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 90

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 90

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

'The troubles and hardships incident to the new settlement of a country were largely increased by the war of elements and the intense cold and deep snows. An old settler, in speaking of these, says: " The winter of 1856-7 was the most stormy and gave ns the mnost trouble of

any that we ever experienced here. On the Ist of December it commenced with a snow storm that lasted two days, and that covered the ground with a white mantle of the 'beautiful snow.' The winds heaped this into great billowy drifts of great depth, and every man was blockaded in his own cabin. For long weary weeks traveling with teams was among the impossibilities. Of course, fuel and provisions ran short, and these were hanled on hand-sleds by the settlers themselves, they floundering through the drifts or gliding across the country on the frozen crust. Some of these went to the settlements on the Boone river, twenty miles away, and loading their sleds with provisions, hanled them home. A road was broken from Fort Dodge to Algona, at the expense of great labor, and by in- cessant work it was kept open the balance of the winter.

"The summer of 1858 was extremely wet, and we had great difficulty in get- ting around, the sloughs being impass- able."

The first marriage of residents of this township was on the 11th of November, 1857, when T. J. Smith and Roxa Flem- ming went to Algona and were married.

The first birth was that of Allie, the son of T. Ellwood Collins, born on the 3d of October, 1856. It only lived a year and seven months, when it died, and was buried in the cemetery on section 12. This was the first death in the township, also.

The first land was broken by B. W. Trellinger in the fall of 1856, and the first crop of corn was raised by him the following year.

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Hiram Flemming raised the first wheat in the township, in 1858, on section 13.

The first postmaster was George W. Hanchett, and M. D. Collins was the first justice.

The first class of the Methodist Episco- pal Church in Delana township was or- ganized by Rev. F. E. Drake, who preached two years on the Rutland cir- cuit.

The pioneer school of this township was taught at Sumner in the summer of 1860 by Flavia A. Flemming, now Mrs. Holmes. This was a district school, the district being a sub-division of the town- ship of Humboldt.

The first regular school house was erected in 1866, and is that now situated in district No. 1.

On the 11th of March, 1871, the district township of Delana was set apart and or- ganized, as now constituted, with the fol- lowing officers: Ira Neal, president; T. E. Collins, secretary; Nelson Martin, treasurer; T. J. Smith, T. A Rossing and Ira Neal, directors. During that year schools were held in sub-districts Nos 1 and 2, taught by Emeline Esterbrook and Lewis J. Anderson.

There are now eight school buildings in the township, one in each of the sub- divisions thereof.

That in sub-distriet No. 1 was erected in 1866, and the first preceptress was Flavia Flemming. Olive Hart was the in- cumbent of that position in the fall of 1883.

That in No. 2 was built in 1868, and Lewis J. Anderson taught the first term, and Fretta Winegarden is the present teacher (1884).

In 1874 Norman Price taught a school in the newly erected building in sub-dis- trict No. 3. Olive Hart occupied the same position in 1884.

The school house in district No. 4 was put up in 1877, and Oella Collins was in- stalled as first teacher. John S. Dahl is the present pedagogue.

Jennie Harvey taught the first school in district No. 5, in 1878, when the house for the purpose was erected. This school is presided over by Jennie LeCompte at the present time.

In 1878 one of the school houses that was erected in district No. 4, in 1876, was removed to No. 6, and Maria A. Tay- lor employed to train the youth of that district. It is now under the charge of Jennie Sinclair.

The sub-district No. 7 erected their school house in 1882, and Lucy Bravender was the first teacher therein, as Jolin H. Callahan is the present.

District No. 8 completed its building in 1883, and installed Abram Simmons as teacher, a position he at present holds.

The present board of directors is com- posed of the following named: Lewis Vought, Chris Gullixson, John Smiley, Andrew Olson, T. E .. Collins, Tieman Williamson, John O'Neil and C. L. Smith. Of these, T. Williamson is the president; T. E. Collins, secretary, and T. A. Ros- sing, treasurer.

CEMETERY.

One of the most beautiful of all the "resting places of the dead" in the county, is, beyond all doubt, the Sumner ceme- tery. This was laid out at an early day, M. D. Collins donating the land, which he deeded to the township, and with his

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brother, T. E. Collins, surveyed and laid it out. It is on the southwest quarter of section 12.

For some time previous to this it had been the practice to bury here the dead, and the first to be laid away in this little city of the departed was an infant child of T. E. Collins, who was interred in April, 1858. The board placed at the head of the grave, with the inscription cut, "Allie, 1858," is still in good preser- vation. Beauty of situation, added to the improvments that have been made, and the signs of evident care on every hand, make it a lovely spot. The town- ship has the control of it. T. E. Collins is the secretary and has charge of the cemetery. The trustees are R. M. Holmes, T. J. Smith and T. E. Collins.

