History of Kossuth and Humbolt counties, Iowa : together with sketches of their cities, villages, and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 57

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Union Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 898

USA > Iowa > Humboldt County > History of Kossuth and Humbolt counties, Iowa : together with sketches of their cities, villages, and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 57

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more, in the north part of Humboldt county.

Father J. B. Zigrang, son of Henry and Ann Zigrang, was born Oct. 18, 1850, in Luxemberg, Germany. When quite young he came with his parents to America. Landing at New York, they immediately came to Iowa, locating in Jackson county. In 1867 Mr. Zigrang attended St. Law- rence College, in Cavalry, Wis., remain. ing there until 1872. He next went for one year to St. Francis College in Mil- waukee. After thishe went to Minnesota, and took a two years' course in St. John College in that State. Having now fin- ished his school studies, in 1877, he was ordained as a German Catholic priest. His first charge was the Church organiza- tions at St. Joseph, Algona and the Dor- weiler settlement, in Kossuth county, Livermore and Humboldt, in Humboldt county, and Mallard in Palo Alto county. Father Zigrang built the Catholic church at Britt, also the one in Liver- more. He is beloved by all the members of his congregation, and hosts of friends greet him wherever he goes. When he came to St. Joseph he found the Church deeply in debt, but by hard work and per- severance, he has paid off all indebted- ness, enlarged the Church, and has a neat little sum in the treasury.

Just over the line, in Palo Alto county, lies the thriving little town of West Bend, which was laid out on the 16th of Septem- ber, 1881, by the Cedar Rapids & Iowa Falls Northwestern Town Lot Company, and contained, originally, forty acres. Since that time an addition of forty acres more has been laid out by William S. Admanson, of Scotland. The streets are

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laid out to run east and west, and broad beautiful avenues north and south. The the town is located upon the line of the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern railroad which is interested in the prosper- ity of the beautiful village. They have erected a depot that is architecturally one of the best in northern Iowa.

So close does the town lie to the line of Kossuth county, that many of the dwelling houses are in the latter county, while the business places are in Palo Alto. Thus the interest of West Bend is in common with that of Kossuth county. The town is about eight miles south from Whitte- more, and southwest from Algona, eighteen miles, and is surrounded by some of the finest agricultural land in the State. The inhabitants are mostly Americans and are of an enterprising, thrifty class and valu- able citizens. The first store building was erected on the laying out of the town, in 1881, by E. S. Bagley, and in it he opened the pioneer hardware store of the town. He has a large and new stock of all kinds of heavy and shelf hardware, and is the agent for the celebrated Bradley & Nicoulin wagon, made in Algona.

The following business directory will give some idea of the prosperity of this new town, and convey the impression of its importance as a business center.

Amos & Gray, heavy dealers in lum- ber, grain and stock, also handle salt,lime, coal, builders' materials, etc., are live, energetic men, who by their industry and integrity have won the confidence of the community among which they live.

McFarland & Son are engaged in the general merchandise line and give evi- dence, by their close attention to the wants

of their numerons patrons, that they are thorough business men. They carry a large and complete stock and are doing a large and profitable trade.

H. H. Jacobs is also a heavy dealer in particular lines of dry goods, groceries and provisions, and deals out to his inany customers and friends the wares that they are in need of. His pleasant affable man- ner is winning him hosts of friends.

Benjamin Franklin deals in drugs, paints, oils and is the postmaster of the little "burg."

There is also in the town one harness shop, one wagon and paint shop, a livery stable, the latter run by Herbert LeClaire, a barber shop, butcher shop, millinery establishment and two saloons.

Dr. E. W. Bachman, the practicing phy- sician, has a ride of ten miles in every direction and is a very popular man. The doctor was elected county superintendent of schools of Palo Alto county in 1883. .

This town will eventually be a rival of no mean pretentions to her sister towns that surround her.

