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 87
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Hermann G. Busse is a native of Ger- many, born Sept. 23, 1852. He was reared and educated in his native country and in 1869 emigrated to America. Ile first located ia Sheboygan Co., Wis., where he remained eight months, then removed to Kendall Co., Ill., and lived till the spring of 1876, at which date he came to Hum- boldt connty and located upon his present farm, on section 25, of Beaver township. He owns 120 acres of good land. He was married in April, 1881, to Louisa Weber, also a native of Germany. They have two children-Carl and Mary. Mr. Busse has held the office of township constable two terms, and has also been school di- rector. Both he and his wife are mem- bers of the Lutheran Church.
George E. Severns was born in Grundy Co., Ill., Nov. 10, 1852. He was reared upon a farm and obtained his education
in the common schools of his native county, where he lived until 1877. He came in that year to Humboldt county, and purchased the farm on which he now resides. It contains 120 acres of good land, Hle was married Dec. 25, 1876, to Caroline White, who was born in Grundy Co., Ill. They have one child-Horace. Mr. Severns is president of the school board of the district in which he resides.
Mason Hanna, son of Robert and Anna (Haskins) Hanna, natives of Scotland, was born upon the Atlantic ocean, while his parents were on board ship, bound for America, Sept. 4, 1818. His father settled in Oneida Co., N. Y. When nine years old, Mason went on board the old man of war, North Carolina, in the capacity of cabin boy. That ship shortly afterwards became a naval school and he remained upon board three years, as a pupil, after which he was employed in and about the navy yard until 1833. He then shipped on a three years cruise to the Mediterra- mean in the cutter Albany. In 1837 he was at the windmill in the Patriot or Ma- kenzie war with Canada. He next shipped to California, thence to Liverpool and from there to South America and other ports. On March 9,1847, he was with Com- modore Connor, landing troops and large guns near Vera Cruz, Mexico. He saw Gen. Scott enter the city at the head of Gen. Worth's division, and on the 31st of March Commodore Perry took command of the Gulf squadron in place of Com- modore Connor. On the 5th of April Mr. Hanna left the service. From that time until 1853 he lived in New York, Canada and other places, then took charge of a grain vessel between Chicago and Buffalo,
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in which employment he continued till the breaking out of the Civil War. He then entered government employ, but saw no active service until 1863, when he became mate of the transport steamer R. B. Hamilton, and was on board when the boat was blown up by a torpedo in Mobile bay in 1865. He escaped in a wounded condition. In the spring of 1866 he came north and located at Boone Co., Iowa, where he remained two years. He then went to Fort Dodge and was there engaged as contractor and builder, until 1879, at which date he came to Humboldt county and settled at his present home in Beaver township, where he has a fine farm of 240 acres. He was married in 1862 to Sallie Whittier, a native of New York, who died in 1864. He was again married, in 1872, to Martha Lewison, a native of Norway. They had four children born to them-Walter, Lillie, Sallie and Min- nie. Mrs. Hanna died in the fall of 1883.
James Hughes was born in July, 1845, and is a native of Ireland. When James was two years old, the family emigrated to America, locating in Norfolk Co., W. Va., where they resided till 1854, when they removed to Illinois, settling in
Grundy county, where James was reared on a farm. In 1862 he enlisted in com- pany C, 76th Illinois regiment, serving till May, 1865, and was with Gen. Grant's army. He then returned to Illinois, where he farmed till Jan. 22, 1881, when he came to Iowa and located on his present place. He has 160 acres of good land. He was married June 22, 1872, to Jane O. Connor, a native of England-Irish par- entage. They have four children-Sa- bina M., Dina, Margarette F. and John. Mr. Hughes is a member of the Catholic Church.
Osman Larson came to Humboldt county in 1882. He was born in Norway in March 1847, and came to America in 1861. He located first in La Salle Co., Ill., and lived four years, then removed to Livingston county, of the same State, where he was engaged in farming until the time that he came to this county. He has a fine farm of 160 acres. His wife was Martha Even- son, a native of La Salle Co., Ill. They were married Dec. 2, 1874, and have three children-Lewis, Bertha F. and Malinda J. Mr. Larson is the present road over- seer.
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CHAPTER XXI.
CORINTH TOWNSHIP.
Corinth township comprises all of con- gressional township 91, range 21, except all of sections 1 and 12, which is covered by the town plat of Humboldt. Some of the finest land in the county lies within the borders of it, and as a large part is traversed by the West Fork of the Des Moines river, it does not lack for timber. The surface is rolling and in some places broken, near the river, but not so much as to destroy its value for agricultural pur- poses. The soil is a rich, warm, alluvial loam, that has wonderful powers of fe- candity and fertility.
