USA > Iowa > Linn County > History of Linn County Iowa : from its earliest settlement to the present time, Volume II > Part 28
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It was after his arrival in the new world that Mr. Knudsen was married, in 1882, to Miss Mary Lassen, who was likewise born in Denmark, whence she emi- grated to America in 1880, a year prior to the emigration of her husband. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Knudsen have been born four children: K. O., still at home; P. L .; Carrie M .; and Mattie Christina. The parents are members of the Lutheran church. Mr. Knudsen deserves much credit for the success he has achieved since coming to Linn county, for when lie arrived he was ignorant of the language and customs of the American people but as time has passed he has acquainted himself with the English language, as well as with the conduct of business af- fairs, so that no native born citizen is more loyal to American interests and to the interests of Linn county than is Mr. Knudsen. He has worked hard since coming here and today his well improved farm stands as the visible evidence of what he has accomplished.
ABEL LEVASSEUR
Abel Levasseur, a wide-awake and energetic farmer of Marion township, was born in Connecticut, November 17, 1862, and is a son of Alfonso and Myra (Malquil) Levasseur, both of whom were natives of France. They came to America at an early day and first settled in Connecticut where they resided until 1873. Believing that they might have better opportunities in the middle west, they then removed to Linn county, Iowa, and the father purchased the farm upon which his son Abel now resides. Here they reared their family of eight children, of whom seven are now living, and the parents also yet survive.
Abel Levasseur was reared under the parental roof, remaining a resident of his native state until ten years of age and then accompanying his parents to Iowa where the remainder of his youth was passed on the old homestead in Marion township. He attended the common schools and was afterward trained in the work of the farm, while upon his mind were impressed lessons of industry and integrity which have borne good fruit in later years. He was twenty-three years of age when he left the old homestead and started out in life for himself, renting land which he cultivated for seven years. During that time his industry and his careful expenditure brought him sufficient capital to enable him to purchase a part of the old homestead. He became the owner of one hundred and seventy acres which he has since developed and improved. The farm is well equipped with modern accessories and conveniences. In his pastures and feed lots are found good grades of cattle and he has successfully and extensively engaged in raising and feeding both cattle and hogs, keeping on hand an average of about one hundred head on the farm. He is an excellent judge of stock, so that he makes judicious purchases and profitable sales. Mr. Levasseur also has one hundred and twenty acres of pasture land south of Marion.
On the 23d of February, 1901, Mr. Levassenr was married to Miss Mary Youngblood, who was born in Black Hawk county, Iowa, in 1870, a daughter of Frank and Susan (Simerel) Youngblood, both of whom were natives of Lux- embourg, Germany, whence they came to the United States in early life. They resided for a long period in Black Hawk county, Iowa, but both are now deceased, the father having died May 10, 1892, and the mother on the 20th of May, 1906. Their family numbered nine children, of whom six are yet living.
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Unto Mr. and Mrs. Levasseur were born four children: Louie F., Leo. V., Ernest W. and Irene C. Mrs. Levasseur holds membership in the Christian church and is most faithful to its teachings and the obligations which it imposes. Mr. Levasseur's political allegiance has been given to the democracy sinee age conferred upon him the right of franchise, but he has no desire for public office. He prefers to be known only as a successful farmer-and one whose success is the result of close application and honest effort. He has never been known to take advantage of the interests of his fellowmen in any business transaction and it has been through his active perseverance and sound judgment that he has gained a place among Marion township's substantial farmers.
JOHN S. CARAWAY
John S. Caraway, living in Bertram township, gives his attention to the development and improvement of a farm of one hundred and seventy-two aeres. The land is rich and productive and under his cultivation has become a valuable property, so that he annually sccures a good financial return from the large crops which he gathers. This farm which he now owns and occupies was the place of his birth, his natal day being April 9, 1845.