A beautiful new school house has just been erected at a cost of $1,750, by Amos & Gray, contractors. It is two stories high and surmounted with a neat belfry and makes a most presentable appearance.

Edward S. Bagley was born in London- derry, Vt. When he was two years of age his parents removed to Windham, Vt., and engaged in farming. They remained there one year, then removed to White River Junction, same State. After two years they removed to Lyme, N. H. Re- maining three years in that place, they removed to Palmyra, Wis. They lived in that place two years, thence removed

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to Whitewater, where they remained nine years. While here the subject of our sketch learned the trade of tinner. He then removed to Whittemore, Kossuth connty, and engaged in business for eigh- teen months. He then removed to West Bend, where he now resides. He erected a store building here, 18x28 feet, one story in height. He carries a stock of goods valued at about $2,500, and is doing a good business. He was united in mar- riage July 17, 1881, with Martha Vigren, of Hampton, Ill. In politics Mr. Bagley is a republican. He is a member of the I. O. O. F.

R. M. J. McFarland, son of Jolin S. and Nancy (Wilson) McFarland, is a native of New York city. When in his twenty- first year he went to Wisconsin, and worked at different occupations three years, then went to Palo Alto Co., Iowa, in 1857. After traveling in Missouri, Wisconsin and Iowa, in the spring of 1859 he returned to Palo Alto, West Bend township, remained till fall of same year, then went back to Wisconsin and lived five years, working in a lumber yard in Avoce, Iowa county. In the fall of 1864 he moved his family on section 28, township 94, range 31, in Palo Alto county, and carried on farming until March 1, 1883, when he commenced busi- ness in West Bend, where he still lives. He was married April 17, 1861, to Jane Franklin, of Wyoming, Iowa Co., Wis.,and has five children-Benjamin F., Arthur W., R. M. J., Jr., Jennie C. and Sophro- nia N., all living at home. He is well liked in Palo Alto, and has been super- visor six years. In politics he is a demo-

crat; also belongs to the Order of Odd Fellows.

William M., son of William and Louise Amos, was born Nov. 20, 1856. When eight years of age he moved with his parents to Beaver Dam, Wis., remaining three years. He then went to Winnebago Co., Wis., where he lived ten years, after which he removed to Algona, Kossuth Co., Iowa, and worked three years for J. J. Wilson in Inmber, grain and stock business. He then went to Whittemore, where he had control of the same gentle- man's business for four years, after which he opened a general store in Whitte- more and continued in business for him- self at that place for eighteen months. Mr. Amos then moved to West Bend, and, taking Mark Gray into partnership, he opened an extensive lumber yard at this place. They also deal in grain and stock. Mr. Amos was married Feb. 1, 1880, to Cora E. Heathman, daughter of George and Catharine II. Heathman, now living in Pocahontas Co., Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Amos have two children-William G. and Ethel C. Although Mr. Amos has been in this place but two years, he has won the confidence and esteem of his fel- low citizens. He is a republican in politics.

Henry H. Jacobs, son of George and Almira (Warren) Jacobs, was born June 12, 1853, in Dane Co., Wis. When ten years of age his parents went to Palo Alto county and settled on section 22, township 94, range 31, in West Bend town- ship.' While in Wisconsin they lived on a farm; were also on a farm in Palo Alto till Jan. 1, 1882, when Henry went to West Bend and built the store which he now occupies for a general stock. The

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building is 20x62 feet, and two stories high, the upper part being used as living rooms. Mr. Jacobs is well liked by all who know him. He was married April 31, 1882, to Jennie Brown, of West Bend township. He is now township trustee and school director. In politics he is a republican, and belongs to the Order of Odd Fellows.

