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 72
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In April, 1857, Mr. Holbrook resigned the office and came to Monona County, arriving at Ashton. May 10. He was a member of the Monona Land Company and to him and his brother, Bernard D., was awarded the contract for surveying and plat- ting the site of the village of Onawa. Forming a partnership with this brother in the real estate and loan business in 1857, they have continued in that connection ever since, as is shown in the history of their banking establishment in the historical part of this work. Mr. Holbrook was appointed Deputy Treasurer of Monona County, in 1858, and served until his election to the office of Treasurer in 1859. Twice was he re-elected his own successor and twice was he chosen to fill the position of County Surveyor, serving in the latter office during the years 1865 and 1876. As a member of the City Couneil he has done much to further the interests of the place and enjoys a high standing in the com- munity. He is a member of the Onawa Improve- ment Company and in politics is a Demoerat.
Mr. Holbrook was united in marriage June 14, 1861, with Miss Jane Fairehilds. a native of Oneida County, N. Y., who was born January 16, 1835. By this union they have been the parents of five children: Henry S., who was born June 11. 1862, and who died April 5, 1886; Paul, born October 1. 1863, died October 1, 1861; an infant unname .! died October 1, 1864 ; Glennie. born September 17, 1865. died January 6, 1877. and Lawrence. born
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February 5, 1868. On April 19, 1869, Mrs. Hol- brook was taken from her family by death, and February 11, 1871. Mr. Holbrook again entered the marriage state, wedding Miss Catherine Sprague, a native of Knox County, Ohio, who was born May 1. 1836. and unto them have been born three chil- dren: John, January 19, 1875, who died October 11, 1876; Charles E., born October 27, 1879, and Bruce M., February 2. 1882.
Mr. Holbrook came to Monona County in but limited circumstances, his earthly possessions em- bracing but about $500 and he has been the sole architect of his own fortune. and is now ranked among the most wealthy and affluent people of Western Iowa. His elegant residence on West Broadway, is one of the finest in the county and an ornament to the city.
ILLIAM WESLEY KNAUSS is a promi- nent and well-to-do stock-raiser and gen- eral farmer of the Township of Jordan. living on section 35. He was born in Nobles County, Ind., November 24, 1851. and is the son of Henry and Rachel ( Dunagan ) Knauss, His fa- ther, a native of Pennsylvania, who was born July 4, 1813, removed at the early age of fourteen years to Ohio and there remained until attaining his majority. For the fourteen succeeding years he resided in Nobles County, Ind., from which he removed to llarrison County, Iowa, where he still lives, carrying on a large farm and has extensive stock interests. Ile was married in Nobles County, Ind., in 1841, to Miss Rachel Dunagan, a native of Ohio, who was born October 23, 1823, and is a daughter of Samuel Dunagan.
The subject of our sketch came to lowa with his parents in childhood and grew to manhood on his father's farm in Harrison County, receiving his education in its district schools. At the age of twenty-five years he left home and commenced agricultural pursuits upon a farm of eighty acres that he had purchased the previous year, which, after improving and bringing into cultivation, he
sold in February. 1882, and removed to Jordan Township, Monona County, the site of his present place, where he had bought an improved farm of two hundred and forty aeres; one hundred and fifty acres of this is under cultivation, the balance of it in pasture and meadow.
Mr. Knauss was married, February 22, 1877. in Jefferson Township, Harrison County, to Miss Kate Hillman, a daughter of Abit and Martha ( Easley ) Ilillman. By this union there has been born a family of four children, as follows: Stella M .. December 13, 1878; Minnie B., April 8, 1882; Louis C., January 21. 1886, and Annie, October 23. 1887.
ILLIAM A. PARKS has been a resident of this county since the fall of 1877 and as he has always been engaged in agriculture, he has successfully managed his farm on section 17, Ashton Township, and has brought it to a high state of improvement. He purchased this place several years previous to his removal here, but in that year commenced breaking the sod and has now about one hundred aeres under cultivation and five acres set out in a thrifty grove. About fourteen head of horses, twenty of cattle, and forty of hogs comprises the stock upon his place.
The son of William and Elizabeth (Osmon) Parks, natives of the Buckeye State, William A. Parks was born in Adams County, Ohio, April 22, 1839. Ilis parents died when he was but seven years of age. leaving two other children-Hannah F. and Salathiel. Our subject after that made his home with his grandfather until the death of the latter in December, 1853. Making his home with an uncle through that winter, in the spring he started out in life for himself to battle with the cold and unfeeling world and worked at farm labor by the month, attending school during the winters. Ile thus received in his youth the elements of a fair common-school education which he has since supplemented by a considerable reading.
