USA > Iowa > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 32
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first lieutenant of Company C of the Fifty-sixth regiment. On June I, 1899, he was elected and commissioned captain of that company. In 1908 he was elected major in the Fifty-sixth regiment; three years later he was promoted to lieutenant colonel; and in September, 1912, was elected colonel of his regiment. His military service covers a period of twenty-four years and his record is unique by reason of the fact that he enlisted as a private and rose from the ranks to be colonel of the regiment in which he first enlisted. He occupies a creditable position in professional, military, fraternal and social circles and in all these his influence is a factor for progress and improvement.
D. MARTIN ANDERSON.
Diligence and enterprise are marked characteristics of D. Martin Anderson, who for several years has been successfully identified with the commercial interests of Randall, where he owns and operates a hardware store. He was born in Story City, Iowa, on the 18th of March, 1882, and is a son of John P. and Mary J. ( Idso) Anderson. The father was born in Denmark, whence he emigrated to America in early life, and here he met and married Miss Idso, a native of Ken- dall county, Illinois. The early period of their domestic life was passed in Story county, Iowa, whence they removed to Jewell Junc- tion, coming from there to Randall, where they now reside. To them were born nine children in the following order: Carl, who was born on the 18th of October, 1878, and is now associated in business with his brother-in-law, Peter J. Okland; Bertha, who is deceased ; D. Mar- tin, our subject; Mrs. Peter J. Okland; Mabel, who is clerking in the store of Okland & Company; Anna, deceased; Rasmus, a resident of Randall; and Alfred and Albert, who are deceased. With the excep- tion of the three first named all are natives of Hamilton county, where the parents located during the pioneer period.
Randall has always been the home of D. Martin Anderson, who acquired his education in the public school. On leaving school he be- gan his business career, which has been in every respect a highly creditable one. For two years he was manager of the B. L. Willis Lumber Company of Randall, and during the five succeeding years was employed as bookkeeper in the general mercantile store of Peter- son & Christianson. He next became assistant cashier of the Randall Bank, which position he resigned at the expiration of two years in
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order to engage in business for himself. He subsequently purchased the hardware store he is now conducting, and although practically unfamiliar with this particular line of business has met with good success and has built up a trade among a desirable class of patrons. He carries a well assorted stock of shelf and heavy hardware, which he offers at reasonable prices, the quality of his goods being fully commensurate with the price.
On the 30th of October, 1903, Mr. Anderson was married to Miss Minelva N. Olson, who was born in Roland, Story county, Iowa, on the 5th of July, 1881, and there she was reared to womanhood and educated. She is a daughter of Jeremiah and Inger Olson, the father, a native of Norway. Mrs. Anderson is the youngest in a family of six children, the others being: Osmond; Edward; Josiah; Mrs. Julia Sigmund; and Mrs. Paulsrud, the wife of G. O. Paulsrud, pastor of the Norwegian Lutheran church of Randall. Mr. and Mrs. Ander- son have two children: Viola. who was born on the 4th of March, 1906; and Kenneth, whose natal day was the 24th of June. 1910.
Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church, in which faith they were reared. He is a progressive repub- Ican in his political views and is a member of the board of education of Ellsworth township. He is one of the popular citizens of Randall, where he has hosts of friends, the majority of whom have known him from boyhood and have watched with interest the development of his career.
JOHN E. OLMSTEAD.
John E. Olmstead is a successful cement contractor of Webster City, Iowa, and maintains his business at No. 745 Boone street. He was born in Hamilton county, June 10, 1872, and is a son of John and Harriet (Howard) Olmstead. The father was a native of Bureau county, Illinois, and left that section at an early date to become one of the pioneer settlers of Hamilton county, Iowa. He farmed here until his death in 1888, when he was thirty-eight years of age. His wife is still living in Des Moines, Iowa, where she is well known and highly respected.
