USA > Iowa > Jones County > History of Jones County, Iowa, past and present, Volume II > Part 34
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Dr. Calkins was united in marriage with Miss Lucinda Louden, November 8, 1855, at the home of the bride's parents in North Bay, Oneida county, New York. Lucinda Louden first opened her eyes to the light of day May 15, 1839, in North Bay. She was the eldest child of Charles and Hannah (Cockett) Louden. One of her sisters died at the age of eighteen and the other sister died in infancy. She attended school in Cooperstown, New York, and also Ft. Plain Seminary. Mrs. Calkins brought the first musical instrument, a melodeon which she still possesses, and rendered the first vocal selection to an accompaniment ever given in Wyoming. Mrs. Calkins' grandparents came from Manchester, England, to America in 1810 and located in Cooperstown, New York, where the grandfather engaged in manufacturing cotton goods.
Dr. and Mrs. Calkins came west in 1856. Twelve lots in what is now the heart of Wyoming with a little house built of black walnut lumber became their home. In 1868 the little house was replaced by a house which has been their home since. Two daughters were born to Dr. and Mrs. Calkins. These daughters have neither aunts, uncles nor cousins as both of their parents were the last
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of their house and name. Elva T. is the wife of William E. Briggs, of St. Paul, Minnesota, and Mary A. is the wife of Edward D. Chassell, of Le Mars, Iowa.
In 1862 Dr. Calkins, acting as an official for the state of Iowa, administered the oath to eighty-nine loyal citizens who assembled under the historic oak tree in Wyoming and were by him duly enrolled as members of the state militia, afterwards forming the majority of Company K, Twenty-fourth Iowa Volun- teer Infantry, in the war of the rebellion. Six of the surviving soldiers were in attendance at the funeral service of Dr. Calkins. In the same year and again in 1863 Dr. Calkins was commissioned to take the vote of Iowa soldiers in the south. Upon his return he rode in a sulky from Wyoming to Des Moines, where he made his report.
Dr. Calkins was an active man in the community and imbued with liberal public-spirited sentiments. He was never an officer seeker but was more of a leader and an inspirer of progressive public sentiment. When the town of Wyom- ing was organized he was unanimously chosen the first mayor, being the candidate of all parties. For many years he was local surgeon for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad and served for a number of years as a member of the board of pension examiners. In 1881 he was accorded the unusual honor of being elected to the legislature from Jones county without opposition, there being no candidate against him. Two years later he was reelected, though a very able and popular democrat opposed him. In the latter campaign in his home township of Wyoming two hundred and eleven votes were polled and an even two hundred of them were cast for Dr. Calkins, showing the hold he had on the affections and confidence of the people among whom he had then resided nearly thirty years. A well educated man, of practical sense, good judgment and conserva- tive, he became one of the most efficient members of the nineteenth and twentieth general assemblies. He was made chairman of the committee on public health and, as such, worked through the house against seeming unconquerable opposi- tion one of the most prominent and important bills before the legislature, which had been prepared by the state board of health to regulate the sale and use of kerosene oil and oil used by miners in illuminating coal mines, by a system of rigid inspection. Several states had similar laws and it was found that illuminat- ing oils which did not pass their inspection were shipped into Iowa and were rapidly becoming a menace to human life and property from their explosive nature and low standard of safety. The bill provided for a higher standard and more rigid inspection than that of other states. Immediately on the introduction, oppo- sition from the Standard Oil Company became apparent on the ground that it was an interference with their business and the process of inspection unreasonable.
The house was composed of fifty-one republicans, forty-five democrats and six greenbackers, or populists. The populists vehemently opposed the bill on the ground that it was solely a scheme to provide for a lot of officers to prey on the public treasury ; the democrats opposed it on general principles. as did some re- publicans. Its progress was obstructed at every step by every dilatory motion that could be devised, until late in the session, when Dr. Calkins became satisfied that under the most favorable conditions it would receive but a bare majority. In the meantime Senator Larrabee had worked it through the senate by a vote of thirty-
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two to eight, and sent it to the house as senate file 305. It was placed on file after a second reading. Dr. Calkins decided to let it rest.