Mark Gray, son of Anson and Roxana (Cleveland) Gray, was born Sept. 10, 1832, near Dorset, Bennington Co., Vt. When seventeen years old he went to Milwau- kee, Wis.,and learned the millwright trade, working at it in Milwaukee until 1870, when he went to Colorado. He was one of the discoverers of what is known as the Smith & Gray mines, they being named for him. He remained there min- ing till 1881, then came to Kossuth county, settling on the north half of section 30, township 94, range 30, Cresco township; he also owns the north west quarter of the west half of section 29. He has a good house, one and a half stories high, and other buildings, besides being in business in West Bend (having built the first house there), and one of the most prominent citizens. He was married Sept. 4, 1855, to Mehitable Maby, of Stevens' Point, Wis. They have three children-Anson, Byron and Roxie, wife of George L. Smith, of Monarch, Chaffee Co., Col. In politics he is a republican.

William Jones, son of Enos and Mary (Bingham) Jones, was born in Berks Co., Penn., June 20, 1833. In 1851 he went to Du Page Co., Ill., where he learned the mason's trade, and was engaged as a plasterer in that county until 1876. He then removed to Humboldt Co., Iowa,

where he was engaged in farming for four years. In 1883 he came to West Bend, Kossuth county, where he owns a house and lot and works at his trade. In 1861 Mr. Jones enlisted in company E, 8th Illi- nois Cavalry. He participated in the bat- tles of Bull Run, Manassas Junction, Yorktown, Williamsburg and Richmond, in 1862 and 1863. Ile was at Mechanics- ville, and drove to Gaines Mill, thence to James River, Malvern Hill, Harrison's Landing, Fair Oaks Court House, Fred- ericksburg to South Mountain and Boones- boro, thence to Antietam, where he was wounded. On Sept. 15, 1862, he went to the hospital, staid six weeks, then ob- tained a fifteen days furlough home. He went into the recruiting service and re- mained home three months, after which he was discharged. He re-enlisted, in 1863, in company C, 12th Illinois Cavalry, and served until the close of the war, taking part in a number of battles. Mr. Jones was married Sept. 5, 1858, to Mary M. Heidman, of Du Page Co., Ill. They have five children-Ella L., Emma A., Dora M., William and Sumner.

Michael Rourke is a native of Ireland. In 1840 he came to America in the sailing vessel, Virginia; the voyage lasting ten weeks and three days. He landed at New York city, went directly to Poughkeepsie, where he remained one winter. Ile was engaged in railroading in New York State until 1852, when he moved to Manchester, Iowa, where he remained five years. In 1862 he enlisted in company HI, 21st Iowa Infantry, being mustered in at Dubuque. Hle participated in the battles of Harts- ville, Mo., Grand Gulf, Vicksburg and Mobile. He served three years and three

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days, and was mustered out at Clinton, Iowa. Out of 900 in his regiment, he was one of 330 who returned from the war. Mr. Rourke was married Feb. 10, 1866, in Fort Dodge, Webster Co., Iowa, by Father Butler, to Ellen, daughter of David and Ellen O'Brien. They have seven children -Lizzie, Bartholomew, James, Michael, Mary, Edward and Ellen, all living at home. Mr. Rourke's present farm, of 900 acres, is located on sections 2 and 11, township 94, range 29, Cresco township. Ile has 500 acres under cultivation, the remainder being timber and grass. In 1883 he erected his present beautiful res- idence, at a cost of $7,000. It has all the modern improvements, and is one of the best houses in the county. Mr. Rourke has 35 mules, 300 head of cattle, 125 hogs and 35 cows. The Des Moines river bounds his entire farm on the west. His entire family are Catholics. In politics he is a republican.

