of Hamilton county, where he acquired five hundred acres of valuable farming land in addition to his residence in Ellsworth. He
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was born in Ireland on the 5th of August, 1848, and is a son of An- drew and Jennie Caruth. The parents were born, reared and married on the Emerald isle. The first two years of their residence in Amer- ica were passed in Washington county, Pennsylvania. They subse- quently went to West Virginia and after a sojourn there of two years located in Belmont county, Ohio. Nine years later they settled in Lee county, Illinois, which remained their place of residence during the remainder of their lives. They were the parents of eight chil- dren, the two youngest being our subject and his twin brother.
James Caruth was a child of five years when he came to America with his parents. He was reared at home and acquired his education in the common schools of the various states in which they resided. He remained with his parents until his marriage at the age of twenty- five years, and shortly afterward came to Iowa, purchasing eighty acres of government land in Williams township, this county, which he cultivated for two years. Later he sold his place and returned to Illinois. At the expiration of a year he once more took up his resi- dence in Hamilton county, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of partially improved land in Lyon township. He was a man of great energy and determination of purpose, and diligently applied himself to the further improvement and cultivation of his farm, in which he met with more than average success. As his circumstances permitted he added to his property until he held the title to five hun- dred acres of excellent land. In 1903 he left the farm and removed to Ellsworth, where he purchased an attractive residence and lived in retirement until his death, which occurred on the 6th of May, 1905. He is buried in Homewood cemetery.
On New Year's day, 1873, Mr. Caruth was married to Miss Esther M. Mayne, a daughter of Thomas and Jane (McBroom) Mayne, natives of Ireland, who came to America with their parents in early life. They were married in St. Lawrence county, New York, and there the mother died. In 1861 the father removed with his family to Illinois, where he resided until 1875, when he came to Iowa and in this state he passed the remainder of his life, his death occurring about the year 1892. Mrs. Caruth, who was born January 8, 1849, is the seventh in a family of fifteen children, and became the mother of four. In order of birth they are as follows: Charles, who is married and residing on the old homestead in Lyon township; Jennie May, the wife of John Candle, a farmer of Rose Grove town- ship, this county, by whom she has had four children; Sarah E., the wife of Zan Slade, a farmer of this county and the mother of two
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children; and Harvey J., a farmer of this county, who is married and has two children.
Mr. Caruth affiliated with the Congregational church, as does his widow and family, and fraternally he was identified with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Politically he was a democrat and served for two terms as school director. His residence in Ham- ilton county covered the formative period in the development of this section of the state, the prairies of which he saw converted into highly improved farms, while settlements and villages became thriving towns and cities. Mrs. Caruth still resides in Ellsworth, where she has many friends.
GEORGE M. FLAWS.
George M. Flaws, who is successfully engaged in the cultivation of one hundred and twenty acres of fertile land located on section 23, Cass township, was born in Chicago, Illinois, on the 12th of June, 1875, and is a son of John and Jane Flaws, natives of Scotland. The parents emigrated to the United States in early life and were married in Chicago, where they resided until 1882. In that year they removed to Nebraska, and there for twenty years the father devoted his ener- gies to agricultural pursuits. In 1902 they came to Iowa, where Mr. Flaws cultivated rented land for six years, but at the expiration of that time he bought a farm on section 23, Cass township, which our subject is now cultivating. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Flaws in- cluded : John, and Jessie, the wife of W. F. Bateman, twins; George M. and Robert J., who are also twins; Grace, who married G. A. Fatter; Cecelia, the wife of W. W. Gilmore; Ella, who married B. F. McCoy; and Mabel, who became the wife of John W. Lee. They are all married with the exception of our subject, who is living at home with his mother. The father passed away, June 25, 1910, and is buried in Graceland cemetery at Webster City. Fraternally Mr. Flaws was a member of the Royal Highlanders and the Maccabees, while in politics he was a republican. In matters of religious faith he was a Baptist and his widow and children belong to the same church, in the work of which they have always taken an active inter- est. At the time of his death Mr. Flaws held the office of deacon in his church.
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The education of George M. Flaws was acquired in the public schools of his native city and Nebraska, following which he assisted his father with the work of the farm. After the latter's death he took charge of the home place and is meeting with success in its de- velopment. The father had effected many improvements on the farm during the brief period of his ownership, and the son has continued the work along the same lines. The buildings are kept in good re- pair, the fields are substantially fenced and everything about the place evidences capable supervision and a watchful regard for details that invariably accompanies thrift and prosperity.
Fraternally Mr. Flaws is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Royal Highlanders, and in politics he is repub- lican. He is active and enterprising in the conduct of his affairs and by reason of his progressive methods is numbered among the capable agriculturists of the township.