The honor of having been the pioneer of this township belongs, undoubtedly, to William Miller, who came here and took up a claim on section 24, in the spring of 1854. He here built, of logs, the first cabin in the township. He was a peculiar man in many respects. He kept a kind of tavern or stopping place, for travelers, but one of his queer characteristics was a truly Indian dislike to paper money, which he would not take in payment of any kind. He had a large family of twelve children, and was a rough, good-natured pioneer. He resided here until 1859 or 1860, when he removed to Fremont county, where he has since died.
The next settlers seem to have been John McKitrick and John Means, who
made their appearance here in March, 1856, from the State of Pennsylvania.
Mr. McKitrick came without his family, who followed him in July, and settled upon the southwest quarter of section 2, where he built a log cabin, the Indians assisting him in a truly friendly manner. Here he lived and tilled the soil until Oct. 11, 1872, when he died. He was buried in Union Cemetery.
Mr. Means located upon the southeast quarter of the same section, so as to be neighborly, and with the assistance of the Indians put up his cabin of logs.
John Farney, another old settler, came to the township in 1856, and lived with Mr. McKitrick until 1857, when he died, during the time of the excitement over the Spirit Lake massacre.
Morehouse Sherman located upon the west half of section 26, in 1856. He was a native of Vermont, but came here from Whitehall, N. Y. He is now a resident of Fort Dodge.
John Johnson, another of the pioneers of this township, came to Corinth, and lo- cated a claim on section 2, in 1856. Hle is still a resident of the county.
Alexander McLean also took a claim here on section 14, in 1856. Mr. McLean was the first county treasurer and recorder, who, years ago, moved to Fort Dodge.
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where he recently died, as detailed else- where.
The Zangger brothers came to Corinth township in 1857; after staying some lit- tle while, they became dissatisfied and re- moved to Illinois.
George L. Cruikshank, one of the most prominent men in the county, came to this locality in 1857, and pre-empted a claim between the forks of the Des Moines river, on section 24, but which he afterwards sold.
George L. Cruikshank was born in Flat Lands, Kings Co., L. I., in 1834. His great grandfather settled in an early day in what is now Salem, Washington Co., N. Y., where his grandfather was born, lived and died. His father, Rev. Wil- liam Cruikshank, was the second of a family of eight children, and was born March 12, 1798, and was married in ; No- vember, 1824, to Jane B. Delaplane, of Salem, who died at Newburg, N. Y., Jan. 17, 1836. His father died at Cornwall, Orange Co., N. Y., Feb. 20, 1854. In 1835, Mr. Cruikshank, subject of this sketch, removed with his parents to Newburg, and in 1838, to Hyde Park, Duchess county, thence to Cornwall, in 1841, where they remained fifteen years. In July, 1856, he removed to Fort Dodge, Iowa, and in the spring of 1857, came to Humboldt county. In 1859 he returned to Fort Dodge, and engaged in partnership with S. B. Ayers, in the mercantile business, which he continued until August, 1861, when he enlisted in the Independent Light Cavalry, afterward . known as the 11th Pennsylvania. He served until Sept. 20, 1864, and at the time of his discharge, was Ist sergeant.
On his return from the war, he engaged in business at Dakota City, for a few months, then went again to Fort Dodge where he was a member of the firm of Cruikshauk & Riddle, three years. In 1868, he returned to Dakota City and en- gaged in mercantile trade, which he dis- continued in 1875, and removed to the farm where he now lives, which is located south of Humboldt. He is engaged quite extensively in the stock business. He was married Dec. 24, 1864, to Estber M. Flower, daughter of R. S. Flower, of this county. Seven children have been born to them, six of whom are living- Eleanor, Catharine E., George F., Roswell D., Mary and Robert. William D. is de- ceased, and buried at Fort Dodge. Mr. Cruikshank is a republican and has held the office of clerk of the township since its organization; has been secretary of the school board six terms, and county super- visor. He is among the worthy and enter- prising citizens of the county.
R. S. Flower was another pioneer of this locality, settling here in April, 1857.
R. S. Flower, a successful farmer of Corinth township, was born Dec. 25, 1808, in Rupert, Bennington Co., Vt. His parents were Roswell and Huldah (Aus- tin) Flower, now deceased, and buried in Rupert, Vt. He came to Humboldt coun- ty in the spring of 1857, and pre-empted 160 acres on section 26, of Corinth town- ship, where he now resides. Ile has now thirty acres of nice timber, and good Durham stock. Mr. Flower was town- ship clerk in 1860, and since 1866 has been the postmaster of Addison postoffice. He was married Feb. 22, 1838, to Phebe Ann Peck, of Vermont. He votes, with
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the republican party, and has held the office of justice of the peace three years. He is of English descent, a member of the Disciple Church, a worthy citizen, and deservedly popular among a large circle of acquaintances.