Ile was engaged in thus earning a livelihood, both in Ohio and Indiana until his twenty-second year when, having a desire to establish a home of his own, he wedded Miss Levian Wilson, a native
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of the Buckeye State. The same fall he removed to Douglas County, Ill., where he purchased a farm and entered upon an agricultural life on his own account and there made his home until coming to this county. By his marriage Mr. Parks is the parent of fourteen children, who are mentioned as as follows: Mary Elizabeth, who died August 9. 1866 : Clement S .. Thomas S .; William P., residing in Washington Territory: Wilson E., John C., David A., Sarah K. ; James, who died December 30, 1883: Charles D., Frederick F .. Erastus A., War- ner A., and one who died, unnamed, in infancy.
AVID T. HAWTHORN, a prominent. en- terprising and well-to-do farmer of the town of Center, residing on section 8, was one of the early settlers of Monona County, having come here during the winter of 1856-57 and herded cattle on the rush beds on the Missouri River, in company with Edward Young, for several parties who had lost their hay by fire (a reminis- cence of which appears in this volume). In the fall of 1861 he settled permanently in the county, and since that date has continued to be a resident here.
Mr. Hawthorn first saw the light of day in Washi- ington County, Md., September 29, 1828. ITis father, Jobn Hawthorn. was born in Ireland, May 14, 1800, and crossed the ocean to the United States with the family of his father, Thomas Haw- thorn, when a boy of but ten years of age and died in Washington County. Md., in the fall of 1856. Mrs. Elizabeth ( Pheasent) Hawthorn, the mother of our subject. was also born in Maryland about 1808 and died in that State in the spring of 1889.
David T. in his youth attended the school at Ilagerstown, in his native State. and at the age of twenty years was married to Miss Catherine Hersh- berger, the ceremony taking place December 21, 1848. The lady was a native of Washington County, Md., and daughter of Jacob and Susan (Roatrough) Hershberger. After his marriage, in the spring of 1855 he removed West to Rock
Island County, Ill., where he remained only one year. . Inne 6, 1856, he came to Woodbury County and engaged in tending the stock above mentioned. Early in 1858 he located in Ida County which he helped organize at a time when there were only thirteen voters within its limits, and for two years occupied the position of County Superintendent of common schools, after which he came to Monona County and located as above stated.
EWIS W. RINEHART. deceased. one of the highly valued and respected citizens of Belvidere Township, who for some ten years was engaged in carrying on his farm in Belvidere Township on seetion 10, was born in Cass County, Mich., near the village of Williams- ville, June 20, 1841, and was the son of John and Parthenia (Lawson) Rinehart. His father who was born in Rockingham County, Va., June 20. 1815, died in Michigan in 1880, but his mother. a native of Champaign County, Ohio, born March 15, 1820, still makes her home in that State.
Lewis W. Rinehart who was the second child in his parent's family of six, received a more than a common education in the days of his youth, and in his manhood's leisure hours improved his mind to a great extent. Upon his father's farm he grew to manliood and there developed those powers of mind and body that led to his success in this local- ity. In 1871, at the age of thirty, he came to lowa with his wife and settled in this county, in Belvidere Township, after passing one season in Harrison County. Ilaving then but limited means be rented the Bolter farm, and after tilling its soil for three years, purchased eighty acres of land on section 10, to which in 1873, he added one hundred and sixty more and later another forty, owning at the time of his death, which took place September 2, 1880, about three hundred acres of line land, a large proportion of which was under cultivation. On the 23d of September, 1868. he married Miss Sarah L. Haine, who survives him.
Mrs. Sarah L. (Haine) Rinehart was born in Snyder County. Pa., and is the daughter of George and Julia ( Williams) Haine, both of whom were
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natives of the "Keystone State," the former born in 1797 and the latter about 1800. Her father was engaged in the hotel business and in running a farm in the State where he was born, and died there in 1854. Her mother's death occurred in 1873. They had a family of thirteen children.
Mr. and Mrs. Rinehart were the parents of two children: Pliny L., born May 31. 1877. and Lewis. whose birth took place August 13, 1880. Mrs. R, who resides upon her fine estate of between four and five hundred acres, rents the most of her land. but is engaged somewhat in stock- raising.