John E. Olmstead was educated in the public schools of Hamilton county and followed the usual course of study until his father's death in 1888. At that time the entire management of the farm de-
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volved upon him and he carried on agricultural pursuits in Hamilton county until 1892. In that year he removed to Webster City to accept a position in the employ of Ellingson Mathre & Company, with whom he remained until 1895. His identification with the contracting busi- ness began in that year and he did general contracting for some time. He gradually evolved a special branch of his enterprise by his con- stant activity in the cement line of work, and now gives his entire at- tention to cement contracting. He abandoned the general field in 1900 and has since been identified solely with his present department. He makes a specialty of cement sidewalks and in this line has added to the beauty of Webster City. Over two-thirds of the sidewalks of the city were laid by Mr. Olmstead, as well as the walk which sur- rounds the magnificent new postoffice building. His operations are not confined exclusively to Webster City and his field of activity ex- tends over the entire state of Iowa. He is known in Webster City as one of its representative and successful business men.
On November 19, 1892, Mr. Olmstead was united in marriage to Miss Anna Giffroy, a daughter of William Giffroy, who is a success- ful carpenter of Nebraska. To their union have been born four sons : Myron Roscoe, Francis Edwin, Earl and Glen, all of whom are living with their parents in Webster City.
Fraternally Mr. Olmstead is affiliated with Webster City Camp, No. 416, M. W. A .; Forest Camp, No. 103, W. O. W .; and also holds membership in Webster City Tent, No. 79, K. O. T. M. He gives his political affiliation to the republican party but has never sought public office. His business absorbs his entire attention and its flourishing condition at the present time is evidence of his effective methods and his honorable reputation.
REUBEN J. HURD.
High in the annals of the progress and development of Hamilton county stands the name of Reuben J. Hurd, whose residence here covers a period of forty-six years, during which time he has witnessed the state's marvelous transformation from vast stretches of prairie and scattered settlements to highly cultivated farms and thriving towns and cities. Believing implicitly in the country's wonderful agri- cultural possibilities, he invested as extensively as his circumstances would permit in farm land in Rose Grove and Williams townships,
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increasing his holdings as he was able until he now holds title to over seventeen hundred acres in these two townships, and in all to two thou- sand, seven hundred acres in Hamilton and Hardin counties. He also owns property in Kansas and Minnesota, and is without doubt one of the largest if not the largest landowner in the county.
The life record of Reuben J. Hurd began on a farm in Olean township, Cattaraugus county, New York, on the 16th of August, 1846. In the paternal line he is descended from one of the old colo- nial families, being a direct descendant of one William Hurd, who located in Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1623, and has a complete genealogical history of the family back to the year 1639, the records prior to that period having been destroyed in one of the early Indian wars. His father, Elisha H. Hurd, was born in Fabius, New York, on the 18th of June, 1809, and passed away in Rose Grove township, this county, in March, 1879. The mother, whose maiden name was Fannie M. De Kay, was born in New Jersey on the IIth of May 1815, and died in Austin, Minnesota, October 10, 1906. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Hurd numbered eight, as follows: Thomas D., who was born in Allegany county, New York, on May 5, 1838, and for many years engaged in farming in Hamilton county, but is now living re- tired in Williams; David E., who was born on April 21, 1843, the owner of a large ranch at Hurdsfield, North Dakota, living retired in Monticello, Minnesota; Reuben J., our subject; Addison L., who was born November II, 1848, and died in 1882; Hannah E., who was born on February 6, 1851, the wife of William J. Snyder, and a resi- dent of Albert Lea, Minnesota; Alpheus E., who was born on the 17th of February, 1853, and resides near Marshall, Minnesota; Hor- ace N., who was born on the 17th of November, 1857, and died in March, 1894; and John H., whose birth occurred on the Ist of Sep- tember, 1860, a resident of Rice Lake, Wisconsin. The elder mem- bers of the family were born in the state of New York, but the two last named are natives of Winneshiek county, Iowa. The early years in the domestic life of Mr. and Mrs. Hurd were passed in New York, whence they removed in 1853 to Woodstock, McHenry county, Illi- nois, which was their place of residence for a year. In 1854, they continued their journey westward to Winneshiek county, Iowa, whence they later removed to Mower county, Minnesota, and subse- quently came to Hamilton county, locating in Rose Grove township in 1866. The first member of the family to become a resident of this county was David E. Hurd, who with Charles Vail located in Rose Grove township on the shores of Iowa Lake in June, 1866. He be-
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came one of the prominent men of the county and was for many years associated with Judge Rose in the management of the schools in the township. His wife was a daughter of Randall Fay, a veteran of the Civil war, and one of the first ministers to settle in the county.