A. W. Marsh settled upon section 28, during the year 1858. Mr. Marsh was at one time county judge, under which head may be found a sketch of him, constructed of such slight data as the historian could gather. He married Rachel, a daughter of William Miller, on the 16th of March, 1859, which was the first solemnization of that ceremony in the township.
FIRST ITEMS.
The first marriage in the township took place upon the 16th of March, 1859, at which time Thomas M. Reed, a justice of the peace, united in the holy bonds of matrimony Alexander W. Marsh and Ra- chel A. Miller, the latter the daughter of the pioneer of the township, William Miller.
The first death was that of A. W. Marsh, at that time county judge, but who was at Fort Dodge on business, in De- cember, 1859, and who was killed by a runaway team.
'The first school was taught on the Glen farm. William Miller, who lived there at that time, employed Peter C. McClel- lan to teach his children in November, 1857.
The first log cabin was built by Wil- liam Miller in 1855, on section 24, near where R. Jones' farm-house stands.
The first ground was broken and the first wheat and corn put in the ground by William Miller, during the spring of 1856.
The first district school was taught in a small frame building, on the northeast quarter of section 23, during the summer of 1859.
Corinthi township was organized in April, 1879, the first election taking place upon the 14th of October. G. W. Farlow, William N. Bull and A. Rathke acted as judges, and G. L. Cruikshank and R. C. Hayes as clerks. At that time the follow- ing officers were elected: J. A. Marvin, Hiram Lane and N. O. Nelson, trustees; George L. Cruikshank, clerk; William N. Bull, assessor, T. H. Gamble and Fred. Nedemiah, justices; M. Himmelmen and B. „Linstruth, constables. William Knie- riem, road supervisor, district No. 1; Joseph Abbey, district No. 2, and A. E. Lane district No. 3. The present officers are as follows: Trustees, J. D. Foster, William Brooks and Joseph Abbey; clerk, G. L. Cruikshank; justices, J. F. Ellis and J. H. Campbell; constables, William Bane and N. O. Nelson; road supervisors, J. T. Ellis, S. W. Bull and O. E. Lane, the latter of whom is also assessor.
Corinth has a township library, which was instituted during the year 1883, with about $200 worth of books. R. C. Hays is the custodian and librarian. This is so new a departure that it is rather prema- ture to speak of its success at the present time, but it seems to promise well for the future.
Rufus Chauncey Hayes, son of Moses and Mary (Henningway) Hayes, was born in Erie Co., Penn., Sept. 18, 1836. On his twelfth birthday his parents left the old home and removed to Walwortlı Co., Wis., where they remained one winter. They then removed to Jefferson Co., Wis.,
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where they lived eighteen and a half years. During this time the subject of our sketch became a member of the Bap- tist Charch and a Good Templar. In 1861 he attended school at the Wisconsin State University. He was married on the 29th of January, 1862, to Charlotte Eliza Par- sons, of Jefferson county. She was born in Chautauqua Co., N. Y., Oct. 29, 1844. Rev. William Dye performed the mar- riage ceremony. Her parents are at rest in Oakwood Cemetery, near Humboldt. Ilis father is buried in Dunn Co., Wis. His mother is yet living. Mr. Hayes came to Humboldt county in 1867, and purchased his present home, consisting of seventy-seven and one-half acres in Corinth township. When he pur- chased this farm it was wild prairie land. He began life in this place with a wife and two children, and very limited capital. The first two years he rented land until he could improve his farm. His first crop was wholly destroyed by the grasshoppers, and he has suffered con- siderable loss since from the same cause. Mr. Ilayes is a republican politically, and has been road overseer four consecutive terms, school director, member of petit jury eight terms, member of grand jury one term, and was the first librarian of Corinth public library. Ile is a member of Unity Church. In connection with his farm he runs a broom factory. Mr. and Mrs. Hayes have two children liv- ing-Ida D., aged twenty-one years, and Emma C., aged eighteen years. They have two children dead. One, a daugh- ter, died when nine months old, and an infant son. Mr. Hayes is strictly temper- ate, and has signed many temperance
pledges. He has written considerably for the papers, and can write a good story on either temperance or pioneer life.