Elhanan Winchester Clark was born in Penobscott Co., Maine, thirty miles north- west of Bangor, Dec. 22, 1822. He was an overseer in the Lancaster gingham factory in Massachusetts, three years. He became, as it appeared, a victim to that fell disease, consumption. He traveled in the south for his health, one year, without avail. Ile then came to Iowa in 1857, where, in a measure, he regained his health. He pre- empted 143} acres of land in the then township of Irvington, but has since been set off into Cresco township, Kossuth county. Ile still lives on the original claim, in a comfortable vine clad cottage, 24x33 feet in size, built largely from tim- ber of his own planting-one tree of which made 250 feet of lumber in fourteen years

growth. He has a good barn; a well dng and bored fifty feet deep, supplying an abundance of water. Mr. Clark purchased eighty acres more of land in a few years, and Mrs. Clark came into possession of a 135 acre homestead, through her parents, thus making quite a large farm. They have 230 acres under improvement, the remainder being in grass and timber land. He recently set off 100 acres to his son, Elhanan Clesson Clark. Mr. Clark was married March 15, 1846, to Susan C. Tidd. They have five children-Ernest Eugene, Edward Prentiss, Elhanan Clesson, Wil- liam Albert and Charles Elmer. Mr. Clark and family are Universalists in re- ligion, strong republicans and advocates of the Maine liquor law, he being one of its founders.

Henry H. Patterson was born in Lon- donderry, Windham Co., Vt., May 15, 1840. When two years of age be went with his parents, John M. and Sarah (Calef) Pat- terson, to Rochester, Racine Co., Wis. After residing there four years, they went to Dodge county, where his father was engaged in wagon making and farming. Mr. Patterson then removed to Menomo- nee, (or Indian tract as it was then called) where he was engaged for two years in farming. In May, 1852, Mr. Patterson and family started for California with ox teams. They went as far as Salt Lake, and spent the winter of 1852-3 among the Mormons. They left there in the spring of 1853, took the southern route to Cali- fornia and arrived at San Diego, on the Pacific coast, some time during the month of June, 1853. They remained there two or three months. It being too warm to be agreeable, they went farther north

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to Santa Clara valley, where he was engaged in farming two years. In the fall of 1855 he went on the Yuba river to seek his fortune in the gold mines, remaining there until the fall of 1856, when he returned to San Francisco, where he and family embarked on board the Golden Gate, for New York, where they took passage on the cars for Portage „Co., Wis., arriving there in October, 1856. He remained in that place two years, working at his trade. He then went to Columbia county and worked on a farın two years. In the fall of 1860 Mr. Pat- terson removed to Kossuth Co., Iowa, and settled on section 1, township 94, range 29, Cresco township, where he now owns 375 acres of land. Ile went into the bor- der warfare in 1862 and was there protect- ing the frontier for fourteen months. He then returned to his farm, and there re- mained until Jan. 5, 1864, when he en- listed in company F, 2d Iowa Cavalry, being in the 2d Cavalry corps. He par- ticipated in the engagement of Tupelo, and many others. Mr. Patterson was married April 5, 1877, to Mary C. Burtis, of Irvington township. They have two children-Jewell M. and Pearl P. In politics, Mr. Patterson is a republican. Ile has served as township trustee, town- ship clerk and school director. He is a Master Mason.

Abel Wooster was born March 8, 1820, in Cheshire Co., N. II. In 1861 he moved to Jones Co., Iowa, remaining four years, and coming to Cresco township in 1866, when he bought 130 acres of land on sec- tion 14, township 94, range 29, and still makes it his home. He also owns a half section on section 12, same township. He

was married Sept. 22, 1845, to Harriet Beels, of Chesterfield, N. HI. They have six children-Carrie H., who married An- thony Durant, a druggist in Algona ; Charles II., Edward B., Lydia A., Law- rence M. and Merton E. He and his wife are both Church members. In politics, he is a republican.

Rudolf Berringhauser, son of Gustave and Christian Berringhauser, is a native of Prussia, born Nov. 28, 1843. In 1856 he emigrated to the United States, locat- ing in New York. He then removed to Wisconsin. Remaining there a few months, he came to Kossuth county, locat- ing on the northeast quarter of section 8, township 94, range 30, this township. He has eighty acres under cultivation. He also has a good orchard and a nice grove. He was married Aug. 21, 1881, to Mar- garet Bonnstetter, daughter of Michael and Catharine Bonnstetter. They have two children-Willie B. and Otto. He was educated at the Agricultural Insti- tute in Bonn. Mr. Berringhauser belongs to the Lutheran Church. His wife be- longs to the Catholic Church.