The first seven years in the life of Reuben J. Hurd were passed in his native state, where he began his education, completing it in the district schools of Winneshiek county, Iowa. His boyhood and youth were not distinguished by any unusual event from those of the ma- jority of lads who were reared in the middle west during the pioneer days. He accompanied his family on their removal from Winneshiek county to Mower county, Minnesota, in the spring of 1866, coming from there to Rose Grove township, Hamilton county, in the autumn following. At that time there was only one house, the Hawley House, between Alden and Webster City and no settlement west of Alden. The members of the family, who were eligible, filed on government land in Rose Grove township, in the progress and development of which they were dominant factors during the pioneer period. Mr. Hurd has always been distinguished for his diligence and enterprise and to these qualities as well as his foresight and sagacity in business affairs must be attributed much of the success that has attended his efforts. Money was very scarce at that period in this section of the country, and owing to the limited market facilities and poor trans- portation such crops as were raised did not command a very high price, so the Hurd brothers were compelled to follow any employment that would enable them to earn money in an honorable way. For a time Reuben Hurd and his brother David worked in a stone quarry, which was located a distance from their home, for a dollar a day, walking to and from their work morning and night. The former, for some years, also freighted between Iowa Falls and Fort Dodge. In- numerable hardships and privations were endured by the pioneers of that day, and such as Mr. Hurd who withstood the many discour- agements and overcame the obstacles they constantly encountered, highly merit all the success won by their persistence and determina- tion. He extended his holdings as his circumstances permitted until he now owns twelve hundred and six acres of land in Rose Grove township, with six sets of improvements, five hundred and twenty- seven acres in Williams township, with two sets of improvements, and six hundred acres in Hardin county with two sets of improve- ments. He also owns residence and business property in Williams, and land in both Minnesota and Kansas, which is constantly increas- ing in value. He was one of the organizers of the First National
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Bank of Williams and was its first president and now holds the office of vice president. Mr. Hurd has never entirely withdrawn from agri- cultural pursuits, although he has not resided on his large farm in Rose Grove .township since February, 1896, when he removed to his present place adjacent to Williams. This is one of the very attractive and pleasant properties of the community, and it is his expectation to make it his home during the remainder of his life.
On the 15th of January, 1881, Mr. Hurd was married to Miss Winnie Crane, who was born in Clayton county, Iowa, May 3, 1861, and is a daughter of Samuel J. and Mary J. (Eller) Crane. The father was a native of the state of New York, his birth having oc- curred on the 15th of October, 1833, and the mother was born in the vicinity of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, her natal day being May 27, 1833. The early years of their married life were passed in Clayton county, this state, where their six elder children were born. In 1866, they re- moved to Hamilton county, locating in Rose Grove township, and there for many years the father engaged in farming. Mrs. Crane re- lates many interesting experiences of the pioneer days, and recounts how, for two winters, they had to grind their corn in a coffee mill. The father is now deceased, having passed away in Webster county, this state, on the 27th of December, 1893, but he is survived by the mother, who makes her home with her children, residing in various parts of the country. To Mr. and Mrs. Crane were born three sons and seven daughters, as follows: Melissa, who was born October 14, 1855, the wife of John E. Parker, residing in the vicinity of Webster City; Lillie, whose birth occurred on the 27th of March, 1857, now Mrs. Lee A. Trudell, of Deering, North Dakota; Edmund J., who was born August 31, 1859, a resident of Lebanon, South Dakota; Mrs. Hurd; Alice, who was born October 27, 1863, now Mrs. James Beckner, of Spencer, Colorado; Sherman W., whose natal day was June 12, 1866, of Lebanon, South Dakota; Charles, who was born on the 22d of September, 1867, of Epswich, South Dakota; Rosamond, who was born Christmas day, 1869, and died in November, 1889; Millie May, who was born on April 3, 1871, the wife of Richard Goodrich, residing in the vicinity of Lehigh, Webster county, Iowa; and Louie, now Mrs. George E. Dingham, who was born on Febru- ary 22, 1873, and resides at Lehigh. The four last named are natives of Hamilton county, and here they were reared and educated.
