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 91
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Ole H. Gullixson, son of Gullick HI. and Anna (Iverson) Gullixson, was born Feb. 11, 1835, in Norway. He left Norway in 1857, and came to America, stopping first with an uncle in Lafayette Co., Wis., then spent a short time in Stephenson Co., Ill. He then went to the pineries and remained a year, then, with his brother Andrew, went up Chippewa river, working at lumbering. In the spring of 1865 he rented a farm in Wisconsin, and in the fall of the same year came to Iowa and
took a homestead on the southeast quarter of section 19, Delana township, where he owns at present 320 acres of fine land, with good buildings surrounded by a grove. He has also timber upon the river. He has 235 acres broken and is extensively engaged in grain and stock raising. He was married Nov. 11, 1866, to Isabella Risum and they have had five children- Anna Louisa, born Ang. 30, 1867; Edward Henry, born May 20, 1870; Carl Orin, born Nov. 7, 1872; Fredrick William, born March 22, 1877; and Charlotte Elenor, born Dec. 17, 1879. Anna L. is attending school at Fort Dodge. Mr. Gullixson is a republican politically, and with his family a member of the Lutheran Church.
John Smylie was born in Canada July 14, 1841. He went to Du Page Co., Ill., about 1863 and remained one and a half years. He then came to Humboldt county and took a homestead on the south west quarter of section 17, Delana township, after which he worked for different par- ties in adjoining counties for two years. On Jan. 14, 1869, he was married to Julia Chamberlain, daughter of Luke and Julia (Barnes) Chamberlain, of Wright county, but formerly of New York. They have six children-Minnie B., Bertha' A., Julia M., Effie L., Jennie A. and John II. Mr. and Mrs. Smylie are members of the M. E. Church. He is a republican and has held the office of school director. Since his residence here he has spent nine months in Canada and six months in Wis- consin for the benefit of his health.
William McNelly is a native of Ireland, born Feb. 2, 1809, and is a son of Wil- liam and Hannah (Harshaw) McNelly. Both are now deceased; the former buried in Ireland, and the latter at Port Stanley, Canada. When seventeen years old Wil- liam removed to Quebec, Canada, where
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he remained twenty years, working on a farm. He then went to Sackett's Harbor, N. Y., and continued in the same business for a time, then went to Jefferson county, thence to Oswego county, thence to Au- burn, Canada, and engaged in the lum- bering business three years, then removed to DuPage Co., Ill., where he was occu- pied in farming about fourteen years. July 20, 1866, he came to Humboldt county and settled on section 7, Delana township, where he now owns the southeast quarter and has forty acres under cultivation. He was married in Port Hope, Canada, to Eliza Crosson, a native of Ireland. They have five children living - William J., David J., Caroline, now living in Illinois; Hattie, married to C. E. Lane of Corinth township ; Eliza married to Chris. Gullix- son of Delana township. Mr. McNelly is a good citizen, votes the republican ticket, and is a member of the M. E. Church.
W. J. McNelly, son of William McNelly was born at Auburn, N. Y., March 2, 1837. When quite young he went with his par- enta to Canada, where he lived fourteen years, then removed to DuPage Co., Ill., and remained until 1865, when he re- moved to Humboldt county, where he is engaged in farming. In DuPage Co., Ill., he was married to Miss Sinclair. She died in 1872, leaving two children - Alice and William. Mr. McNelly was again married April 4, 1874, to Mrs. Anderson, nee Maria Risum, of Orfordville, Wis. She had two children-Amelia S. and Laura H. They now have three children by the last marriage- May Belle, Lillian N. and Flora. Politically, Mr. McNelly is a republican, and has held the office of school director.
John McNelly was born in the southern part of Canada, Dec. 17, 1847, and is a son of William and Eliza (Crosson) McNelly, who are living in Delana township. When three years old he went to Du Page Co., Ill., where he lived on a farm fourteen years, then came to Humboldt county, and lived with his parents until 1872, then commenced driving stage from Fort Dodge to Montana. After about one year he hired to William Coon of Grove town- ship. He was married Aug. 20, 1876, to a daughter of Thomas and Anna Steward, of Grove township. They have three children-Minnie, born Nov. 15, 1877 ; Mavis, born Sept. 2, 1879, and a baby named Zoe, born Jan. 7, 1884. They are members of the M. E. Church. Polit- ically he is a republican.
