USA > Iowa > Monona County > History of Monona County, Iowa; containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county > Part 67
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Johannes Olson, the father of Mrs. Peterson. came to the United States about 1849, and located in Wisconsin. Later on he removed to Monona County, and settled in Fairview Township. He served during the War of the Rebellion, in one of the Wisconsin regiments, for about a year. He was the parent of seven children: Clara, Mrs. Pet- erson, who was born April 6, 1856; Martin, Ole J .; Ellen. Mrs. Lewis Olson ; Mary, Mrs. Erick HIen- num; Josephine, Mrs. O. F. Johnson; and Chris- tina, Mrs. George Nelson, all of whom are residents of Fairview Township.
AMES K. SOOY, a successful farmer of Sol- dier Township, living on section 7, was born in Washingtonville, Columbiana Coun . ty, Ohio, November 22, 1847, and is the son of B. S. and Margaret ( Mease) Sooy. He received his education in the schools of his native county in his youth and remained with his parents until the fall of 1868, when he came to Monona County. That winter he followed carpentering at Smithland, Woodbury County, and the following year in Sol- dier Township. Returning to his home in the Buckeye State, he there remained until February,
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1870, when, in company with his brother Henry he returned to this county and for some two years they were engaged at a sawmill on the Sioux River, in Kennebec Township. At the end of that time he went back to Ohio, but in the fall of 1876 re. turned to Monona County and settling in Soklier Township. engaged in farming on a rented piece of land until the spring of 1881. Removing to the State of Washington, he there spent one year and on eoming baek purchased the farm where he now lives, then a piece of raw prairie, upon which he has made all the improvements and out of which he has made a good farm.
Mr. Sooy was married November 12, 1871. to Miss Mary Koontz, the daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Koontz, residents of Soldier Township. By this union they have four children: Nora E., Nellie B., Sarah M. and Henry W. Although pos- sessed of limited means when coming to this lo- cality, Mr. Sooy has, by diligence and thrift, placed himself on the broad road to a competeney and inerits his good fortune by his honest endeavor.
HOMAS REILY, probably one 'of the best known citizens of Monona County through his really ingenious and valuable invention of the wire tightener and fence post combined, is engaged in farming on section 5, in Sherman Township. He received the patent for the product of his brain and skill, January 15, 1889, and although but just placed upon the market, has found for it a ready and largely increasing trade.
Thomas Reily, was born in Livingston County N. Y., May I, 1853, and is the son of Patrick and Jane (Quinn) Reily. His parents were both na- tives of Ireland. the former born March 17. 1808, and the latter in 1810. They were married in the Emerald Isle, in 1828, and immediately sailed for the United States, settling in New York State. Of their eleven children Thomas was the ninth. When the latter was some six years of age he was brought to lowa by his father and mother, who settled near Goldfield, in Wright County. At the age of twelve years he left home to win a living
for himself, and for about six months found em- ployment in herding cattle for Holman Bros .. of Sergeant's Bluff. From there he came to Monona County in 1865, and through the following winter. was engaged in working on the railroad. making his home with his brother Peter. For several sum- mers he was employed in rafting on the Missouri River, from Decatur to Nebraska City, living with his brother in this county during the winter months. After engaging at farm labor for about five years, in April, 1875. Mr. Reily went to Yank- ton, Dak .. and served as a teamster in Gen. Custer's Brigade of the I'nited States Army for three months. being discharged at Ft. Rice. The next summer he worked at breaking prairie. In the spring of 1877 he made a trip to Nevada but. after a few months spent in the mines, returned to Mo- nona County and commenced farming on his own account and has pursued that calling ever since.
December 31. 1878, Thomas Reiley was united in marriage with Miss Mary Bareus, a native of New- ark, Licking County, Ohio, and daughter of John and Fidelia (Buck) Barcus, a sketch of whom ap- pears elsewhere in the pages of this ALBUM. Four children have been born to them, as follows: Eva May, November 11, 1879; Kate, July 27, 1881; Edith J., March 7. 1883, and one that was born June 9, 1888.