THE VILLAGE OF SUMNER.

In 1857 was laid out on the southeast quarter of section 12, a town, which was christened Sumner, The plat of this was filed for record on the 19th of September, 1857. The original proprietors of this, the pioneer village of Humboldt county, were Herman Munson, W. M. Wheeler, Peter and T. Ellwood Collins. These gentlemen, cherishing thoughts that their incipient town might grow to be the fu- ture metropolis of the county, however laudable, were doomed to disappointment, and the current of emigration being di- verted elsewhere, it has been restored to the uses of agriculture. Where it was hoped to see the busy mart of commerce, the noisy manufactory or mill, or the palatial residence, now re-echoes only to the tramp of lowing kine, or the whistle of the plow boy at his work. Nodding corn and bending grain occupy its streets,

and its glory has departed, and although the site was most beautiful and advanta- geous, it never arose to the distinction of a town. The first frame building on the site of the village was erected by Peter Collins, in the fall of 1857. At the same time T. E. Collins built a frame house in Sumner, which was used for the several purposes of dwelling house, meeting house and school house.

M. D. Collins was the first merchant, and, in fact, the first in the county, open- ing a store in 1857 and running it for two years.

Isaac Palmer built a cabin and black- smith shop, and pursued the avocation of a blacksmith for several years from the fall of 1857.

When the hopes of the village expired, the buildings were all moved away, and the place that knew it knows it no more.

"Sweet smiling village, lovliest of the lawn,

Thy sports are tled, and all thy charms whhdrawn; Amidst thy bowers, care alone is to be seen, And desolation saddens all thy green."

BODE.

This village was laid out in November, 1881, by the Cedar Rapids, Iowa Falls & Northwestern Town Lot Company, and the plat thereof filed for record on the 23d of February, 1882. This place, which lies upon the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railroad, about five and one-half miles west of Livermore, is of so recent a birth that it has acquired but little history. The depot was built here in March, 1882, and of the sixty acros owned by the Town Lot Company on section 18, they platted about thirty south of the track, and sold twenty of the balance to M. Bnh- ler, of the firm of Ough & Buhler, who re- sides in Lamoille, Ill.

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The first business honse erected on the site of the village was built by T. A. Rossing in April, 1882. In this, on the 10th of May following, he opened a gen- eral merchandise store. The structure was 22x60 feet in size, two stories high. The lower room he used as a store room, the upper as a place of dwelling. In October, 1882, Mr. Rossing erected another building of the same dimensions to the north of his store, and during the follow- ing winter nsed it as a store room for wheat and flour, exchanging flour for wheat with his patrons. He carries a large and well selected stock of goods in his line and enjoys a remunerative business.

Torkill A. Rossing, a prosperous farmer of Delana township, was born April 7, 1840, in Norway. He is the son of An- drew O. and Bertha (Walden) Rossing. 'The former is now living in Lafayette Co., Wis. The latter died in Norway. Mr. Rossing, of this sketch, left Norway at the age of seventeen years, came to America and settled in Lafayette Co., Wis., where he remained, with the excep- tian of two years at school in Warren, Ill., until 1862, when he enlisted in company E, of the 15th Wisconsin. He served a few days as private, was then promoted to the rank of sergeant, then sergeant-major, then Ist lieutenant, and afterwards to captain and served as act- ing adjutant. He participated in the en- gagements at Perryville, Stone River, Chickamanga, Jonesboro and Missionary Ridge. During the winter of 1863-4 he was on detached duty at Madison, Wis., enlisting recruits; also, judge-advo- cate of conrt-martial. He was innstered out of service at Chattanooga May 30,

1864. He was married to Mary Ander- son, of Lafayette Co., Wis., after which he returned to the army and staid until about the close of the war. He then came back to Wisconsin and engaged in business with his brother-in-law at Argyle, where he continned three years, then sold out to his partner, Mr. Anderson, who is now banking in Nebraska. Mr. Rossing then engaged as clerk in a store in Mon- roe, Wis., one year, after which he came to this county and settled on sec- tion 20, Delana township, where he owns 360 acres of choice land, with fine im- provements. He is engaged in stock raising, and has a large herd of Short horns. He also owns an eighty acre tract of land adjoining the town plat of Bode, on the north. Mr. Rossing is a republi- can and has been a member of the board of comity supervisors. He is an active member of the Lutheran Church, and a. useful and influential citizen. He built and stocked the first store and postoffice at Bode, Iowa, where he has done a good business for the past two years. He opened up there about the 1st of May, 1882.