Ilis father, Joseph Caraway, was a native of Ohio, where he was reared and married to Miss Delilah Scott, also a native of the Buckeye state and a daughter of Joseph and Hulda Seott, who were natives of Scotland, whence they emigrated to the new world at an carly day, establishing their home in Ohio. Joseph Scott lived to be one hundred and five years old, while his wife lived to be more than eighty, their deaths occurring in Illinois. Following his marriage, Joseph Caraway, the father of our subject, eame to Linn county, Iowa, the year of his arrival here being 1837. He squatted on land and later when it was placed on the market he entered the same, his first home being a log cabin. He made many substantial improvements on the place, his cabin being later replaced by a more modern frame residence. He became familiar with all the privations of pioneer life, sharing with the other early settlers in the sacrifices that had to be made until the country became more thickly settled. In due time he made his place a valuable property, on which he and his wife spent their remaining years, his death occurring in 1870. His wife survived for about nineteen years and in 1889 she, too, was called to the home beyond. Unto them were born nine children, of whom five are now living.
John S. Caraway pursued his studies in the district schools near his father's home and during the periods of vacation assisted largely in the work of the fields, early being trained to the various tasks that fall to the lot of the farm lad. Ile remained at home until he was twenty-six years old and then bought the place, comprising one hundred and seventy-two aeres, located on seetion 35, Bertram township. Since it came into his possession he has made more modern improvements on the place and now has a good property, from which he annually derives rich harvests. He raises stock of all kinds, this being one of the principal features of his work.
In 1871 Mr. Caraway was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Denny, who was born in Ohio, a daughter of Daniel and Frances (Higgins) Denny, who were likewise natives of the Buckeye state, whence they came to the middle west in 1856, loeating in Linn county. The father is now deceased but the mother is living and makes her home in Cedar Rapids.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Caraway were born six children, as follows: Carrie E., the wife of David Bernett, a resident of Arkansas; William and Harry F., who reside in Linn county; Higgins, at home; Nellie E., the wife of Arthur Hover,
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J. S. CARAWAY
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their home being with Mr. Caraway; and Joseph H., deceased. The family was called upon to mourn the loss of the wife and mother on the 23d of March, 1902, her remains being interred in the Campbell cemetery.
Mr. Caraway gives his political support to the democratic party and has filled a number of township offices, and he has also served on the school board. Fraternally he is connected wiht Mount Vernon Lodge, No. 3, Knights of Pythias. A life-long resident of the county, he has a wide acquaintance, and those who know him appreciate what he has done, recognizing in him the sterling qualities of manhood which enable the individual to work his way up- ward, winning his success along honorable lines.
JOHN MELVIN BLAINE
John Melvin Blaine, who for the past four years has been prominently identi- fied with the realty interests of Cedar Rapids as the treasurer of the Western Realty Company, was born in Bertram township, Linn county, Iowa, on the 28tli of June, 1870. ITis parents, Charles U. and Sarah Ann (Hunter) Blaine, were natives of Johnson county and Linn county, Iowa, respectively. The first rep- resentatives of the Blaine family in this state came from Maine at an early day, settling near Solon, Johnson county, łowa. The maternal grandfather, whose birth occurred in Scotland, crossed the Atlantic to the United States about 1838 and took up his abode at Bertram, Linn county. It was there that Charles U. Blaine and Saralı Ann Hunter were married, while later they established their home on a farm near Bertram. Mr. Blaine passed away at the comparatively early age of thirty-three years and his widow afterwards became the wife of Marion D. Snyder, with whom she still resides on the old homestead near Bertram. She is well known and highly esteemed in Linn county, having spent her entire life within its borders.