AMES LARSON. Among the men of Mon- ona County, who have risen by their own efforts from a state of comparative poverty, to a condition of ease and comfort, is the subject of this biography. He is the owner of a fine farm of some four hundred acres, and has his residence beautifully located on seetion 2, in Wil- low Township. He is a native of Denmark, born August 28, 1848, and the son of Laus and Mary (Jolmson) Clauson. He grew to manhood in his native land, and there resided until March 21, 1871, when he sailed for the New World, coming direct to Chicago. For about three months he was employed at Riverside Park, and then came to Iowa locating in Shelby County, where for about two years, he was engaged at farm labor. In the spring of 1872, he came to Monona County, and entered the employ of John and George Moore- head. in Spring Valley Township, with whom he remained some three years, when he removed to Boyer, Crawford County. Two years later he made a trip to the Black Hills with a team, and re- mained in that region, mining and freighting, all the summer of 1877, returning to his home in Crawford County about the middle of September. A short time after he removed to Soldier Town - ship, and that winter was in the employ of O. E. Strand, but in the spring returned to Crawford County, and rented a farm. From there, the next fall, he removed to Harrison County, and between these two made his residence until the spring of
1883, when he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land upon which he now lives, and to which he has added from time to time. The dwelling house, which he ereeted on first settling here, he re- modeled in 1888, until it is one of the neatest and most comfortable in the neighborhood.
Mr. Larson was united in marriage at Onawa, November 18, 1878, with Miss Sarah Thoreson a daughter of Thomas Thoreson. She was born in Norway, March 5, 1851, and came to America with her parents in 1856, and settled in Manitowoc County, Wis. In 1869 the family removed to Monona County, where they made their home until the death of her father. Her mother now resides with her. Mrs. Larson for some fifteen years was employed in the dining room of the Dunlap Res- laurant. Mr. Larson's father came to America in 1885, after the death of his wife, and makes his home with his son.
Mr. and Mrs. Larson have but one child. Leroy, whose birth took place November 14, 1879.
E N. IIONG, a highly intelligent and prosper- ous farmer of Willow Township, residing on section 3, was born in Norway, November 11, 1849, and is the son of Nels and Marit (Ly- seng) Sebo. He received the elements of a good education in his native land, and at the age of nine- teen, in company with his brother and sister, Klem- met and Kari, crossed the ocean to the New World, and for one summer, made his home in Manitowoc County, Wis. In the fall of 1868, he removed to Decorah, Winnesheik County, Iowa, where he at- tended the Norwegian Lutheran College. After three years spent at that institution, he went to Trempeleau County, Wis., where for two years he was engaged in teaching school. In the fall of 1873 he came to Monona County, and followed the same profession in the townships of Willow and Soldier for some five years. He had taken up his residence on the land upon which he now resides, about 1874. but coming here with little means, he was not able, at that time. to purchase it, so made a dug-out and broke up a little patch of ground.
CREEK
K
SPRING GROVE.D.
ISTORE
RINK
PREPARATION, THE OLD MORMAN TOWN, NOW THE FARM OF JAMES GRAHAM, SEC.30. SPRING VALLEY.
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In 1879 he bought one hundred and twenty acres of land, and erected a neat frame cottage, to which he has since made considerable additions. He has added to his original farm until it now contains two hundred and forty aeres, and upon it he keeps some fifty head of cattle and other stock, and is prospering as he deserves.
Mr. Hong was married at Onawa, October 8. 1878, to Miss Turi Erickson, who was born April 1, 1851, and is the daughter of Bjorn and Helga Erickson, the latter of whom died at Spring Grove, Minn., in 1866, the former now living near De- corah, Iowa. By their union Mr. and Mrs. Hong have had a family of four children: Helga Marie, who was born September 8, 1879; Nils Gerhard, born June 30, 1881, Kari Theodora, born February 11, 1887; and Anna Emilie. born February 21, 1889.
The brother and sister of Mr. Hong, with whom he came to this country, died in Kandiyohi County, Minn., the former in 1876, and the latter in 1888, both leaving families,
ORACE A. HANSCOM, the first white child born in the city of Onawa, is engaged in farming and stock-raising, on section 35, Franklin Township. He was born October 20, 1857, and is the son of Alfred and Mary P. (Oliver) Hanscom, early settlers of the county who came here in the early days of its existence.