On the last day and last hour of the session, with every member in his seat and making ready to leave, in the hubbub usual at that time, the doctor very quietly called up senate file 305, instead of the house bill, and when the clerk reached in his desk for it was missing. He notified the speaker, who instantly ordered all doors leading from and to the house closed and locked and then announced that the bill had been stolen from the clerk's desk.
There was at once great commotion throughout the building. Members began searching their desks, committee rooms were ransacked and after an hour's vigorous quest the bill was found tucked away in a drawer in the northeast corner of the building. It was returned to the house, hurriedly read, and passed without a negative vote, not a member being willing to go on record against it.
It has been in force since, has proved one of the best hygienic measures on the statute books, brings to the state treasury from twelve thousand to fifteen thousand dollars in excess of expenses annually and gives the state of Iowa greater protection against injury to human life and property than any other state. Dr. Calkins was one of the fifty-two who voted for the prohibitory law in Iowa.
In 1907 he prepared an extensive paper on "Recollections of the Nineteenth and Twentieth General Assemblies," which was read at a meeting of the Pioneer Law Makers in Des Moines. Dr. Calkins wielded a ready pen. His writings were original, witty and personal. But his personalities were more likely to be eulogistic than censorious. As a public speaker he was in demand for orations on the 4th of July and Decoration day. He was wonderfully useful in a field where few men are willing to give time and labor. He was the historian of Wyoming and gathered for public addresses and publication a large amount of exceedingly valu- able data and his "Early Reminiscences of Wyoming" which he gave in 1878 in a home talent lecture course appears in this history of Jones county.
Dr. Calkins was a man of large mental endowment, of scholarly culture, of racy genial humor, a man healthy in body and never fearing to speak the truth; diligently he did his work and discharged his duty with contentment, cheerfulness and resolution. He possessed a vigorous personality whose broadly generous impulses coupled with sound judgment and independence of thought and action made him beloved to a degree seldom realized in human experience. Dr. Calkins is survived by his widow and daughters and three grandchildren : Martin Calkins Briggs ; Walter Charles Briggs ; and Mary Briggs.
ELISHA F. ELLISON.
During the fifteen years of his residence in Greenfield township, Jones county, agricultural pursuits have claimed the time and attention of Elisha F. Ellison, and during this period he has worked earnestly and diligently, his labors finding well merited reward in the gratifying prosperity which he now enjoys. In the winter of 1909-10, he removed to Martelle, where he is now living retired. Born in Linn county, Iowa. on the 26th of August, 1851, he is the son of John and
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Rachel R. (Curtis) Ellison, the former a native of Belfast, Ireland, and the latter of Ohio. The mother went to Linn county, Iowa, in 1848, where she be- came the wife of Mr. Ellison. In their family were eleven children, five sons and six daughters, as follows: James, who passed away in 1876; Elisha F., of this review; Charles H., now deceased; Joseph S., a, resident of Martelle ; Hulda, the deceased wife of Joseph Kohl; Minta, the wife of Frank Boxwell; Nancy, who married Jasper Woods and resides in Linn county; Clara, the wife of Frank Myers, of Linn county; John, Jr., making his home in Linn county ; Bertie, who wedded George Joslin; and Linnie, the wife of John Moore. The surviving members have all grown to years of maturity and have reared families of their own.
Amid the scenes and environments of rural life Elisha F. Ellison was reared ยท to manhod, the period of his boyhood and youth being spent in the usual manner of country lads of that time. As a pupil in the district schools he acquired a good education and when not busy with his text-books assisted his father in the work of the home farm, early becoming familiar with the best methods of till- ing the soil, while in the broader school of experience he learned practical lessons concerning the value of industry, energy and perseverance. The period of his minority was spent on the home farm, but upon attaining his majority he en- tered the business world on his own account, choosing as his life work the occupation to which he had been reared. In 1874 he came to Greenfield town- ship, locating on a farm of eighty acres in section 19. His early training under the direction of his father had well equipped him for successfully carrying on agricultural pursuits on his own account, and as the years passed and he pros- pered he was able to add to his original purchase, until his property holdings today consist of one hundred and sixty acres of the richest soil to be found in Greenfield township. The farm is under a high state of cultivation and every- thing about the place indicates a life of industry and thrift upon the part of the owner. He practices rotation of crops, makes a close study of the cereals best adapted to soil and climate and is meeting with most gratifying success in the conduct of his business affairs.