John Melvin Blaine spent his youthful days under the parental roof and in the acquirement of an education attended the public schools and the Cedar Rapids Business College. When nineteen years of age he started out to earn his own livelihood, being first employed on the construction of the double track- ing of the Northwestern Railroad from Clinton to Cedar Rapids. IIe spent two summers at this work and thus secured the money with which to pay his way through business college. After completing his course he became associated with his brother, James A. Blaine, in the operation of a farm of one hundred and sixty aeres in Bertram township, which they had inherited from their father. They erected a substantial residence and barn, and their sister, Julia M. Blaine, kept house for them. They carried on their farming interests in partnership for four years, on the expiration of which period, in 1895, John M. Blaine was mar- ried and established a home of his own. From one of his sisters he purchased an eighty-aere tract of land adjoining his own farm of similar size and there carried on agricultural pursuits for two years. He then traded the property for one hun- dred and eighty-four acres of land near Scotts Mill, disposing of the place, how- ever, after residing thereon for two years. In 1899 he came to Cedar Rapids and for fourteen months conducted a grocery establishment at No. 517 South Fifth street. After selling out to advantage he became one of the organizers of the real-estate firm of Hill & Blaine, which dealt largely in farm lands. While a member of this firm Mr. Blaine bought two hundred acres of land in Benton county, Iowa. The relation between Messrs. Hill and Blaine was maintained for some two years, on the expiration of which period the partnership was dis- solved, Mr. Hill going to California. Our subject next purchased a half interest in the hardware business of George Sayers and for three years was known as a
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member of the firm of Blaine & Sayers, conducting business at the west end of Third avenue bridge. He sold his interest to his partner in order to become a member of the Western Realty Company and for the past four years has been a prominent factor in real-estate cireles of Cedar Rapids, for the concern of which he is now treasurer is among the largest in the city as regards the extent of its operations. The company was incorporated for twenty thousand dollars and their statement on the 1st of February, 1910, showed assets to the amount of sixty-eight thousand one hundred and thirty-eight dollars and twenty-three cents -surely a splendid record for little more than three years' business.
On the 25th of September, 1895, Mr. Blaine was united in marriage to Miss Hattie Elrod, of Bertram township, Linn county. Her father, Francis Marion Elrod, was but a boy when he left Marion, Indiana, and came to Iowa, locating near Marion, this county. During the entire period of hostilities between the north and south he loyally fought for the interests of the Union. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Blaine has been born one child, Clinton Archibald.
Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Blaine has supported the men and measures of the democracy and while living in Bertram township he held various offices of public trust, including those of township clerk, township assessor and secretary of the school board. At the spring election of 1910 he was a candidate for membership on the board of councilmen. Fraternally he is identified with Mount Hermon Lodge, No. 263, A. F. & A. M .; Iowa Consistory No. 2, S. P. R. S .; Maine Lodge, No. 643, I. O. O. F .; and the Modern Woodmen of America. Both he and his wife are devoted and consistent members of the Trinity Methodist Episcopal church and he is now serving as superintendent of the Sunday school and also as chairman of the board of stewards. In the course of an active business career he has made steady advancement by reason of his indefatigable energy and his persistency of purpose, combined with a relia- bility that has won for him the unqualified respect of those with whom business or social relations have brought him into elose association. Both Mr. and Mrs. Blaine have remained residents of Linn county throughout their entire lives and have a host of warm friends here.
CRIS FREDERICK
Cris Frederick, carrying on general farming and stock-raising on section 11, Marion township, has lived in Linn county since 1902, and althoughi one of the more recent arrivals has established his right to rank with the representative agriculturists of this part of the state. He was born in Denmark, on the 24th of March, 1858, his parents being Fred and Fredricka Frederick, both of whom were natives of Denmark, where they spent their entire lives.
Cris Frederick was also a native of that country through the entire period of his minority and came to America when twenty-one years of age, resolved to test the truth of the glowing reports which he had heard concerning the oppor- tunities offered in the new world. He found in this land where effort and labor are not hampered by caste or class that diligence and industry win substantial advancement, and although practically empty-handed at the time of his arrival, he is now one of the prosperous farmers of Linn county. He first located at Racine, Wisconsin, where he lived for five years, after which he went to MeLean county, Illinois, where he rented a farm. With characteristic energy he began its cultivation and improvement and for seventeen years was identified with agricultural interests there. In 1902 he arrived in Linn county and with the capital which he had previously acquired from his earnings he purchased the farm upon which he now resides, a rich tract of land of one hundred and sixty
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acres situated on section 11, Marion township. The fields of early spring give promise of golden harvests in the autumn, for he is practical in his methods and progressive in all that he undertakes. Not only does he raise the cereals best adapted to soil and climate, but also raises and feeds hogs, the annual sale of which adds materially to his income.