Horace was reared in this the county of his birth, and received his education in its excellent district schools. He has always been engaged in agricul- tural pursuits, having been initiated into its meth- ods in early life, and thus laid the foundation for his present success. Ile was married July 8, 1878, to Lydia Ann Wright, a native of England, who was born September 30, 1861, and is the daughter of George H. and Jane (Long) Wright, residents of this township.
By this union Mr. and Mrs. Hanscom have a family of five children-Daniel G., born Feb- ruary 8, 1879; Charles II., January 24, 1881; William V .. July 21, 1883; Eva M., Septem
ber 16. 1885; and Blanche E .. November 23. 1887;
Mrs. Hanscom's father, George 11. Wright, was born at Attleborough. Norfolk County, England, May 27, 1817, and in the okl country was a laborer. In 1839 he married Jane Long, a native of the same shire, and made his home there until April, 1873, when he came to the United States and set- tled on section 35, Franklin Township, this county. Ile is the parent of twelve children.
In his political views, Mr. Hanscom coincides with the Republican party and supports to the best of his ability its candidates.
G EORGE SEVERSON, the son of James and Cornelia (Gorder) Severson, an active and enterprising farmer of Willow Township, residing on section 18, came to Monona County with his parents in 1867, and remained with them until he was abont twenty years of age. lle then rented a farm in Spring Valley Township upon which he carried on agriculture for one season and the following year, in company with his brother, tilled the farm where he now lives. Going to Wheeler County. Neb., he made a short stay after which he removed to Boone County in the same State, trading land in Wheeler County for a farm in the latter. About a year later he returned to Monona County and spent the winter and thus came backwards and forwards between this and Boone County until the fall of 1886 when, having traded his land in the latter county for his present home, he has there made his residence ever since. About forty acres of the land were broken and fenced and a house upon it was already erected. Ile has a well-cultivated farm of one hundred and twenty acres, which shows thrift and management.
Mr. Severson was born in La Crosse County. Wis., October 22. 1860, and was but seven years of age when brought to this county by his parents. Hle was married in Madison County, Neb., July 30. 1886, to Miss Minnie Christianson, the daughter of David and Elizabeth Christianson. Mrs. Severson is a native of Norway, born December 15, 1868, and was about fifteen years of age when she crossed
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the ocean to this country with her parents, who settled in Madison County, Neb., where she made her home until her marriage. She is the mother of two children : Daniel C., born December 7, 1887. and Edward D. B., July 12, 1889.
Mr. Severson started out in life with compara- tively but little means, but being endowed with a strong heart and willing hands has accumulated a nice property unaided, and having been well trained in all the departments of agriculture, is meeting with a merited success in life's confliet.
G EORGE GULLIKSON. a thrifty and well- to-do farmer of Fairview Township, resid- ing on section 14, was born in Winnebago County, Wis., May 6. 1853, and is the son of Knud and Maria Gullikson, natives of Norway. In his youth he attended school in the county of his birth. but in 1865 removed, with his father, to Red Wing, Min., and two years later came with the family to this county. He remained at home until about twenty-three years of age, when purchasing a part of his father's farm, on seetion 15, Fairview Town- ship, he commenced life on his own account. Four years later he sold this to Chester Brooks and bought land on section 12, which he shortly after- ward disposed of and removed to Valley City, Dak., on the Northern Pacific Railroad. After two years spent in that region he found that it did not suit him so well and returned to Monona County, purchasing fand on sections 11 and 1, upon which he has his present home. At that time it had but little improvements upon it, but now the larger part of his one hundred and ninety acres are under cultivation and he has a neat and commodious resi- dence and a large barn. The latter is 28x38 feet in size. Ile has also twelve head of horses, forty of graded cattle and about seventy-five hogs, and is noted as a successful stock-raiser.
Mr. Gullikson was united in marriage June 5, 1876, with Miss Bertha Johnson, a native of Win- nebago County, Wis., and daughter of Peter and Isabel Johnson. By this union Mr. and Mrs, Gul- likson are the parents of seven children, two boys
and five girls, all of whom are at home, Their names are respectively. Ida, Gilbert, Cora. Estella. llelen, Lena and Walter.
Mr. Gullikson's grandfather, Gullick Gullikson, was a native of Norway, and came to America and died in Winnebago County, Wis., about the year 1861.