It was in 1875 that Mr. Ellison was united in marriage to Miss Alwilda Hunter, whose father was killed in the Civil war, no trace of him having ever been found. Unto this union were born three sons and three daughters, namely : George Henry, born July 27. 1876; William John, whose birth occurred on the 7th of March, 1878; Walter F., born January 1, 1880; Cora May, the wife of Perry Lemmer. of North Dakota; Myrtle Elma, born March 3. 1884 who mar- ried William Brock and makes her home in Martelle; and Anna Maude, the wife of Harry Porter, residing in North Dakota. There are twelve grand- children in the family. On the 24th of March, 1889. Mr. Ellison was called upon to mourn the death of his wife, and on the 2d of February, 1898, was again mar- ried, his second union being with Mrs. Sarah (Streach) Lemmer Paul, who by a former marriage became the mother of two children. P. J. Lemmer and Albert Lee Paul, the latter residing in North Dakota. She was born in Nova Scotia in 1855 and in 1862 came with her parents to Iowa, the family home being estab- lished in the central part of the state. Her parents, William and Ann (Cruik- shank) Streach, are now both deceased, the mother passing away when the
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daughter was eleven years of age, and the father's death occurring in 1897. She is a member of the church of Christ at Martelle, the teachings of which form the guiding influence of her life. Mr. Ellison gives his political allegiance to the democracy, doing all in his power to extend the influence of that party in the community. He was president of the Laurel Hill independent school district for about twenty years and is well known in business circles as the president of Laurel Hill Telephone Company.
Mr. Ellison is known as an enterprising and progressive farmer and the methods which he has followed are such as insure success. His labors are well directed by sound judgment and realizing the fact that zeal and energy constitute the basis of success he has pursued his work diligently year after year and is now one of the substantial agriculturists of Greenfield township.
HANS C. AHRENDSEN.
With the passing away of Hans C. Ahrendsen Hale township lost one of its progressive and representative agriculturists, who for a number of years was closely identified with farming interests here. Born across the waters, he is a native of Holstein, Germany, his birth having there occurred on the 22d of Feb- ruary, 1866. His parents were Lawrence and Christine (Peterson) Ahrendsen, both natives of Germany, who came to the United States when their son was a young man of twenty years. The father followed farming here for some years, and now resides in Olin, Jones county, while his wife has already passed to her final rest. Six members of their family, three sons and three daughters, are residents of this country, while one daughter still makes her home in the fatherland.
Hans C. Ahrendsen spent the period of his boyhood and youth in his native land, there acquiring his education in the common schools, and after his arrival in Jones county, Iowa, he began working as a farm hand by the month, being thus engaged for six years. At the expiration of that period, desiring that his efforts should more directly benefit himself, he took up agricultural pursuits on his own account, operating a farm in the capacity of a renter until about three years ago. In the meantime he had carefully saved his money with the hope that some time he would own a farm of his own. The invariable law of des- tiny accords success to untiring industry, energy and perseverance, and through the manifestation of those qualities Mr. Ahrendsen was eventually able to sat- isfy his ambition. He became the owner of two hundred acres of fine farming land located on section 21, Hale township, and to its further development he di- rected his entire energies. He brought the fields under a high state of cultiva- tion and erected new and substantial buildings, making all of the improvements upon the place which today make it one of the valuable farming properties of the township. Everything about the place indicates that he was in touch with the modern spirit of progress which is manifest in agricultural lines, while his interests were so wisely and carefully conducted that he won substantial success
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and was numbered among the representative and progressive farmers of the locality.