C. A. Rossing was born March 23, 1843, in Norway. The family came to America in 1857, and settled on a farm in Lafay- ette Co., Wis., C. A. then being fourteen years old. He worked there until 1861, when he enlisted in company K, 5th Wis- consin Volunteers, and remained in the service three years and three months. He participated in the following engage- ments : Williamsburg, Peninsula cam- paign,second battle of Bull Run, Antietam, Gettysburg and Battleof the Wilderness. He was mustered out at Madison, Wis. He was wounded at the Battle of the Wil- derness, in the temple, and in consequence was for a time disabled. At the time of discharge he had been corporal one and a half years. He then returned to his father's farm, and remained one year, when he came to Humboldt county, locat- ing on the northeast quarter of section 19, in Waconsta township. In addition to
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this place he owns 160 acres elsewhere in the township. He has 200 acres under cultivation, six acres of grove, and good improvements. In 1867, he was married to Betsy Johnson, a native of Norway, who died in 1868. He was again married to Sophia Enger, also of Norway, who also is deceased. He has six children-Ber- tha, Amanda, Andrew, Oscar, Crara and Emma. Mr. Rossing is a republican, and a member of the Lutheran Church.
Hans A. Sorlien was born in the south- ern part of Norway Dec. 20, 1845. He is a son of Hans and Isabelle Sorlien. His father is buried in St. Olaf's Cemetery near Bode. His mother lives with John Sorlien, in Delana township. When twenty years of age Hans came to Amer- ica, and located in Lone Rock, Wis., re- maining there two years; thence to the pineries one year; then came to Humboldt county and purchased a homestead of E. Emerson on section 24, township 93, range 30. He has 920 acres in all, about 200 acres being broken. He has good substantial buildings on his farm. He makes stock raising a specialty, keeping none but the best grades of stock. His cattle are of the Shorthorn breed. On the 3d of September, 1871, Mr. Sorlien was.united in marriage with Maria Wal- don, of Norway, Rev. Torgeson perform- ing the ceremony. Mr. Sorlien's parents still reside in Norway. Mr. Sorlien is a republican politically, and a member of the Lutheran Church.
Teman Williamson, a native of Rock Co., Wis., lives on the southeast quarter of section 16, in Delana township. His par- ents emigrated from Norway to the Uni- ted States in 1848, and settled in Rock
Co., Wis., where they still reside. Te- man, on attaining his majority, came to Humboldt county and lived with his brother one year, then settled upon his present farm, where he has since resided. He makes a specialty of stock raising, and keeps the full blooded Durham stock. He has 140 acres under cultivation. He was married Oct. 10, 1873, to Betsy Gu- termson, daughter of Gutrum and Mary Gutermson, who now live in Dakota Ter- ritory. Mr. and Mrs. Williamson have five children-William G., Tona M., Lot- tie M., Emma A. and Telda B. Mr. Wil- liamson adheres to the republican party. Both he and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Williamson came to the county with almost nothing, but by industry, economy and good management, has acquired a considerable property.
Peter Williamson, son of William and Margaret (Knutson) Williamson, was born on the 4th of June, 1838, in the south- west part of Norway. When ten years of age he, with his parents, emigrated to America, locating in Rock Co., Wis., where he resided on a farm for twenty years. He then came to Humboldt Co., Iowa. Before coming here to reside, how- ever, he had made a trip for the purpose of prospecting and purchased 160 acres of land from C. F. Gullixson; the south- east quarter of section 18, which had been taken as a homestead by Mr. Gullixson. Mr. Williamson also owns eighty acreson section 17. He has 150 acres under cul- tivation, good farm buildings, etc., and carries on mixed farming. On the 12th of January, 1864, he was united in mar- riage with Celia Gullixson, of Rock Co., Wis. They have six children-Anton,
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who married Eureka Breton, and lives in this township, where he owns 160 acres of land. He was formerly a student at North- field. William G., Martin T., Ginnie A., Emma M. and Albert C., all members of the Lutheran Church. Mrs. Williamson's parents live near her in a small house pro- vided for them by their children-Andrew, C. F. and Ole.
D. A. Spohn is a native of Ohio, born in Richland county, Aug. 22, 1850, where he continued to live until his removal to Cedar Co., Iowa, from which place he came to Humboldt county and lived with his parents until 1878. His father gave him eighty acres of land, to which he has since added an eighty, and has a fine farm located on section 6, Delana town- ship. Ninety acres of this place is under cultivation, and he is engaged in mixed farming. He was married May 26, 1878, to Ida V. Snyder, of Humboldt, a sister of the merchant, J. M. Snyder. They have two children-Mary V. and Nellie G. Mr. Spolin politically adheres to the republican party.