RANK E. COLBY, of the firm of F. E. Colby & Co., prominent lumber dealers of Onawa, is a native of Monona County, hav- ing been born at Onąwa. November 29, 1857, and is a son of Harry E. Colby, a biographical sketch of whom may be found in this ALBUM. llere he grew to manhood. receiving the rudiments of his education in its excellent schools, and, in July, 1878, entered upon a course of study at the State Agricultural College, at Ames, Story County, lowa. After graduating from that well known in- stitution, November 12, 1881, he followed civil engineering with various railroad companies in dif- ferent parts of the country. in which business he remained until December, 1887. Returning to Onawa he then engaged in the sale of coal and wood, and, March 1, 1888, associating himself with his father under the present firm name and style, enlarged the business by adding to it a stock of lumber, He is a stockholder in the Onawa Improve- ment Company.
Mr. Colby was elected Surveyor of Monona County, and served in that capacity during the years of 1886 and 1887. In polities he is a Repub- lican. Socially he is connected with Monona Lodge, No. 184, K. P., of Onawa, of which he was one of the charter members, and is also a member of the Onawa Cornet Band.
Mr. Colby was united in marriage April 9, 1885. with Miss Estella Whiting, who was born near On- awa, November 21, 1857, and is a daughter of Newell A. Whiting. a sketch of whom is also given in this work. They are the parents of one child, Eva M., born December 10, 1888.
Mrs. Colby is a member of the Congregational . Church, having united with that denomination
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while attending the Young Ladies' Seminary at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, where she spent some two years.
Mr. Colby has had some experience in school- teaching, having taught several winter terms while attending college.
LFRED U. HANSCOM, deceased, one of the early pioneers who so materially as- sisted in the development of Monona County, made his first appearance here in the spring of 1856. After looking the country over, he returned to his home in Kane County. III., and gave so good an account of it. that he induced several from that section to emigrate to this point. He came back to Monona County in the summer of 1857, in company with his father-in-law and brother-in-law, G. W. and F. G. Oliver, and for a short time located at Ashton. In September of the same year he removed to the new town of Onawa, then just laid out and there he worked at the car- penter's trade on some of the earliest buildings of that embryo city. A few years later he removed to Lake Township, where he had purchased a farm and built a house and there resided until 1865. In the latter year he settled on section 25, Franklin Township, but in 1877 removed to Sioux Township, where he died, May 29, 1887. He was a native of the State of New Hampshire, where he was edu- cated and grew to manhood and in early life emi- grated to Illinois and settled in Kane County. Ile was there united in marriage with Miss Mary P. Oliver, the daughter of George W. and Hannah R. (Adams) Oliver, who was born September 4. 1833, and who is now living in Sioux Township. By this union was born a family of nine children.
LE B. CARLSON, one of the sturdy black- smiths of Onawa, came to Monona County June 22, 1869, and worked on a farm for Judge C. E. Whiting, for about two years. After that, until 1879, he was engaged in teaming and
then took up the trade of blacksmith, to which he devoted three years in learning all its branches. Renting a shop he embarked in the business for himself, but in 1886, having prospered in this world, he purchased the building which he is now using, moving it to its present position on a lot which he had just bought.
Mr. Carlson was born in Norway, January 11, 1859, and is a son of Jule and Barbara (Olson) Carlson, also natives of Norway. Ilis father was born June 18, 1820, and his mother March 10, 1823. They came to the United States with their family in 1863 and, on landing at New York, came at once to Monona County. They were the par- ents of two children, our subject and Mary, the wife of John Tostenson, of Onawa.
Mr. Carlson received his education mostly in his native country and was confirmed in the Lutheran Church when some fourteen years of age. He was married January 12, 1880, to Miss Julia Christian- son, who was born in Wisconsin June 6, 1860, and is the daughter of Christian Christianson, a farmer of this county.
Mr. and Mrs. Carlson have a family of three children-Julius, born February 10, 1881, died in March 1886; Anna, born February 15, 1883, died in June, 1883; and Albert, born February 10, 1887.
E BER B. CHAMBERLAIN. horse trainer, dealer and breeder of fine stock, residing at the village of Mapleton, and proprietor of the Opera House at that village, came to Monona County in January, 1879, and purchased the Stow- ell House. Ile carried on the hotel. and a livery business in connection, for about eighteen months. Three years later he traded this property for a farm, which he still owns.
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