It was on the Ist of January, 1892, that Mr. Ahrendsen was united in mar- riage to Miss Dora Rohwedder, a native of Bryant, Clinton county, Iowa, born on the 30th of January, 1871. Most of her life, however, was passed in Jones county. Her parents were Hans and Margaret (Gubel) Rohwedder, natives of Germany, who came to the United States, the latter passing away in Clinton county, Iowa, while the former now makes his home in Hale township, this county. U'nto Mr. and Mrs. Ahrendsen were born seven children, namely : Mar- garet, Leonard, Hilda, Carl, Hans, Arthur and Anita.
In politics Mr. Ahrendsen gave his allegiance to the democracy, doing all in his power to further the influence of that party in the community although he neither sought nor desired public office for himself, preferring to concentrate his energies upon the conduct of his business affairs. He was not remiss, however, in the duties of citizenship, for his influence was ever upon the side of progress, improvement, reform and advancement. He passed away on the 14th of Sep- tember, 1908, and his death was the occasion of deep regret among the many warm friends whom he had gained during his residence in Jones county, and who entertained for him high regard because of his many sterling , qualities.
FRANCIS M. BENEDICT.
Francis M. Benedict is numbered among those who have sought their fortunes through the cultivation of Iowa's rich soil and through their own well directed efforts have won a foremost place among the men of affluence in their section of the state. He was born in Malone. Franklin county, New York, September 25, 1847, a son of Michael Martin and Alathea ( Coleman) Benedict, both natives of Williamstown, Vermont. The father, who was born on the 5th of August, 1816, was reared and married in the east. He lost his first wife and was again married ere coming to the middle west, his second union being with Ruby A. Hudson. He arrived in Iowa in 1868, the family home being established in Monticello. Jones county, where the father carried on agricultural pursuits for some time, and as he prospered he engaged to some extent in money loaning. He was identified with the grocery business in the east. With the exception of five years spent in Perryburg the period of his residence in this state was spent in the same house which he erected upon his removal to Monticello. His last days were there spent and his wife still continues to make it her home. By his first marriage he became the father of three children, namely Faber, a farmer of Bethel, Vermont : Francis M., of this review : and Henry M., residing in Los Angeles, California. The second union was blessed with one child. Herbert M., of Cass township. Jones county.
Francis M. Benedict spent the first four years of his life in his native town and then accompanied his parents on their removal to Bicknelville, St. Lawrence county, New York. There he acquired his education in the common schools and spent the intervening years until 1868, his time and energies being devoted
F. M. BENEDICT
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mostly to agricultural pursuits. In that year he came west with his father and stepmother, arriving in Monticello, Jones county, on his twenty-first birthday. His parents made the entire journey by train, while Mr. Benedict drove in a horse and buggy from Chicago. During the next ten years, which were mostly passed in Monticello, he engaged as a laborer and in 1878 he located in Cass township, purchasing the farm upon which he now makes his home. At that time it consisted of one hundred and sixty acres located on the northwest quarter of section I. About three years ago, however, he gave one hundred and twenty acres to his son, for whose use another dwelling has been erected upon the place. Mr. Benedict also owns one hundred and thirty acres in Scotch Grove town- ship and sixteen acres of timberland in Castle Grove township. During his residence here he has continued to devote his time to general agriculture and stock raising, and that he has been successful in his undertakings is indicated by the fact that he now ranks among the well-to-do men of the community in which he resides. His home is considered the finest in Cass township, and his farm is equipped with all the modern and up-to-date improvements that go to make up a model farm of the twentieth century. He not only occupies a high place among the township's leading and representative farmers, but is also well known in financial circles for as he has prospered he has been an extensive money- loaner.