George Stewart was born in Scotland, Nov. 8, 1826. He lived there until twenty- two years of age, when he emigrated to Quebec. The trip took eight weeks and eight days. He lived in Quebec twelve years, when he started west. In 1862 he came to Iowa and settled on sections 14 and 23. He has as fine land as there is in the county. He has a grove of five acres of willow, maple and cottonwood. Mr. Stewart has been married twice. First, to Jane Richmond. They had three children-George, Anna and James R. The two oldest children are married.

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Hle was married the second time, Jan. 25, 1866, to Mary, daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (Liversage) Clark. This union has been blessed with five children- Lizzie O., Robert, Margaret, William C. and Amanda L. Mr. Clark has held the offices of school director and township trustee, the latter for nine years. In politics he is a democrat.

Lafayette Turner was born near Elgin, Kane Co., Ill., May 27, 1850. When ten years of age he went to Benton Co., Iowa. His father owned a farm ten miles west of Vinton, in that county. He afterwards came to Kossuth Co., Iowa, and purchased the north half of the southeast quarter of section 13, township 95, range 30, Cresco township, where he now resides. Mr. Turner cultivates forty acres of land, has four acres in grove and orchard; the re- mainder of his land is unbroken. He also has good buildings on his place. He devotes more time to his trade, that of carpenter, than to farming. Mr. Turner was married Dec. 25, 1879, to Emma Mil- ler, of Cresco township. Her parents reside in Kansas. Two children have blessed this union-Miriam and Honor. In politics Mr. Turner is a republican. His father is deceased. His mother makes her home with him on the farmn.

John McKay, son of George and Janet (Morrison) Mckay, was born in Callais, Washington Co., Maine, Aug. 12, 1814. He remained at the home of his birth until thirty-six years old, when he re- moved to Manitowoc Co., Wis., and en- gaged in farming. In Maine, he worked at lumbering on the St. Croix river and on Grand lake. He was a contractor. On July 27, 1865, he came to Kossuth

county and located in Algona. In the fall or winter he removed to a farm on section 14, remaining there until 1874, when he removed to the southwest quar- ter of the southwest quarter of section 18. Mr. Mckay was married Oct. 26, 1836, to Margaret, daughter of Moses and Eliza ( Hamilton) Taft, of Callais, Washington Co., Maine. The result of this union was three children-William. H., married to Jane Hollenbeck, of Mani- towoc, now living in Algona; George A., married to Christiana Homma, living on section 14, Cresco township, and Mary E., married to P. C. Phillips, of Cresco township. Mr. Mckay is a republican, and has been school director.

William Johnson was born in New Brunswick, June 26, 1815. He received his education in the common schools of New Brunswick, by his own exertions, and taught school there for some time. In 1847 he moved to Canada, where he taught school and engaged in farming. He af- terwards moved to Iowa City, thence to Washington county, where he purchased forty acres of land, living on that place three years. In 1866 he came to Kossuth county, and settled on section 18, town- ship 95, range 29, where he owns ninety- six and one-third acres of good land. He has sixty acres under cultivation. Since coming here he has tanght school five or six terms. Mr. Johnson was married Jan. 1, 1851, to Harriet Shiek, of New Bruns- wick. They have eight children-Ada, wife of Mina Willis of Algona; Augus- tus B., M. C., Ella, wife of Frank Potter, of Cresco township; Bertha, Maggie, Nathaniel and Lizzie. In politics Mr. Johnson is a greenback republican. He

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has been clerk of Cresco township for two years, and is also secretary of the school board.