Thomas Brown resides on section 14, in Delana township, where he owns a farm. Hle was born in Lincolnshire, England, Jan. 16, 1835, and is the son of John and Mary (Sharp) Brown. In 1854 he came to America, and went to Michigan, where he staid on a farm six months, then lived two and a half years in Indiana on a farm, thence to Green Co., Wis., where he re- mained three years. He then went to Mississippi, and worked on a wood boat nine months. He next went on a farm in Missouri and lived two years, thence to Cedar Co., Iowa, where he remained six years upon a farm. He then came to
Humboldt county, and staid two months. From there he went to Des Moines and engaged in the wood business two and a half years, after which he came to this county again, and settled where he now resides. He was married in Johnson county to Rebecca Stillions, of Cedar county. They have had nine children, but only one of them is now living- Charles E. Mrs. Brown's parents now reside in this county near their daughter. Mr. Brown is independent in politics and has held the office of township trustee for the past six years.
Ole Nelson was born Jan. 1, 1838, in Norway. He is the son of Nelson and Sarah (Oleson) Ole Nelsou. He came to America when twenty-five years old, and went to Lodi, Columbia Co., Wis., where he worked upon a farm. In 1869 he came to Humboldt county and settled June 15 on section 3, in Delana township, where he now owns 338 acres of choice land, with a neat and commodious residence, surrounded by a fine grove. He culti- vates 200 acres, and raises large quanti- ties of grain, also raises considerable stock. He was married March 2, 1867, to Anna Oleson, at Columbus, Wis. Mr. Nelson is a member of the Lutheran Church, and casts his vote with the repub- lican party.
Samuel Spohn, son of Daniel and Sarah (Mack) Spohn, is of German descent, and was born in Washington Co., Penn., May 2, 1819. In 1837 he went with his parents to Richland Co., Ohio, where they lived upon a farm and his parents spent the re- mainder of their lives. In 1865 he re- moved to a farm in Cedar Co., Iowa, and remained about seven years. He then
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came to Humboldt county and bought a farm on section 18, of Delana township, where he uow owns 143 acres of good land. He has seventy acres broken, and carries on mixed farming. He has been successful in his enterprises, and owned at one time 400 acres of land in this coun- ty. Mr. Spohn was married Feb. 1, 1844, to Mary Miller, daughter of Abram Mil- ler, of Richiland Co., Ohio. Ten children have been born to them, of whom seven are now living-Elizabeth, Sarah Ann, James, Daniel, Maria, Nancy Jane and William L. Mr. Spohn is a democrat, and in religious belief a Baptist of the peculiar denomination known as " Dunk- ards." His family are believers in the Methodist faith.
Patrick O'Neil was born in Upper Can- ada, Aug. 31, 1849. He is a son of Den- nis and Bridget (Halpin) O'Neil, who re- side in Canada. When Patrick was seventeen years of age he went to New York and worked a short time for his brother, John. He then returned to Cau- ada, remaining two years, in the mean- time learning the trade of carpenter. He went to Watertown, Jefferson Co., N. Y., in 1809, and remained until January, 1870, when he returned to Canada. On the 28th of March, 1870, he went to Fort Dodge, Iowa, prospecting; thence to Dn- buque, remaining there until the spring of 1871, when he went to Butler county, remaining there during the summer ; thence to Dubuque; thence to Chicago, during the great conflagration at that place. He worked at the carpenter's trade there until 1873, when he went to Cheyenne, Wyoming Territory, where lie was employed by the government to build
a supply depot; thence to Roland Springs, where he worked on a hotel; thence to Camp Robinson ; thence to Nebraska. He was with Capt. Henry when he was sent by the government to remove the white settlers from the Black Hills. In the spring of 1875 he took charge of the building of Camp Sheridan, and worked until fall; thence to Custer City, in the Black Hills; thence to Deadwood; and in July, 1876, to Fort Pierre. In the spring of 1873, while in Chicago, he purchased a 120 acre farm in Delana township. In 1877 he erected a good house, and com- mrenced farming. He now owns 240 acres of good land, 150 acres of which is bro- ken, and is quite extensively engaged in raising stock, especially Poland Chiua hogs. On Feb. 6, 1878, he was united in marriage with Mary Cosgrove, of Du- buque, the ceremony being performed by Father Bray, of Dubuque. This union has been blessed with three children- Mary B., born Nov. 22, 1878; Dennis J., born April 12, 1881; and Thomas, born Ang. 30, 1883. They are members of the Catholic Church. Mr. O'Neil put up the first frame building erected in the Black Hills, at Custer City, in 1876.