Mr. and Mrs. Hurd are the parents of six children, four sons and two daughters, all of whom are living. Lulu Belle, the eldest, who was born on the 7th of March, 1882, after graduating from the Wil-
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liams high school continued her education in Ellsworth College, ter- minating her course there to become bookkeeper and assistant cashier in the First National Bank of Williams. She is now the wife of Robert P. Lynch, and is living on a farm in Rose Grove township, this county. Walter L., who was born on the 14th of December, 1884, after graduating from Grinnell College went west and in Febru- ary, 1912, proved up on a claim in Montana and is now a resident of Columbus, that state. Ralph R., whose natal day was October 13, 1887, after graduating from the Williams high school attended Grin- nell College for a year, and then matriculated in the engineering de- partment of the Iowa State College at Ames, of which he is a gradu- ate. He is now following his profession in Williams and is residing at home. Gladys L., who was born on the 20th of August, 1890, is the wife of Ivan L. Smith and lives in Williams. Stanton F., whose birth occurred on April 27, 1893, received his preliminary education in the schools of Williams, supplementing the course therein pursued by a term of study in a business college at Cedar Rapids. Howard H., the youngest member of the family, was born on, the 22d of April, 1897, and is attending the public schools.
The family attend the religious services of the Methodist Episco- pal church of Williams, of which Mrs. Hurd and her daughters are members. His political allegiance is accorded to the republican party, and while residing in Rose Grove township he served both as clerk and assessor, and he has been a trustee of Williams and a member of the town council for several years. Mr. Hurd is widely known in the county and held in high respect, as he is a man of good principles and incorruptible integrity, whose word is regarded as good as his bond. He manifests much sagacity and keen discernment in the direction of his business affairs and such success as has come to him is the highly merited reward of honest and intelligent effort.
SAM J. LARSON.
Among the sturdy Norsemen whose tireless energy and determina- tion of purpose have largely contributed toward promoting the agri- cultural development of Hamilton county must be numbered Sam J. Larson, whose extensive acreage in Ellsworth township with its highly cultivated fields and modern improvements stands as a monument to a life of intelligent and persistently directed activity. His birth oc-
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curred in Norway in 1849, his parents being John and Elizabeth Lar- son, both of whom are now deceased, the father having passed away in Scott township, and the mother at the home of our subject in Ells- worth township. They emigrated to the United States with their family in 1858, first settling in Kendall county, Illinois. At the end of a year they continued their journey westward to Iowa, crossing the prairies in an emigrant wagon, as there were no railroads in this sec- tion of the country at that time. They came direct to Hamilton county, settling on a tract of government land in Scott townshp, be- ing among the very first settlers in this vicinity. Aside from a few log cabins scattered along the Skunk river, the country was practically uninhabited, their nearest trading post being Iowa City. They were practically without funds, but were rich in hope, energy and determi- nation of purpose, believing implicitly in the possibilities of this won- derful land, where so many of their countrymen had fared welt. From the youngest to the oldest they worked toward the achievement of a single purpose-the establishment of a home. Those first years were difficult indeed, but they were true pioneers and were absolutely undaunted by either hardship or failure. No obstacles served to dis- courage them, but on the contrary renewed their zeal and spurred them on to yet greater effort. Each year witnessed an improvement in their circumstances and the conditions amid which they lived, and in time theirs became one of the productive and valuable farms of the township. Mr. and Mrs. Larson had eight children, all of whoni were born in Norway. In order of birth they are as follows: Mrs. Inger Charleson, deceased; Andrew J., who is residing on the old family homestead in Scott township; Lars, who is living in Story county, Iowa; Ole J., who passed away in Illinois in 1909; Mrs. Anne Heg- land, deceased; Sam J., of this sketch; O. J., who is residing south of Jewell; and Mrs. Melinda Rendo, deceased.