WALTER CHURCH.
General farming and stock-raising engage the attention of Walter Church, who owns one hundred and twenty acres of land located on section 25, Cass township, which he has cultivated for thirty years. He was born in Hamilton county on the 28th of May, 1861, and is a son of Ebenezer and Caroline (Claflin) Church, natives of Vermont and Canada respectively. They were married in Illinois and in 1856 came to Iowa and purchased a tract of government land in this county, that Mr. Church cultivated until he died in 1883. He was seventy- seven years of age when he passed away while the mother was eighty at the time of her death, which occurred in 1899. They are both buried in Graceland cemetery at Webster City. In politics he was a republican and in religious faith a Methodist while the mother was a Baptist. Mr. Church had been previously married and our subject is the young- est of the four children born of the second marriage.
Walter Church was reared on the farm where he was born and educated in the common schools, remaining at home until he had at- tained his majority. He began to assist his father with the work of the fields and care of the stock when he was a young lad and by the time he had reached his maturity, he was a skilled agriculturist. Upon leaving home he located on the place which he now owns and began farming for himself. The place was partially developed when he pur-
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chased it, but he has erected all of the buildings thereon and fenced and tiled the fields. All of his land, with the exception of about four acres, is under cultivation and is devoted to diversified farming, in connection with which he also raises stock, and has met with success.
In 1883, Mr Church was married to Miss Elizabeth Lachmiller, a daughter of Fred and Marie Lachmiller, who emigrated to the United States soon after their marriage and first located in Ohio, coming from there to Iowa about 1880. The father, who was an agriculturist, en- gaged in farming in this county until his death in 1892. He is buried in the family lot in Graceland cemetery at Webster City. The mother is still living at the age of seventy-seven years. Mrs. Church, who was the eldest in a family of eight, was born October 15, 1863, and died on the 12th of March, 1900, and was laid to rest in Graceland ceme- tery. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Church: Malissa Esther, the wife of Benjamin Goehring of this county, by whom she has had one child; and Carrie, Grace and Fred, all of whom are living at home.
The family attend the German Lutheran church at Webster City, in which the mother held membership. Mr. Church votes the republi- can ticket and takes laudable interest in matters of public import, al- though he has not held any other office save that of school director, in which capacity he served for seven years. Brotherhood spirit and so- cial diversion Mr. Church finds in his membership with Webster City Lodge, No. 302, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, which is his only fraternal connection.
. LEONARD NELSON MASON.
Leonard Nelson Mason, who is engaged in the cultivation of his father's farm of four hundred and eighty acres located on sections 3 and 10, Independence township, is one of Hamilton county's en- terprising and highly promising young agriculturists. He was born in Webster City on the 28th of October, 1887, and is a son of Bridge- man C. and Clara (Olmstead) Mason, natives of Iowa, the father having been the first white child born in Webster City. The paternal grandparents, who were of English birth, located in Iowa during the early pioneer period and were among the first settlers in Hamilton county. As is true in every new country, but little provision had been made for schools at that time and the early education of Bridgeman
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Mason was very limited, but he was an ambitious, enterprising youth and through study and reading well qualified himself for a business career. He early became identified with the First National Bank in the capacity of cashier, retaining that position for twenty-two years. Since 1900, he has been dealing quite extensively in Texas real estate, and he is also interested in oil wells in that state. At the present he is devoting a large portion of his time to the brick and tile business in Missouri, but he still retains his residence in Webster City. Mr. Mason is now fifty-six years of age and his wife is fifty-five. They are the parents of three sons, our subject being the second in order of birth. The eldest, Clyde B., is married and living at Lawrence, Kansas; while the youngest, who is also married, is residing in Web- ster City, where he holds the position of assistant cashier in the First National Bank. After graduating from the public schools, the latter attended the Wentworth Military Academy at Lexington, Missouri, continuing his studies there for three years.