The lumber yard was also established by the enterprise of Mr. Rossing in April, 1882, but in March, 1883, he disposed of it to J. B. Griffin, who operates it at pres- ent. It is under the management of Opheim & Gangestad, the proprietor not being a resident, and under their able administration it bids fair to become one of the leading industries of this rising town.

At the time of the starting of the town T. A. Rossing also sold coal, but he has since sold out his interest in that business

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to Brown & Berry. The senior partner later on withdrew from the business, leaving it in the hands of W. H. Berry, who does a fair business.

W. HI. Berry is the son of Daniel and Adaline (Allard) Berry, both living in LaPorte, Iowa, and was born in Freeport, Stephenson Co., Ill., March 31, 1855. When eleven years old he went to Water- loo and remained there in school until eighteen. He was a good scholar and ex- celled in penmanship and mathematics. He then accepted a position in a railroad office as station agent, and has since occu- pied the same position in different places on the B. C. R. & N. Railway. He has been in Bode since April, 1883. He was married Dec. 24, 1877, to Maggie Burgess, of Waterloo, Iowa. Her father is dead. Her mother lives in Tama county. They have two children- Grace A. and Leo A. Mr. Berry votes with the republican party.

On the 1st of July, 1883, E. M. Hunting- tou opened a hardware store, with a stock that invoiced $2,000, in the building ad- joining that of T. A. Rossing, and owned by that gentleman. So far he has met with merited success and his sales are quite large and satisfactory. In connec- tion with his general business in shelf and heavy hardware, is a tinsmith's shop, which is kept busy all the time. Mr. Huntington also handles the well known Chamberlain plow, of Dubuque, and other implements.

Opheim & Gangestad opened a general merchandise atore in the village on the 3d of June, 1883. They have a capital of some $4,000, and carry a fine stock. The building they occupy was erected by them, for the purpose, at a

total cost of $1,300. It is 22x40 feet, and is one of the chief ornaments of the place. They are prospering finely and enjoy a most excellent trade.

Lars K. Opheim was born at Voss, Ber- genstift, Norway, July 19, 1855, and is the son of Kundt and Anna (Kolbensdt) Opheim, who emigrated to America in 1868. They first stopped in Columbia Co., Wis., coming from thence to Beaver township, Humboldt county, in 1869. In the year of 1883 they removed to Delans township, where they now reside upon a farm. The subject of this sketch was educated in the common schools, and spent two and a half years at Rushford, Minn., and Kilbourn City, Wis., after which he studied the Norwegian and Ger- man languages with Rev. B. Hoode, at Kilbourn City, one year. He obtained his education with a view of entering the ministry, but was obliged, to his bitter disappointment, to abandon the project, ou account of failing health. In 1878 he came to Humboldt county and remained with his parents two years upon the farm. He then went to Fort Dodge and clerked in the clothing house of E. G. Larson, one year, then came to Bode and built a store, where he is now engaged in company with his brother-in-law, James J. Gangestad, in the mercantile business. He was married June 24, 1883, to Maren Louise Loth Gangestad, of Delana town- ship, daughter of Lars J. and Maline (Gunderson) Gangestad. Mr. Opheim is a member of the Lutheran Church, in which he holds the office of secretary. He is a republican in politics.

James J. Gaugestad, partner of Lars K. Opheim, was born in Norway, Sept. 19,

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1857, and came with his parents, Lars J. and Maline (Gunderson) Gangestad, to Humboldt county, in 1870, and settled upon a farm In 1882 he came to Bode, and clerked in the store of T. A. Rossing a short time, then engaged in his present business. He is possessed of a fair educa- tion, and is politically a republican.

In the northwestern part of the village stands one of the leading industries of the place, if not the chief one. This is the large steam grist mill of Ough & Buhler. This was erected during the summer of 1883, and started operations upon the 20th day of August, of that year. It is 30x58 feet upon the ground, and two stories and a half brigh, and was built and equipped at a cost of $7,000. At present it is de- voted almost exclusively to custom work, and can turn out 125 barrels of flour per week. Mr. Buhler resides in Bureau Co., Ill., and the mill is in the hands of Mr. Ough, under whose administration it needs no prophetic eye to see that it has a great future before it,alike satisfac- tory and remunerative to the proprietors, and the source of wealth and growth to the village.