On the 22d of September, 1892, Mr. Frederick was married to Miss Minnie Subke, who was born in the city of Bloomington, Illinois, July 8, 1872, and is a daughter of Fred and Fredrieka Subke, who are still living in McLean county, Illinois, where they reared their family of seven children. Mr. and Mrs. Fred- erick have become the parents of five children: Fred F., born in 1893; Edgar Frank; Elmer G .; Charles W .; and Gladys C. The third son is now a student at Mount Vernon. Mr. Frederick has always been a believer in education and desires that his children shall have good advantages in that direction. He has served as school director in his home loeality. He and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and govern their lives by its teachings, while in all their relations with their fellowmen they attempt to follow the Golden Rule. Mr. Frederiek has never had oceasion to regret his determination to come to America for here he found the opportunities he sought and in their improve- ment has reached a plane of affluence.
FRED A. LYMAN
Fred A. Lyman, president and seeretary of the firm of Lyman Brothers, eon- ducting a wholesale millinery business in Cedar Rapids, was born in MelIenry county, Illinois, on the 20th of March, 1867, a son of George B. and Mary ( Whit- ten) Lyman. The father, who for a considerable period conducted a general store at Sharon, Wiseonsin, died in 1906, while the mother, who was a native of England, passed away in 1900.
The removal of the family from Illinois to Sharon, Wisconsin, enabled Fred A. Lyman to pursue his education in the public schools of that place, and at seventeen years of age he put aside his text-books to become a clerk in his brother's store, thus receiving his preliminary business training. After two years thus passed he eame to Cedar Rapids and entered the employ of E. W. Howe & Company, with whom he continued for two years. He was afterward in Chi- cago with J. C. Burdick & Company, jobbers in ladies' hats. A year was spent with that house, after which he returned to Cedar Rapids and opened a retail millinery store with his brother, O. W. Lyman, under the firm style of Lyman Brothers. Prospering in this undertaking, their growing business at length justified them in also opening a wholesale department, and today they have one of the large wholesale enterprises of this city. The business was incorporated five years ago, but two years later O. W. Lyman withdrew. The present offieers of the company are : F. A. Lyman, president and seerctary; W. H. Stark, vice president and treasurer; and C. B. Tompkins, assistant secretary. Their trade extends over the entire western territory and they have a branch house at Ogden, Utah, where they engage in the manufacture of pattern hats, flowers and other millinery goods. Each year witnesses an increase in their business, which has now grown to mammoth proportions and is one of the foremost commercial enter- prises of Cedar Rapids. In addition to his mercantile affairs Mr. Lyman also owns land in Colorado, Kansas, North Dakota and Minnesota, which he is holding for rise in values, having purchased them as an investment.
On the 6th of November, 1898, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Lyman and Miss Louise A. Ellis, a daughter of Robert Ellis, who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume. They reside at No. 1956 First avenue. Mr. Lyman is a member
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of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and also of the Country and the Commercial Clubs. He is fond of travel and utilizes his leisure in that way. His attention, however, is largely confined to his business interests. Honored and respected by all, there is no man in Cedar Rapids who occupies a more en- viable position in commercial and financial circles than Fred A. Lyman, not alone by reason of the success he has achieved, but also owing to the straightfor- ward business policy which he has ever followed. He has always based his actions upon the rules which govern strict and unswerving integrity and enter- prise and in the legitimate lines of trade has met with most ereditable and gratify- ing sueeess.
DAVID R. WALLACE
Among the worthy citizens of Linn county that death has elaimed within recent years was David R. Wallace, a man whose many good qualities won him the kindly regard and enduring friendship of those with whom he came in contact. He was born in Ross county, Ohio, November 3, 1833, a son of James and Hannah Wallace who in the early '40s arrived in Jowa where they purchased a farm upon which they made their home throughout their remaining days.