Samnel B. McClelan was born in Put- nam Co., Ind., March 26, 1829. In 1844 he removed to Illinois, locating in Henry county. In 1849 he was united in mar- riage with Sarah Ronse, of Clay Co., Ind. He came to Kossuth Co., Iowa and loca- ted on section 5. He has eighty acres of land on section 5, and forty acres on sec- tion 7, township 94, range 29. He has sixty acres under cultivation. Mr. and Mrs McClelan have five children-John Wesley, Edward, Dexter, Samuel B. and Amelia E. The three eldest of whom are married. Mr. McClelan is a republi- can in politics. In October, 1861, he en- listed in company E, 9th Illinois Cavalry, 16th Army Corps, as blacksmith. He was in the battles of Tupelo and Corinth. He was principally engaged in keeping com- munications open, and was mustered ont at Springfield, Ill., Oct. 27, 1864.

William Robe, son of Dydrich and Martha (Fisher) Robe, was born in Hano- ver, Germany, June 15, 1840. In 1853 he emigrated to Clayton Co., Iowa, and en- gaged in farming near Guttenberg. He remained there about three years, and re- moved to Kossuth county, locating on the north west quarter of section 15. He now owns 200 acres of good land. He was united in marriage with Augusta, daugh; ter of Charles and Caroline Harsh, who live two miles north of Algona. The re- sult of this union is five children-Anna, John, Minnie, William and Emma. Mr. Robe is a republican.

Hliram A. Matson was born Jan. 4, 1826, in Rochester, N. Y. His father,

John Matson, was a large contractor on the Erie canal, and run canal boats a num- ber of years. Hle built the first log house in Rochester. His mother, Mrs. Mary Matson, was a woman of excellent quali- ties. When six years old, he went with his parents to Dearborn, Wayne Co., Mich., where they lived ten years, and then moved to Henry Co., Ill., twenty-six miles east of Rock Island. At the end of sixteen years, he moved to the north- ern part of Illinois, Jo Daviess county, making it his home twelve years. He then came to Kossuth Co., Iowa, where he has since lived. He owns 160 acres of land on section 7, township 94, range 29, having 110 acres of it under cultivation, besides raising good Durham stock. His buildings cost probably $1,500. He was married Nov. 3, 1853, to Eveline McClel- an, of Indiana. They have five children -Clarence B., who has been for three years attending the Iowa State Universi- ty, with the intention of graduating. He is highly spoken of as a very nice and tal- ented young man; Henry O., Francis A., Selestia A. and Hannah F. The family are all Methodists.' In politics he is a republican, and has been school director in district No. 6, also superintendent of Sunday schools a long time, at one time being superintendent of three different schools.

Fred Lange was born Feb. 27, 1836, in Mecklenburg. When nine years old, he went to Chicago, remaining two years and a half. While here, his parents came over. He went from Chicago to Clayton county, then to Farmersburg township, where he lived eight years working on a farm. In 1870, he came to Kossuth

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county, settling on section 5, township 94, range 30, where he has 125 acres under cultivation, good improvements, and four acres of trees around him. He also keeps Poland China and Berkshire hoga, besides milking twelve cows. One acre he devotes to a fine orchard. He was married in March, 1860, to Minnie Strucker of Clayton county. They have one child. In politics he is a republican, and belongs to the Lutheran Church.

Alonzo A. Sifert was born May 31, 1860, in Crawford Co., Wis. When ten years of age he came with his parents to Kossuth county, and has lived in different parts of the county, working for dif- ferent men. He has taught school in Ne- braska. In 1880 he returned from Ne- braska to Kossuth county and taught school one term, also taught one year in Humboldt county and three terms in St. Joseph, this county, being a very success- ful teacher. Ile is how running the farm of B. Clark. He is a firm believer in Christianity, but not associated with any sect. In politics he is a democrat.

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History of Kossuth and Humbolt counties, Iowa : together with sketches of their cities, villages, and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 57

Author: Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Union Publishing Company Number of Pages: 898

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield, Ill. : Union Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 898