Richard Ongh, son of Richard and Mary Ann (Crocker) Ough, was born in England, Dec. 14, 1835. When seven years old he moved with his parents to Upper Canada. His father was a mason by trade, but engaged principally in farm- ing. They remained in Canada nine years then reinoved to Bureau Co., Ill., and lived on a farm thirty-two years. Subsequently they came to Iowa looking for a place to establish a mill. Having selected a point they proceeded to move to it, bringing the mill with them ready to put up, April 1,

1883, 'and built it at Bode. Richard Ough was married Dec. 24, 1858, to Pau- lina Marsh, of Bureau Co., Ill. They have two children-Ida and Clara. Ida is married to John Crossman, Jr., of Bureau county, a well to do farmer. Clara re- mains at home. Mr. Ough is a republican.

The hotel at Bode was erected in 1882. In May, the structure, which is 30x34 feet, two stories high, was commenced, and it was finished that same fall. It is a good substantial building and cost about $2,500. The proprietor, Jolin Shager, understands the wants of the traveling community and is a model landlord The train men here take their meals, and a good business has been built up by the enterprising, genial host.

John Shager is a native of Norway, born March 25, 1830. He is a son of John and Chester Shager. His father is dead. His mother lives in Norway. When twenty- two years of age he came to America and located in Lafayette Co., Wis. He re- inained with his friends one winter, and in the fall of 1853 went to California, re- maining there until 1856, engaged in mining. Being of a saving disposition, he laid away some money, and having a desire to see home and friends again he returned to Norway and remained until 1866. He then came back to America and spent one year in Lafayette Co., Wis., thence to Humboldt Co., Iowa, and took a homestead. He recently sold his farm and engaged in the hotel business at Bode, a thriving little town in this county. On Jan. 9, 1863, he was married to Jennie Christianson, of Buskerud, Norway. They have five children-Isabelle, John, Chris, Charles and Cheston, all living at home,

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and all members of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Shager received a good education in Norway, graduating from a high school there. In politics, he is a republican. Mrs. Shager's parents are both dead, being buried in Norway. When Mr. Shager was in California, he lost $700 in a bank that suspended payment.

Isabelle Shager has the only dressmak- ing establishment in Bode, and to her go the village and rustic belles to consult in regard to their outward adornment.

St. Olaf's Lutheran Church was organ- ized in 1871, and for years held their services in the school honses of the town- ship. It was mainly owing to the in- fluence of that noble man, Rev. T. A. Torgeson, of Worth county, that this Church owes its birth and through his instrumentality was it organized, with the following members: Ole H. Gullixson, Gullik Helgeson, Peter Williamson, Svend Anderson, Ole J. Olson, Hans A. Sorlien, C. A. Rossing, Gilbert Anderson, A. O. Skildum, Ole Nelson Tangeland, Andrew F. Anderson, Lars Oppedahl, John Erick- son and Ole Olson.

Mr. Torgeson, owing to his manifold other duties, could be with this congrega- tion only at long intervals, and these were filled up with such laborers as could be obtained, from time to time. Finally, in 1873, Rev. O. A. Sauer, was secured as pastor, who remained with them until 1882. During his long pastorate, the church was built. A building committee was appointed in the winter of 1879-80, composed of the following gentlemen: Andrew Gullixson, C. Rossing, C. Oleson and Ole L. Clave. In the spring of 1880, when the snow had disappeared, they

took hold with a will, and that summer the edifice was completed. It is a beauti- ful temple of worship, and was erected at a cost of about $2,000. There had been an organization of this religious denomi- nation at St. Joseph, but it has consoli- dated with this, and all worship now in in this church. The present pastor is Rev. John Tackle, now living at Fort Dodge, and at present there are some forty families included in its member- ship, of which the following are the heads: Ole L. Clave, John S. Johnson, Mr. Dortha Johnson, Mrs. Betsy Skildum, Mrs. Louisa Johnson, John Peterson, John E. Dahl, Knudt Olson, Hans Peterson, Ole Nelson, O. K. Grefstad, Andrew Gullixson, Ole H. Gullixson, C. F. Gullix- son, Gullik Helgeson, Peter Williamson, Nels Larson, C. Rossing, T. A. Rossing, Andrew Torgeson, Andrew J. Rossing, Christian K. Kinseth, Hans A. Sorlien, Svend Anderson, Christian M. Riveness, Mons N. Hauge, Ole I. Olson, B. C. Sandbo, Teman Williamson, Lars G. Gangestad, John Shager, Lars K. Opheim, John Bergum, John HI. Sorlien, Christopher Olson, Martin Olson, Andrew Olson, Ole B. Olson, John Erickson, Erick J. Erickson and Anthon G. Williams.