Sam J. Larson was a child of only nine years when he emigrated to the United States with his parents, and a lad of ten when they set- tled in Hamilton county. A member of a family in limited circum- stances his early advantages were meager, but he early had instilled in his youthful mind lessons on the value of thrift and diligence as factors in the achievement of success. His early training well quali- fied him for the battle of life, as he can scarcely remember when he did not have some regularly assigned task to perform, his duties be- ing increased as his strength and sense of responsibility developed with the passing years. Naturally he developed early, and when still in his early youth was a useful member of society, while he was do-
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ing a man's work long before he had attained his majority. Upon leaving the parental home to make his own way in the world, practi- cally his entire capital consisted of a well developed body, tireless energy and the tenacity of purpose, which ultimately led him to the goal of his ambition. Today Mr. Larson is regarded as one of the most prosperous agriculturists and substantial citizens of his com- munity, but without doubt he finds his greatest satisfaction in the fact that he is indebted to no one but himself for the success he has en- joyed. He holds title to six hundred and thirty acres of land in Hamilton county, and a quarter section in Minnesota. His home- stead is one of the best improved and most attractive properties in the township, evidencing by its general appearance and condition the competent supervision and intelligent direction of a capable agricul- turist and intelligent man of business. Mr. Larson is thoroughly prac- tical, is progressive and uses systematic methods, and as his circum- stances have permitted has installed about his premises many modern conveniences. His equipment is most complete, comprising practically every implement or appliance known to the modern agriculturist. The buildings on his place are substantially constructed and in good con- dition, ample provision having been made for the housing of stock, machinery and grain. Mr. Larson has well provided for the comfort of his family, who live in an attractive residence with modern ap- pointments. An automobile adds to their enjoyment and helps them to get about quickly, to reach the city, visit neighbors or provides a pleasant hour of riding in the country. He is one of the highly esteemed men of his community, where his upright methods and un- questionable integrity make his word as good as his bond.
Mr. Larson married Miss Carrie E. Svellin, a native of Illinois and a daughter of Thor and Carrie Svellin, natives of Norway. They were long residents of Hamilton county, where the father passed away but the mother is still living and now makes her home with a daughter in North Dakota. Four daughters were born to Mr. and Mrs. Svellin, as follows: Mrs. Melinda Scorpon, of North Dakota; Mrs. Larson; Mrs. Sarah Quom, of Clear Lake township; and Mrs. Celia Thomson, who is deceased. They are all natives of Illinois. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Larson numbers six: Mrs. Annie Jacob- son, who is a resident of Minnesota; John and Thomas, who are liv- ing at home and assisting their father in the cultivation of the farm; Alfred, who lives with his sister on his father's farm in Minnesota; and Clarence and Richard, who are at home.
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The family are Lutherans in religious faith and are members of the Norwegian church of that denomination in Randall. Mr. Larson is republican in his political views, giving his support to the progress- ive faction of that body. He has never figured prominently in the political life of the community, but he is anything but remiss in mat- ters of citizenship, and can be depended upon to support any move- ment that he feels will promote the interest of the people or advance the general welfare of the township. Mr. Larson is thoroughly American in his ideas and sentiments and stanchly loyal to the insti- tutions of this country, which he regards with a veneration oftentimes lacking in her native sons.
CAPTAIN JOSEPH R. C. HUNTER.
Captain Joseph R. C. Hunter was born in Carroll county, Ohio, March 30, 1844. He was a son of William A. and Nancy (Day) Hunter, whose family consisted of six sons and three daughters, namely : John D .; Samuel L .; Joseph R. C., of this review ; William A., Jr .; S. C .; Charles E., who died in childhood; Almira; and two daughters who died in infancy.
On September 14, 1861, when seventeen years of age, J. R. C. Hunter enlisted in Company A, Twelfth Iowa Infantry, as eighth cor- poral, being enrolled at Eldora, Iowa. He at once entered upon a most active military career. He participated in the engagement at Fort Henry, Tennessee, February 6, 1862, and at Fort Donelson, Tennessee, February 13, 14, 15, 1862. At the battle of Shiloh, Ten- nessee, on the 6th of April, he was with the invalids under the com- mand of Lieutenant D. B. Henderson, and he participated in the siege of Corinth, Mississippi, in May, 1862. He was promoted second lieutenant on the Ist of May, 1862, being at that time one of the youngest men in his company. He participated in the battle of Cor- inth on the 3d and 4th of October, and was wounded on the latter day. He was promoted first lieutenant on the 5th of April, 1863, and became captain of his company the following May, when not yet twenty years of age. He took part in the engagement at Raymond, Mississippi, May 12, 1863, and at Jackson, Mississippi, May 14, 1863. At Vicksburg, Mississippi, his command took part in both the assault and siege, which lasted from May 18 to July 4, 1863. He was present at the engagement at Jackson, Mississippi, July 10 to 16, 1863, at
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