On the 9th of April, 1871, Mr. Benedict was united in marriage to Miss Luanna Secrest, a native of Anamosa, Jones county, Iowa, born on the 24th of August, 1852. She is a daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Osborn) Secrest, the former born in Lexington, Kentucky, on the 19th of December, 1816, and the latter in Indiana, January 19, 1819. The father came to this county with his parents when a young man and was here married about 1843. He was numbered among the early settlers of Anamosa, where he conducted the first store, the town at that time being known as Lexington. He was thus engaged for many years and later removed his business to a store about four miles south of the town. He passed away in February, 1871, while his wife still survives and makes her home in Chicago. Their family consisted of seven daughters and one son, of whom Mrs. Benedict is the fifth in order of birth. The others are: Sarah, the wife of H. D. Sherman, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Margaret, the widow of P. Smith, residing in Pueblo, Colorado; Jennie, the widow of C. McGowan, of Chicago; Josephine, the wife of Robert Shields, who makes his home in San- tiago, California; Bell, who wedded Nicholas Nellis, a resident of Chicago; Douglas C., who passed away in Dubuque, Iowa, and Ella the deceased wife of Professor F. Gault. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Benedict have been born three chil- dren, who are as follows: Winifred, the wife of George Colton, of Colony, Kan- sas, by whom she has five children; Jessie, who married C. B. Darrow, of Cass township, and has two children; and Royal, who operates the home farm and is also married, having two children.
In his religious faith Mr. Benedict is identified with the Presbyterian church of Castle Grove, in which he has served as an elder for the past three years. He gives stalwart allegiance to the republican party, supporting its men and meas- ures at the polls and doing all in his power to extend its influence in the com- munity. He has never sought nor desired public office, however, as a reward for
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party fealty, preferring to concentrate his efforts upon his own private business affairs. Preeminently a man of business, as the architect of his own fortune he has builded wisely and well and now ranks among the wealthiest residents of Cass township, while his salient characteristics have been such as to make him popular with an extensive number of warm friends.
THOMAS J. and MICHAEL FINN.
Few of the men of Washington township can show a larger, or better record of years spent in profitable toil than can the two Finn brothers, Thomas J. and Michael, who conjointly operate a tract of eight hundred and sixty acres and are extensively engaged in the stock business. The strong traits of character which made it possible for their father, handicapped though he was by poverty and lack of education, to rise to a successful and well respected position in his community, after having overcome some of the most severe hardships that confronted the pioneers of Jones county in the early days, these and others, gained through their own struggles, have stood forth prominently indicating the why and the wherefore of their good fortune.
John Finn, the father, was born in County Galway, Ireland, in 1816, and came to America in 1837, settling in Boston, Massachusetts. There he found employ- ment with a Mr. Champney, who was in the service of the government, and for three or four years acted as general utility man in his establishment. In 1842 he was married to Miss Alice Murray, also a native of Erin, whose birth occurred in 1815 and who had come to America in 1836. After their union the couple started upon their journey to Jones county. Iowa, traveling only thirty miles by rail. for they passed by boat through the canal and the Great Lakes. Having arrived here Mr. Finn bought of Mr. Hutton. the first county clerk of Jones county, three hundred and twenty acres of wild prairie land, the warrant to it bearing the date of October. 1842. Immediately he began to break the soil and built a log cabin, putting a clapboard roof upon it. With continual repairing and additions, this served as his home until 1870. when he erected a new house, which with repairs, additions and improvements has done duty to the present time. Upon this half section of land he pursued his vocation as a tiller of the soil with a success which won the approbation of those who witnessed the manner in which he had surmounted the obstacles that beset his path. However. toward the close of his life, he sold part of the original farm, so that he owned only two hundred and forty acres at the time of his death. It was on the 15th of January. 1878, that his life was brought to a close. He was one of those energetic and persevering Irishmen, who had no fear or doubt that an undertaking might be beyond their powers and nothing presented an appearance of such harshness as to daunt them. His one idea in life was to succeed : he spared no effort to accomplish his purpose ; but his record of work is honorable as well as gratifying from a financial standpoint. Having never enjoyed the advantages of a good education, he was but the more eager in his support of progressive educational facilities, doing everything in his power to bring schools of standing into the little
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pioneer community. He was equally zealous in working for the church and was one of the committee of three to whom was intrusted the work of obtaining a site and securing the funds for the erection of the first Catholic church in Cascade. He was very attentive in the performance of his religious duties and surely his was a life which commanded the highest respect of everyone who knew him personally or by hearsay.
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