Among the traditions extant in this township is one, that, in the spring of 1857, a severe contest took place upon section 24 between a band of Sioux and Potta- wattomie Indians, resulting unfavorable to the latter. It seems, so runs the legend, that this for some time had been debatable ground between these two tribes, who had indulged in little outbursts of splenetic rage at one another. The Sioux, an ever warlike race, could not stand idly by while their enemies possessed the ground they felt was theirs, or at least they claimed, determined on revenge and marched down and attacked the camp of the Pottawattomies. Marks of the con- flict were to be seen leng afterwards, and the boys of the settlers often amused themselves by cutting the bullets out of the trees that surrounded the battle-field. The conflict culminated in the entire dis- comfiture of the Pottawattamies, and it is said that thirty-two of that tribe fell be- fore the guns and tomahawks of their san- guinary foes. A skull was picked up by one of William Miller's boys some time afterwards, and passed into the possession of R. S. Flower, who kept it until two or three years ago, when it passed into the hands of his son, Dr. Dwight Flower, now of Monticello, Wis.
Among the first teachers in this town- ship was Kate Buckholder, now the wife of ex-Governor, ex-Congressman Cyrus C. Carpenter. As early as 1858 or 1859 she was the teacher of one of the schools, and report says made a most excellent one.
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Balser Linnastrill was born in Hesse Castle, Germany, Dec. 25, 1837, came to this country when twelve years old and settled in New York, where he remained until 1863, when he came to Humboldt county and settled on section 23, Corinth township. He now owns 280 acres of land, makes a specialty of raising hay, and is rapidly accumulating wealth. He was married July 14, 1872, to Dora Brun- shan, of Hanover, Germany. They have five children-Louisa, Willie, Frank, John and Mary; the latter died Feb. 24, 1884. Mr. Linnastrill spent eight or nine years " keeping bach," and now fully realizes the inconvenience of such a life, and wonders how he kept himself together. Politically he is a republican, and is a member of the Union Church.
Carlos E. Lane, son of Valentine and Sally (Loomis) Lane, was born June 9, 1842, in Lewis Co., N. Y. His parents are still living in Lewis county. In 1864 he came to Humboldt county and settled on section 25, Corinth township. Four years later he sold out to his brother and returned to New York on a visit. In the spring of 1869 he came again to the county, and located upon the west half of section 26, where he now resides. He has 190 acres under cultivation. His resi- dence is beautifully located in a fine grove of natural timber. He is engaged in raising grain and stock, and keeps Cots- wold sheep. He is a successful farmer. He was married Dec. 14, 1869, to Hattie McNally, daughter of William and Eliza (Crosson) McNally, of Delana township. They have two children-Lil- lie G. and Wallace H. Mr. Lane is a re- publican, and has held the office of asses-
sor two years; has also been school direc- tor and treasurer.
Hiram Lane is a native of Lewis Co., N. Y., born Aug. 11, 1834, and is the son of Valentine and Sallie L. (Loomis) Lane, who are still living in Lewis county. Mr. Lane, subject of this sketch, came to Humboldt county in 1865, and purchased 480 acres of good land, located on Indian creek, of which he subsequently sold all, except 160 acres where he now lives. His farm consists of the west half of the northeast quarter, and the west half of the southeast quarter of section 25, of Corinth township. His improvements are among the best in the township. The house is surrounded by a natural grove of oak, poplar and elin trees. There is also a nice orchard and forty acres of timber upon the place. Mr. Lane is a man of sterling qualities, and has been successful in his undertakings. He has occupied the position of president of the Agricul- tural Society for some time, and was su- pervisor three terms. He is a republican, and a member of the I. O. O. F. He was married Feb. 6, 1856, to Olive M. Jones, daughter of Silleck R. and Nancy (Bush- nell) Jones, of Leyden, N. Y. Four chil- dren have been born to them-Bion S., Nettie M., Eleanor B, and Clark A.
Joseph Albee was born Oct. 16, 1821, in Palermo, Oswego Co., N. Y. When thirty years of age he removed to Onon- daga county and lived there four years, thence back to Palermo, where he resided until 1866, when he removed to Humboldt Co., Iowa, locating in the city of Hum- boldt. Im 1872 he removed to Corinth township and located on section 23. He at first erected a small house, which he
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lived in until 1883, when he built a new one. In 1861 he enlisted in company C, 101st New York Volunteer Infantry, and served three years as wagon master. He was mustered out at Fort Hill, Va. In 1877 he went to California, but in 1878 returned to his old home in this county. On the 7th of March, 1871, he was united in marriage with Sarah O. Lowry of IIum- boldt county. They have two children- B. L. and Bessie M. Mr. Albee is a re- publican in politics, and held the office of supervisor in 1883. He is a member of Unity Church.