Mathias Mersch is a native of Luxein- burg, Germany, born Jan. 13, 1845. He is a son of Paul and Elizabeth (Weber) Mersch, who are buried in Luxemburg. His brother, Peter, lives with him. Peter was born on the 22d of May, 1839. In 1871 he went to Chicago and worked for two years near that place on a farm. He then went to Dubuque Co., Iowa, and worked six months. In 1879 he returned to his old home in Germany, remaining there eighteen months. He then came
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back to America, locating in Kossuth Co., Iowa; thence to California, Oregon and Washington Territory, prospecting. Ma- thias was married Nov. 26, 1871, to Mary Steinkerhner, of Delaware county. In a short time they removed to Kossuth coun- ty and purchased a farm. They remained there nine years, then sold to James God- dard, and removed to this county and pur- chased 240 acres of good land on section 5, Delana township. He has a new house, which is composed of two parts, one 18x20 feet and the other 16x24 feet in di- mensions. Mr. and Mrs. Mersch have six children-Anna Margaret, Peter, Anna Mary, John Peter, Mary Ann and Cle- ments. They are members of the Catho- lic Church. He is a democrat politically.
Peter Nelson was born in Norway, Dec. 11, 1854. He is a son of Lars and Martha Nelson. His mother is buried in Norway. His father lives in La Salle Co., Ill. When thirteen years of age he emigrated to America, locating in Illinois with his parents. He lived there nine years, on the farm, then removed to Webster Co., Iowa, in 1878, and settled on a farm. He has traveled over almost the entire State of Iowa. In 1880 he came to Delana township, and commenced farming on section 2. On the 22d of March, 1883, he was married to Elizabeth Oleson, of this county. They have one child, an infant. They are members of the Lutheran Church. He is a republican politically.
CHAPTER XXIV.
GROVE TOWNSHIP.
Among the earliest settlers in Humboldt county in 1854 was Solomon Hand, who on coming here looked around for a little and then made a selection of land in this township. He located first upon one quarter of section 4, but later he disposed of it to G. W. Hland, in 1856, and took up another quarter on the same section. A sketch of "Sol." Hand, as he is familiarly called, will be found in the chapter relat- ing to the early settlement of the county.
Eber Stone and his sister, Lucy Stone, were the second settlers in this township. Mr. Stone bought a farm on section 26,
the same now occupied by S. B. Bellows, but at the same time took a claim on sec- tion 27, where he built a log cabin in 1856, and lived throughout that year. He then sold out and purchased the farm now owned by his widow on section 16, in Humboldt township.
G. Washington and W. Fletcher Hand, brothers of Solomon Hand, also came here in 1856, although a little later, and took up farms. "Wash," took the place broken by his brother, and Fletcher located else- where. These gentlemen have both been
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quite prominent figures in the county, especially the first mentioned.
The next to follow was the widow Cusey and her sons, who settled on sec- tion 10, on the 29th of May, 1856. Mrs. Cusey, relict of Job Cusey, was before marriage, Sarah Ford, born in Ashland Co., Ohio, in 1803. In company with her husband she moved to McLean Co., Ill., in 1836 or 1837, being among the pioneers of that region. Here, in 1840, her husband died. J. C. Cusey, one of her sons, be- came quite prominent in the official cir- cles of Humboldt county, but has removed to Miami Co., Kansas, where he has risen to ease and affluence. His aged mother lives with him. William L. Cusey, the only one of the family now a resident of the county, was born in Ashland Co., Ohio, on the 30th of November, 1835, and came to this county in 1856 with his mother and her family. In the spring of 1866 he settled upon section 9, in this township, where he still resides. He was married in 1859 to Maria Hindle, a native of Pennsylvania. They have seven chil- dren living.
Martin Maxwell, Harrison and John Nelson McHenry settled in what was called the Hand settlement in 1856. Harrison MelIenry died in 1859. Nelson McHenry lived here until about 1880, when he moved away to the south part of this State. He married Amanda Hand in 1860. Martin Maxwell is now living in Wilson Co., Kansas.
The next settler in this township was S. B. Bellows, who in 1857 located upon section 26, where he at present resides.
Simon B. Bellows is a native of New York, born in Franklin county April 21,
1827, where he remained until sixteen years old, when, with the family, he re- moved to McHenry Co., Ill., and there re- mained until the spring of 1851, when he went to California and engaged in min- ing. He remained there until 1856, when he returned to his former home, and in the spring of 1857 came to this county, lo- cating on section 26, Grove township, where he now lives. He has a farm of 570 acres of well improved land. He was married Nov. 11, 1857, to Hannah Par- ker, of Michigan. They have seven chil- dren-Frank P., Lucy A., Barton O., Birne, Mignonette, Musa and Cyrus. Mr. Bellows was township clerk from 1861 to 1867. He was school secretary from 1861 to 1870, and is the present township clerk.