OLIN E. FRAZIER, M. D., a practicing. popular physician and surgeon, residing at Moorhead. located at that point August 20, 1885. and in the vicinity has established a large and growing patronage. Ile was born near Dover, Kent County. Del., June 26, 1855, and is the son of James and Elizabeth (Cooper) Frazier. Laying the foundation of his education in the com- mon schools of his native State, he finished at the institute at Wyoming, Del., and followed teaching for about five years. Coming to Council Bluffs, lowa. in May, 1880, he was there employed in teaching school for one year, after which, entering
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the medical department of the lowa State Univer- sity, at lowa City, he pursued his studies through a full course. Engaging in practice at Imogene, Fremont County, this State, he there remained un- til the spring of 1884, and then, after a visit to the home of his boyhood, matriculated at the Louis- ville Medical College, from which he was grad- uated February 26, 1885. Ile returned to Imogene that summer, resumed his practice there, and from that point came to Monona County.
The Doctor was united in marriage, October 11. 1887, to Miss Annetta L. Putney, a native of Pot- tawattamie County, Iowa, who was born June 6, 1867, and is the parent of one child-Elizabeth, born October 31, 1888. Mrs. Frazier is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ, of Latter Day Saints. The Doctor is a Mason in good standing, holding his connection with Frontier Lodge, No. 382, at Lit- tle Sioux. Although a young man he has the en- tire confidence of a large proportion of the people of the community.
AMES MARTIN, of Ashton Township, bas an excellent farm of eighty acres of land on section 22, fifty of which is under cultiva- tion, and the balance, except six acres which are in a beautiful grove, is devoted to pasturage, upon which feeds his herd of forty head of graded cattle. Ile came to Monona County in September, 1879, from Delaware County, this State, and pur- chased his present residence, and has lived here ever sinec.
homa; and George W., living on the old homestead at Ead's Grove, Delaware County, Iowa. The father was a second cousin of the Confederate Gen. Martin, and the mother. a near relative of the famous Gen. Robert E. Lee.
James Martin received his education in the dis- triet schools of his native State, and removed with the family to Delaware County, in 1845. He grew to manhood, surrounded by the influences of a happy home, and, on attaining man's estate, en- gaged in agricultural pursuits on his own account in that part of the State. He was the first Post- master at Ead's Grove, in the Northwestern part of Delaware County, at a time when there was only three others in the county, Rockville, Delhi and Colesburg. Ile there made his home until the fall of 1879, when he came to this county, as set forth above,
One of the most important events in the life of Mr. Martin, was his marriage, which occurred July 5, 1851, in Delaware County, Iowa. Ilis bride, Miss Mary A. Le Lachenr, a native of Prince Ed- ward's Island, was the daughter of John and Elisa- beth Sensabaugh Le Lacheur. They have a family of five children: William 11., who had married Miss Julia Hitchcock, and is living in Franklin Township, this county; Jennie E., the wife of llenry F. Maennel, a capitalist, living in Correc- tionville, Woodbury County, this State; Windsor W., who married Miss JJennie Cameron, and is engaged in farming in the latter county ; Delivan G .. who is residing at home; and Nancy Ann, the wife of JJohn 11. Jones, one of the proprietors of the Onawa Sen- tinel.
Mr. Martin's birthplace was in ChampaignCounty, Ohio, where he first saw the light July 11. 1826. lle is the son of George and Mary Martin, who re- OHIN O. JOHNSON, a thrifty and success- ful farmer of Jordan Township, having his home on section 3, was born in Norway, September 23, 1851. llis father, Ole E. 1 Johnson, was born near the town of Konigesberg, Norway, in January, 1826, and received a limited education. He was engaged the most of his life in the pineries of that region, but came to America in the spring of 1861, and settled in LaSalle County, moved from Ohio with their family in 1845, and settled in Delaware County, lowa, where they made their home until overtaken by death, the former in the summer of 1878, and the mother in the win- ter of 1885. They had a family of five children -- James, our subject; Ezekiel, now living in Bucha- nan County, who was born in Champaign County, Ohio, in 1828; Mary, Mrs. John Bliss, a resident of 1 Nebraska; Charity, Mrs. Elias Adams, now in Okla- | Ill., and for thirteen years carried on farming.
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Coming to Webster County, Iowa, he followed the same avocation, near Ft. Dodge, after which he came to Monona County, and makes his home with his son. He was married, December 18, 1853, to Adeline Olson, a native of the same section of Nor- way, born May 27. 1832, and who was a daughter of Ole Ogenson. Their children are as follows: John O., the subject of this sketch ; Adeline, who was born in Norway, December 12, 1859; Lena, in LaSalle County, Ill., November 20, 1865; Julia M., in La- Salle County, Ill., February 20, 1869; and Oscar C., in Lee County, IH. February 6, 1873.