William Learmont was born in Canada, Huntingdon Co., province of Quebec, July 29, 1843, and is the son of James and Elizabeth (Black) Learmont, who are of Scotch extraction and now living in Humboldt county. When William was twenty years old, he left home and went to California, prospecting for gold. He had good success, remained two and one- half years and then returned to Canada, where he remained one winter and then came direct to Humboldt county. They have six children-Rhoda R., James M., Elizabeth O., Hattie M., William R. and Frank Pierce. Mr. Learmont is a repub- lican, and at the present time holds the office of township trustee.
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John D. Foster, a prominent farmer and stock breeder of Humboldt county, was born in Ontario, Ontario Co., Canada, March 7, 1841. He is a son of Loren and and Salome (Crawford) Foster, both now residents of Canada. When John D. was twenty-seven years old, he left his native place and sought a home in Iows. Com- ing to Humboldt county he seemed satis- fied with its genial climate and fertile
Buil, and settled on section 25, Corinth township, where he owns the northwest quarter. He also has 160 acres on section 35. He cultivates about 130 acres, and has a fine farm well improved, and in good condition. In addition to general farming he has a good herd of cattle, and makes a specialty of breeding short horn Durhams of which he has a goodly num- ber. His place is one of value, and makes a desirable home. Mr. Foster was mar- ried May 1, 1871, to Phebe Mosure, who is a daughter of James and Sarah (Toyn- ton) Mosure, of Kingston, Canada. They have had two children-Ellen Maud, now buried in Oakwood cemetery, Humboldt county, and Almira Edith, living at home. Mr. Foster is an intelligent gentleman, votes the republican ticket, has been trustee of the township, assessor, and also school treasurer four years. The family attend Unity Church, and are numbered among the best class of Humboldt county citizens.
Mrs. Elizabeth Stoebe, widow of Au- gust Stoebe, was born in Toronto, Canada, March 2, 1843. She went, when quite young, to Berth Co., Canada, where she was afterwards married. Her husband was a native of Germany, and died in 1880. He is buried in Indian Mound Cemetery. They came to Iowa in 1868, and lived one and a half years on a rented farm. Mr. Stoebe then purchased the east half of the northwest quarter of section 22, of Corinth township, also one other eighty acre tract. Mrs. Stoebe now re- sides upon this farm with her family. She has ten children-Emelia, Mary, Samuel, William, Lydia, Emma, Sarah, Bertha, Esther and Frankie. Mary in
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married to William Knieriem. Mrs. Stoebe is a shrewd manager and a suc- cessful financier. She has displayed much energy and ability in her management of the farm since her husband's death, and is highly respected by her neighbors. She is a member of the Evangelical Church.
John Mitchell was born in Virginia, Jan. 23, 1852. In 1854 he removed with his parents to Canada West, where six- teen years of his life were spent upon a farm. He then came to Iowa and settled in Tama county, near Traer, and remained there fourteen years, after which he came to Humboldt county and purchased a farm of 160 acres of John Edge. It is located on section 21, in Corinth township. He has 100 acres broken. Near his house is a never-failing spring which affords at all times an abundance of excellent water, and renders the place one of the most de- sirable stock farms in the county. Mr. Mitchell was married July 3, 1875, to Alice Mason, a native of England, but then a resident of Tama county, where her parents still reside. Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell have four children-Hugh, Eliza- beth, William and Alexander. Mr. Mitchell's mother now resides in Tama county. He is politically a democrat.
J. E. Barker, a native of New York, born in Chautauqua county, on Lake Erie, Dec. 9, 1846, is a son of Samuel H. and Miriam Wright (Gould) Barker, both de- ceased. He was educated at Fredonia Academy, Fredonia, N. Y., and Buffalo, where he took a commercial course. He then was engaged as book-keeper through the oil regions for three years, tlien trav- eled about for a few years,coming to Ilum- boldt county in 1869 and locating on sec-
tion 10,township 92,range 28, Grove town- ship. He engaged in farming two years, then removed to Humboldt and went into mercantile trade for two years. He then worked in different offices in the court house, managed a collection office, and was justice of the peace six or eight years. He then purchased the northeast quarter of section 28, township 91, range 29, where he now lives and has a pleasant home. Mr. Barker has held the office of county coroner and is a member of the A. O. U. W., and I. L. of H. In politics he is independent. He was married July 22, 1868,to Mary S. Hart of Oswego Co., N. Y. She is a niece of S. H. Taft,of Ium- boldt City. They have three children- Florence E., Herbert H. and Francis G.
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