Leonard Nelson Mason was reared at home and at the usual age began his education in the public schools. Having early manifested a desire to become an agriculturist, he spent, after completing his high-school course, three years in the Iowa State College at Ames, qualifying himself for his chosen vocation. He then returned to Webster City and for two years thereafter was employed on his father's farm, thus acquiring a practical knowledge of the duties and responsibilities of an agriculturist. At the expiration of that time he leased the farm from his father, and has ever since been engaged in its cultivation and is meeting with success in his undertakings. Four hundred acres of the four hundred and eighty is tiled and un- der cultivation, and under the capable supervision and direction of Mr. Mason is annually yielding abundant harvests. In connection with tilling the fields he engages in stock-raising, making a specialty of breeding mules, Duroc Jersey hogs and Shorthorn cattle. He also buys and feeds large quantities of cattle for the market. The Mason farm is one of the best improved and most highly cultivated proper- ties in the township. The entire tract is fenced, two hundred and sixty acres of it hog tight, and it is equipped with two complete sets of buildings, consisting of two residences and about twelve barns and sheds. The house occupied by Mr. Mason was erected in 1909, and is a thoroughly modern frame structure, provided with furnace heat, gas lighting system and running water. The place is well kept up and presents a most attractive appearance, its condition generally
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manifesting capable management and efficient and systematic super- vision.
On the 28th of October, 1909, Mr. Mason was married to Miss Irene Merrill, a daughter of W. N. and Sophia Merrill, natives of Iowa and residents of Webster City, where the father conducts the Willson hotel. Mrs. Mason whose natal day was the 28th of October, 1888, is the eldest in a family of twelve.
Mr. Mason gives his political support to the republican party and is now serving as president of the school board, to which office he has but recently been elected. He is an energetic young man with high ambitions and is making highly creditable progress in the vocation he has elected to follow.
R. L. DOOLITTLE.
Among the many worthy residents of Liberty township, whose activities have so largely contributed toward forwarding the agri- cultural development of Hamilton county, must be mentioned R. L. Doolittle. He located here twenty-eight years ago and during the intervening years has increased his realty interests until he now holds title to six hundred and twenty acres of land, the greater portion of which is under cultivation. He is descended in both lines from old colonial stock and is a member of one of Iowa's pioneer families. His birth occurred on the old family homestead in Story county on the 24th of May, 1860, and he is the fifth child of W. R. and Fidelia F. (Ward) Doolittle. The father, a native of Rochester, New York, passed away at Mount Pleasant, Iowa, on Christmas day, 1893. He is survived by the mother, who is living at Roland, this state. She was born and reared in Ohio. The family took up their permanent residence in Story county on the 6th of June, 1856, being among the first settlers in that section. Mr. Doolittle had made a previous trip to the county, looking for a location and land, which he purchased at a dollar and a quarter per acre. In common with the majority of the pioneers they came to their new home in an emigrant wagon, as there were very few railroads west of the Mississippi at that period, the only complete line in the state running from Muscatine to Wilton Junction. Their nearest trading point was Iowa City, while the nearest gristmill was located at Des Moines, to which point they had to haul all of their grain. Owing to the small demand for produce
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and the limited and inadequate shipping facilities, prices were low and money scarce. Eggs were three cents a dozen, and all other commodities of the farmer were equally low, which fact together with the uncertain seasons and the innumerable obstacles encountered by the pioneer, made the life of the agriculturist of that period hard and discouraging. It was not unusual at that period to have the trading post forty miles distant and the postoffice fifteen, while any one was a neighbor, who lived within a radius of ten miles. Books and papers were scarce and the members of a household were almost entirely dependent upon their immediate family circle for society. There was a strong bond of unity among those pioneer men and women, however, as their circumstances were practically the same, and their interests largely one. Visitors were few and the traveler who sought their hospitality was cordially received and offered the best shelter their crude homes could give, while the good housewife spread the table with what her pantry afforded, which often was limited in variety if not in quantity. It was in such a home as this that the family of Mr. and Mrs. Doolittle were reared. Aside from our subject, the children were as follows: E. C., deceased; Mrs. Lillie Carlton, a resident of Rolfe Junction ; A. P., also deceased; F. D., a resident of Story county; Mrs. George Brown, who is a resident of Gilbert, Iowa; Emma, who lives at Roland with the mother; W. J., of Story City; Elvira, who is deceased; and Ira D., also of Story City. The three eldest members of the family were born in Crawford county, Illinois, and the other seven in Story county, Iowa. They all take much pride in the fact that their maternal an- cestors were numbered among the colonists who bravely fought for what they considered to be their rights. Mrs. Doolittle is connected with the family of Dueese, the last of whose male members fell at the Battle of Bunker Hill. An old pocket-book belonging to George Dueese, an uncle of hers and one of the heroes of that famous bat- tle, is still numbered among the valued possessions of the family. Her father, Jonas Ward, was a soldier in the War of 1812, and was within thirty feet of Tecumseh, when that valiant warrior was killed by Colonel R. M. Johnson. Mr. Doolittle, the father of our subject, was one of the volunteers who accompanied the regular soldiers to Spirit Lake at the time of the Indian uprising in that section, his services always being tendered in time of need, despite the fact that his personal interests might suffer thereby.
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