John O. Johnson, at the age of six years, came to America with his parents, and spent his childhood and youth in LaSalle County, Ill. From the age of twelve years he worked on neighboring farms for the benefit of his father, after which he com- meneed railroading. and in the fall of 1873 went to Rice County, Minn., and was there engaged at farm labor for a year. We next find him in Webster County, Iowa, laboring on the railroad, and two years after, in the spring of 1877, coming to Mo- nona County. After tilling the soil on rented farms for about three years. and practicing economy, thereby saving some little money, in 1880 he pur- chased eighty acres of land on section 3, JJordan Township, where he has since lived. By honest toil, thrift and economy, he has raised himself from comparative poverty to a position among the well- to-do farmers of the community, and has now a fine farm of one hundred and sixty aeres of excel- lent land, all under fence, and ninety acres of it under cultivation. General farming and stock- raising are the branches he follows.
1847. Ile then engaged in the practice of law at Chicago. III., where he attained some eminence, but seeking a larger scope for his abilities and en- ergies, in 1856, he came to Monona County and settled. He was one of the leading attorneys in this section of the State, and took an active part in the politics of the county and district, and repre- sented this district in the Lower House in the Twelfth General Assembly, in 1868-69. Ile died here November 13, 1884.
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E STHIER R. TILLSON, nee DAVIS, one of the earliest pioneers of Monona County, now residing on section 5, Franklin Town- ship, came here with her brother, Isaac Davis, No- vember 13, 1855, from Lee County, lowa, and made the entire trip with an ox-team. She made her home with her brother until December 25, 1856, when she was united in marriage with Fran- cis C. Case, a widower with five children. Ile was a native of Indiana, and died here April 19, 1858, after having been just elected to the office of Sher- iff, but the duties of which he had not yet assumed. By this union there was one chill: Francis C., Jr., born June 21, 1858, who now resides at home and carries on the farm for his mother. On the settle ment of the estate, Mrs. Case took charge of her late husband's youngest daughter, then a girl ten years of age, who staid with her about four years.
Our subjeet again assumed the marital vows, Jan- uary 5, 1859, being united with Hon. Stephen Till- son, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere, and by this union had one child: Stephen, Jr., a rising young attorney of Onawa, who was born December 9, 1859. The latter, after founding his education in the schools of the county, finished it at Quincy, Ill., and in the Iowa State University at Iowa City.
Mrs. Esther R. Tillson, was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, July 17, 1818. and is the daughter. of Isaac and Edith Davis, natives of Wales and Virginia respectively. About 1840 her father re- moved from Ohio to Quincy, Ill., and after an ex. tended stay, came by way of Nauvoo, to Lee
ON. STEPHEN TILLSON, SR., one of the earliest settlers and most prominent citizens of the county of Monona, in his day, came here in February, 1856. He was a native of Huron County, Ohio, born near Norwalk, July 25, 1822. Ile received his education in the com- mon schools. and at the Michigan State University, at Ann Arbor, Mich., being graduated from the law department of the latter noble institution, about | County, Iowa, where he purchased a farm and
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made his home for some time. From there he moved to what was known as Winter Quarters, now Florence, a few miles above Omaha, Neb., where he died. His widow returned to Lee County. and later in life made her home with her son Isaac Davis. in this county where she died.
B ENJAMIN F. MORRIS, who is engaged in the real-estate and insurance business in the thriving village of Whiting, has been con- nected with the mercantile circles of that place since February, 188t,as shown elsewhere in this work. He has been also connected with its official history, having been appointed Mayor of the little city in 1857, and elected his own successor the fol- lowing year. lle has held the position of Justice of the Peace in and for the township, continually, since 1881.
Mr. Morris, a descendant of one of the most illus- trious families of the Empire State, was born in Livingston County, N. Y., April 9, 1843. Ilis father, Lyman Morris, was born in Madison County, N. Y., March 21, 1801, and in early manhood was united in marriage with Miss Anna Millet, a native of Wayne County. in the same State, born March 23, 1806. Our subject remained with his parents upon the farm, assisting in the agricultural labors of carrying it on until attaining his twenty-first birthday. After working upon a farm during that summer, in August, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, Fifty-eighth New York Infantry, and after re- maining in the camp of instruction at Elmira, was discharged December 2, of the same year. In Feb- ruary following, he went to Ilinois in search of work, from which he returned to his home in the Empire State, the following fall.
April 29, 1880, B. F. Morris arrived in Monona County and taught school in Sherman Township. that summer, and the following February moved to Whiting, where he was engaged in the sale of agri- cultural implements and furniture, until carly in 1886. Since then he has been engaged in the real estate and insurance business.