George W. Mann, a native of Erie Co., N. Y., came west and after stopping in the Lake Superior region for some little time, came to Humboldt connty, in 1857, and settled at first in the Hand settlement, in Grove township. Here he lived for two years, teaching school and tilling the soil, having rented a piece of land. He was married to Laura Bellows on the 25th of August, 1859, and moved to some land on section 26, belonging to his brother-in- law, S. B. Bellows, where he remained about two years. He was a prominent member of the first board of county super- visors, which assembled in January, 1861. In 1863 or 1864 he removed to Irvington township, Kossuth county, where he is still living.
In 1858 James Dean and George Todd came to what is now Grove township and the former entered a claim to a portion of section 22, where he opened a farm and
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lived until 1868, when he moved to Wa- consta township, where he now lives.
George Todd, a brother-in-law of Mr. Dean, took up a farm on section 27, but until 1861 made his home with the Deans. In that year he branched off and resided on the farm he had opened. In 1870 this farm proved to belong to the Des Moines River Improvement Company, who sold the same to other parties, whereupon Mr. Todd went to Webster county and re- mained a few years. He is now living on section 2, in Beaver township, in this county.
Thomas Owens, on the 4th of April, 1860, settled upon his farm on section 38, where he now lives.
Thomas Owens is a native of Ireland, born in August, 1822. He was there reared and followed farming till 1852, when he came to America, locating in the vicinity of Chester Co., Penn. He lived there four years, then removed to Fort Dodge, Iowa, where he also remained four years. On April 4, 1860, he located on his present place. He has 400 acres of good land. He was married on Feb. 3, 1856, to Margaret Nolan, a native of Kildare, Ireland. They have three children-Katie, James F. and Mary. They are members of the Catholic Church. Mr. Owens is engaged in stock raising to a considerable extent.
In May, 1860, E. Sherman, another of the old settlers resident in the township, located upon the farm now in his posses- sion, on section 11.
Edward Sherman, a farmer of this county, is of Irish extraction, having been born in Ireland in December, 1838. When nine years old he started for America
with his parents. During the trip he was unfortunately taken sick and consequently was obliged to remain in Liverpool, his parents proceeding without him. Soon afterward, having sufficiently recovered, he made the voyage alone, and went to Lexington, Ky., where his friends were, his parents having died on the voyage. He remained there eighteen months. He then went to Dubuque, Iowa, and stopped three years. He then went on the river steamers, plying from St. Louis to New Orleans, following the river ten years. In 1860 be came to this county, locating on his present place. He has 600 acres of good, well improved land, well stocked with cattle. He was married Nov. 26, 1861, to Sarah C. White, of Maine. They have ten children-Mary E., James P., Thomas C., Sarah F., Edward A., Margrett A., Ellen M., Joseph J., Anna T. and Richard C. They are members of the Catholic Church.
B. Callahan, also, in 1860, settled upon section 27, and opened the farm where he now lives.
W. E. Foster is another settler of 1860. He is a native of New York, but coming west and locating on his present farm in the above mentioned year.
William Foster was born in Oswego Co., N. Y., Jan. 1, 1841. He was there reared and educated, learning the carpen- ter's trade and following the same until 1868, when he came to Humboldt Co., Iowa, locating where he now lives. He has 380 acres of well improved land and some cattle. He was married Oct. 6, 1869, to Anna Cusey. They have one child-John Clayton. Ile has been a county supervisor, is township trustee at
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present, and for the last six years has been assessor.
John Krujheck and Thomas Steward came to this township in 1863, and located farms, the former on section 8, the latter on section 9, where they still reside.
John Krujheck, (or Grutchek), is a na- tive of Austria, born Aug. 10, 1837. In 1852, at the age of fifteen, he came to America, locating in Cleveland, Ohio, re- maining there one winter. In June, 1853, he went to Dubuque, Iowa, and remained two years. He then went to Clayton county, where in August, 1862, he enlisted in company B, 21st Iowa and served three years. He participated in the siege of Vicksburg, in the Jackson campaign in Mississippi,and in the campaign of Mobile; returning to Iowa in August, 1865. He came to this county in March, 1866, and located on his present place where he has eighty acres of good land. He was mar- ried Jan. 1, 1868, to Mary Steward, daughter of Thomas Steward. They have nine children-Elva A., Louesa R., George F., Charlie S., Burtis H., Maggie M., Minnie F., John M. and Walter W. Mr. Kruj- heck is a member of the M. E. Church. His wife was one of the first scholars in the first school taught in the county.
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