In carly life, after acquiring a common school education, David R. Wallace learned the tinner's trade and for several years was engaged in the hardware business in Marion, being numbered among the representative merchants at the county seat. At length he retired from commercial pursuits and in January, 1882, moved to the old family homestead of one hundred and eighty-one acres, situated on seetion 25, Marion township. With resolute purpose and indefati- gable energy lie took up the task of cultivating the land and adding to its improvements. His labors wrought a marked transformation in the appearance of the place which became one of the highly developed farms of the locality.
As a companion and helpmate through life's journey, Mr. Wallace chose Miss Elsie Hayzlett, whom he wedded on the 28th of November, 1877. She was born in Linn county, lowa, near Mt. Vernon, February 20, 1853, a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Williams) Hayzlett, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Indiana. They arrived in Linn county in the fall of 1840 and took up their abode upon a tract of land, the only improvement thereon being a log cabin. He built the first brick house ever ereeted in Linn county and was otherwise connected with events which marked the pioneer history. At the time of their arrival in Linn county the postage on a letter was twenty- five cents and envelopes were not then in use. Ilere he lived until his death, a respected and valned citizen of the community, passing away, November 5, 1887. His widow survived him for a number of years and died on the 21st of July, 1901, at the age of eighty-five. In their family were five children of whom two are now living.
Mr. and Mrs. Wallace have one ehild, Carl D., who was born November 13, 1883, and now operates the home farm. He married Bessie Howe, also a native of this county and their union has been blessed with one son, Donald R. Carl D. Wallace and his mother are the owners of the old homestead property which he is carefully operating. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and in this respect he follows in the footsteps of his father who was an earnest advocate of republican principles but was never an office seeker. Mr. Wallace was a devoted member of the Presbyterian church to which his wife and son also belong. He died April 8, 1909, his life record having covered more than seventy-five years. His was a life of usefulness characterized by unassail- able integrity and devotion to all that he believed to be just and honorable be-
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tween himself and his fellowmen. From early childhood he lived in this county so that his history was well known to his fellow townsmen. He could relate interesting incidents of the early days when this was a frontier district before Cedar Rapids had been founded. While Indians frequently visited the neighbor- hood, they did not manifest any hostility, however, but were friendly to the early settlers. Much wild game was to be had at that time, deer being frequently seen on the prairie, while feathered game could be had in abundance. As the years passed Mr. Wallace rejoiced in what was accomplished as the work of civilization was carried forward and at all times gave his support to the measures and move- ments which he believed would prove helpful to the community.
PORTER HAMILTON
Porter Hamilton left the deep impress of his individuality upon the lives of those with whom he eame in contact and his memory remains as an inspiration and a benediction to those who knew him. It was not because he gained success and distinction in publie life, for he had little aspiration or desire for political preferment ; it was not because he attained great wealth, for while a successful business mau he did not covet riches; it was because he was kindly in nature, charitable in thought, generous in spirit and hopeful in disposition, and round him he shed much of the sunshine of life. Born March 12, 1850, in Cornwall township, Henry county, Illinois, his youthful experiences were those which usually fall to the lot of farm boys, their time being divided between the work of the school room, the pleasures of the play ground and the labors of the farm. When in the battle of life the eity boy erosses swords with the country lad the odds are against him. The early rising, the daily tasks, the economical habits of the country boy prepare him for the struggle that must precede ascendency. So it proved in the life of Porter Hamilton, who left the farm well equipped for progress along commercial lines.
On the 1st of January, 1872, he was united in marriage to Miss Carlota Sargent, and soon afterward they established their home on a farm near Nor- way, in Benton county, Iowa. For two years Mr. Hamilton devoted his atten- tion to general agricultural pursuits and then removed to Cedar Rapids, enter- ing the service of A. T. Averill as a traveling salesman. He continued upon the road until the fall of 1876, when he established a business of his own as a dealer in implements in Monona county. There he was joined by his brother, Wallace, and the relationship between them was of an ideal character as manifest in all of their business connections and their social life. They were separated only by the death of Wallace Hamilton on the 14th of February, 1908.
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