Mr. Morris and Miss Sarah E. Shepherd were
united in marriage in Livingston County. N. Y .. July 31. 1870, and there has been born to them a family of five children. upon the following dates: Emma May, March 22, 1873: John Augustus, August 6, 1876; Frank Robert. September 8, 1879; Fay Percival. September 2, 1884; and Florence Lillian, July 31, 1888. Mrs. Morris. the daughter of Augustus and Flavilla Shepherd, was born in Livingstou County, N. Y., October 21, 1849. She opened the pioneer millinery store in Whiting about April I. 1881. and still continues at the head of that business.
F6 RANCIS C. CASE, SR., deceased, was born in Indiana in 1813, and grew to manhood in that State. His first wife was formerly a Miss Mary Hawk, by whom he had five children. Mr. Case came to Monona County about the year 1853. 1Ie was an active and progressive citizen of this county, and at the election April, 1858, was chosen by the qualified electors to fill the important otlice of Sheriff, but before assuming its duties, April 19, 1858, was called on to pass "into the silent chamber of death."
December 25, 1856. he was united in marriage with Miss Esther R. Davis, a sketch of whom is given in this ALBUM, who became the mother of one child, Francis C. Case, Jr., who is still a resident of the county.
E DWARD A. CHAPMAN, formerly a mem- ber of the firm of Warner & Chapman, gen- eral merchants of Onawa, was born at Mid- dletown, Conn., where he grew to manhood. and received a common-school education. For several years he was in the employ of W. & B. Douglas. pump manufacturers, as salesman, but in the spring of . 869, he came to Onawa and purchased an in- terest in the firm of Warner, Freeland & Co., and remained connected with that prominent house un- til August, 1875, when severing his connection with it and selling out to Mr. Warner, the remain-
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ing partner, he returned to Meriden, Conn., where he has ever since been extensively engaged in the manufacture of saddlery hardware, under the name of the Chapman Manufacturing Company, of which he is the founder. While in Onawa be took an active interest in the welfare of the city and county, and served as Mayor of the former, being.elected on the Republican ticket. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and of the Congregational Church, and filled the position of Superintendent of the Sunday-school of that denomination. His wife formerly Miss Nellie M. Warner, was a native of New Hampshire, a daughter of George M. Warner. and a sister of Maj. George E. Warner, mentioned elsewhere in this volume. In youth she received an academic education, and was a highly intelligent and estimable lady. Their daughter, Gertrude C. Chapman, is the wife of W. J. Maughlin, the pre- sent Clerk of the Courts, and resides at Onawa.
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3 ENJAMIN F. ROSS, the present efficient County Superintendent of common schools, residing at Onawa, was born in Clinton County, Penn., July 11, 1852, and is a son of Samuel A. and Margaret (Hullihan) Ross. He grew to manhood in his native State, and having grounded his education in the common school, fin- ished it at the Farmers' High School, at New Leba- non, Mercer County. In 1871 he came to Onawa, arriving there March 22, and was engaged in school teaching in the county for several years. In the fall of 1875 he purchased a farm on section 21, Lincoln Township, which contains one hundred and sixty acres of land, which is now under an excel- Ient state of cultivation, and which he still owns. At the same time he was engaged at his profes- sional labors, he improved his farm and success- fully carried on stock-raising. In the fall of 1887, he was the regular nominee of the combined Demo- cratie and Union Labor convention for Superin- tendent of common schools, of the county, to which he was duly elected, and in 1889, being elected his own successor, is now serving his second term. In 1877 he formed a partnership with his brother, (.
M. Ross, in the real-estate. loan, insurance and col- lection business, which is still carried on under the management of the latter.
Mr. Ross was united in marriage. December 25, 1873, with Miss Sarah M. Herring, a native of Winnebago County, Ill., who was born April 5, 1854, and is a daughter of Benjamin and Honor E. Herring. Her father was born in Oxford County, Me., and was a son of John and Mercy (llaskell) Herring, who were among the pioneers of Winne- bago County, where they died. Benjamin, after his marriage removed with his family to Greene County, Wis., where he worked at his trade of a cooper. During the Civil War he enlisted in Com- pany B, Twenty-second Wisconsin Infantry, and while engaged in the defense of his country, dur- ing one of the dreadful conflicts that marked the course of the war, was captured by the rebels, and confined in Libby Prison. After his release and discharge in the spring of 1865, Mr. Herring came to Monona County and took up a homestead on section 20, Lincoln Township, where he resided un- til the spring of 1889, when they took a trip to visit his friends. Mr. and Mrs. Herring were the parents of five children, three of whom are living: Sarah M. and Mary M., twins, and Lillie J., the wife of A. E. Wheeler, of Eugene City, Ore.