In connection with the church, is a cem- etery known as that of St. Olaf's, which comprises about an acre and a half, on the southwest quarter of section 16. This is inclosed with a good board fence, and here the dead of this little flock can rest in peace in consecrated ground.

The village has now some seven fami- lies living on the town plat, a fair nuclens around which may be gathered the Bode of the future.

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Theo J. Smith, a prominent farmer in the county, was born May 5, 1836, in Sus- quelianna Co., Penn. His parents, John and Eliza (Foster) Smith, are buried in Sumner cemetery. At the age of nine years, Theo removed, with his parents, to Will county, and four years later, to a farm in Cook Co., Ill., where they re- mained until 1856. In the fall of that year, he went to Kossuth Co., Iowa, and took a government claim, and the next year came to Humboldt, and pre-empted land. He now owns 285 acres of choice farming land, including thirty acres of timber. His farm is well watered by Lott's creek. He keeps a great deal of stock, making a specialty of fine sheep and horses. Mr. Smith is secretary and treasurer of the Livermore Norman Horse Company, an incorporated body, for the purpose of buy- ing, selling and breeding Norman horses, organized Feb. 22, 1883, with a capital stock of 85,000. They own a barn at Livermore and one stock horse, imported from France, valued at 82,000. In 1874 Mr. Smith engaged in merchandising and continued the business four and a half years. He was married Nov. 11, 1857, to Roxa Flemming, daughter of Hiram Flem- ming. They have had five children, two of whom are living-Ella M. and Eber T. Millie D. died at the age of twelve years; Orrin at two months and Mark at two years. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are believers in the doctrine of Spiritualism. Ile is politically, a republican. He was post- master at Lott's Creek, in Humboldt county, from May, 1862, till June, 1877, and is now a director of the People's Bank, at Humboldt.

Lewis Vought has been a resident of Ilumboldt county since 1857, but did not

settle upon his present farm until about 1859. It is located on the southeast quar- ter of section 11, in Delana township. IIe owns 160 acres of nice land, and has 100 acres under cultivation. He was born Sept. 29, 1828, in Bradford Co., Penn. His parents, Joshua and Polly (Thatcher) Vought, are dead, and buried in Bradford Co., Penn. In 1855 he started ou a pros- pecting tour, and went to Red Wing, Minn. He staid in that part of the coun- try about one year, chopping wood, then returned to Pennsylvania. One year later, in the spring of 1857, he came to Web- ster Co., Iowa, and from thence to Hum- boldt county, and first took a claim on sec- tion 10, in Humboldt township, which in 1859, he left, and took another upon which he now resides. Jan. 1, 1864, he enlisted in the 4th Iowa Cavalry, and was mustered into the service at Fort Dodge. He took part in the engagements of Tupelo, Fort Scott, Selma and Columbus, and minor skirmishes. Ile was mustered out at At lanta, Aug. 8, 1865. Aug. 26, 1866, he was married to Amanda Flemming, of Hum- boldt county. They have five children- Joshua, Maria, Martha, ITiram and Valen- tine V. Mrs. Vought is a member of the M. E. Church. In politics, he is independ- ent, and has held several township offices.

Rev. Nelson Martin was born in Orange Co., Vt., Nov. 14, 1808. His parents, Daniel and Betsey (Mosley) Martin, are buried in Williamstown, Vt. Ile was brought up on a farm where he remained until he was twenty-eight years old. He then commenced preaching on a cirenit, located at Warren, N. H., and shortly re- turned to Williamstown, Vt., and staid a few years. He then went to Springfield,

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Vt., and one year later to Lowell, Mass., where he was engaged in the meat business about five years, after which he was re-ad- mitted to the New Hampshire conference and preached at different points for eleven years, seventeen years in all. In 1865 be came to Iowa and settled at Bradgate, Avery township, in Humboldt county, where he purchased a farm, but subse- quently sold it and removed to section 24, of Delana township, where he resides at present. He still continues to preach and often officiates at weddings and funerals. He has been twice married, first to Mary Lillie, who died in 1870, leaving three children-Lorin T., Curtis I .. and Martha E. In 1871 he married Mrs. Fannie Strong, widow of William B. Strong. She was then a resident of Pocahontas county, but a native of New York. She had two children by her former marriage-Samuel and George. The latter, George Strong, is now preach- ing in Washington Territory. Mr. Martin is a republican and strongly in favor of temperance. He has been township trustee and school treasurer. Both he and his wife are members of the M. E. Church.

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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 90

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