Mr. and Mrs. Ross are the parents of four chil- dren : Samuel B., born October 3, 1874 ; Harry W., December 7, 1876; Grace E., January 8, 1881; and Margaret A., May 23, 1883.
G EORGE SWENSON came to the county of Monona in June, 1868, in company with Evan Evanson, Evan Knutson and his brother, Andrew Swenson, and settled on the farm where he now lives, on section 33, in Soldier Town- ship. Having built a log cabin that summer, in which he took up his residence, he worked out through the country by day's work until the next spring. He purchased a small farm of some forty acres which he fenced and half of which he broke the next summer, and engaged in the cultivation of the soil. He resided in the dug-out until the
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summer of 1884. when he built a small frame house which was replaced the next year by the com- modious and tasty one, in which he now resides. From the humble beginning and state of compara- tive poverty with which his life in the county was commenced, he has raised himself by his own exer- tions to a position among the successful and well-to- do farmers of the community and feels a justifiable pride in so doing.
Mr. Swenson was born November 25, 1810, in Norway, and is the son of Swen and Anna (Knut- son) Swenson. Having received the education common to the youth of his native land, under its system of law, he there grew to manhood and made it his home until April 10, 1866, when he crossed the ocean for America, landing at Quebec, Canada. After a week spent there and the same length of time in Montreal, he came to Chicago and thence, two weeks later, to La Crosse County, Wis., where lie was engaged in farm labor for two years previ- ous to coming to Monona County.
Mr. Swenson was married June 20, 1863, to Miss Jane Evanson, a native of Norway, who was born March 9, 1846, and is a daughter of Evan and Isabel Evanson. Of this union there have been born seven children-Anna, Swen, Julia, Elena. Carl, Isaac and Josie Matilde.
ONE BLANCHARD, JR., one of the general farmers and fine stock-raisers of Sherman Township, having his home on section! 29, where he owns one hundred and sixty acres, was born near Cornwall, Canada, April 25, 1832, and is the son of John and Josephine Blanchard. Ilis father, a native of Ireland, born in 1770, came to America and settled in Canada where he died in 1838. His mother, born in France in 1773, also settled in Canada with her parents, and died in New York whither she had moved in 1838 after the death of her husband.
Jolin Blanchard, Jr., made his first start in life at the early age of seven years, being employed as a jockey in the running raccs. For four years he
followed that business after which. having com- meneed as cabin boy on the steamer) "British[ Em- pire," he was employed for some sixteen years as a sailor on the great lakes. In this business he had the usual experience of seamen, wrecks, fires and disasters. Ile was one of the crew of the ill-fated "Lady. Elgin," that burned with a loss of over three hundred passengers, and was aboard of the ship "Roman" when she went ashore at Point Au Plais; on the brig "Oxford" when she sank, being struck on the starboard or port how by a propeller, and all the crew lost but three, of whom our subject was one; and in other disasters common to our merchant marines.
Coming to Iowa in 1857, our subject was em- ployed in freighting until 1861, when he enlisted in Company F, in the Engineers of the West. un- der command of Col. Bissell. A history of his proceedings with that famous regiment would fill a book, for they were employed not only in the line but in the engineer service throughout the war. Besides participating in the battles at Ft. Donelson, Fremont, Lexington, the capture of Island No. 10, Memphis. Madrid, luka, Jackson, Hamburg, Corinth, Tuscumbia and Tuscola, and the siege of Vicksburg. Ile was also with the regiment when they cut the timber around Island No. 10, making the famous canal. He had charge of the wrecking of some ten steamboats below the last mentioned point, and the old dry dock turtle, mounting some twenty-one guns he had a hand in destroying. Ile also assisted in building railroads and bridges with the armies of the Cumberland and Tennessee. throughout the South, At Vicksburg, the regiment found sufficient work to do in the construction of the New Providence Canal, and marched from Chattanooga to Atlanta with Sherman in the sum- mer of 1864. He participated in the engagements that led to the surrender of the latter city, and with his regiment, which became one of the best known in the service. was engaged at the battle of Jones- boro, lle was mustered out of the service in No- vember, 1864, and returned to Cedar Falls, Iowa.
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