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 77
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Mr. Dorward was united in marriage November
21, 1877, with Miss Effie S. Turneanre. She is the daughter of Giles and Sophronia (May) Turneaure both of whom are living at Freeport, III. By this union they have had a family of three most inter- esting children-Jessie L., born November 15, 1878; Glenn G., July 20, 1883; and Elsie E., whose birth took place March 4, 1888.
At the Republican county convention in the fall of 1889, Mr. Dorward received the nomination for the responsible position of County Treasurer, his ability and faithfulness being recognized in a hand- some manner hy the citizens of that political party and at the election in November he was chosen to fill that oflice by a very large majority, he run- ning far ahead of the balance of the candidates on the same ticket.
OHN GLENN. a leading and prominent far- mer of the Township of Sherman, living on section 8, was born in County Donegal, in the extreme North of Ireland. March 17, 1817. His father and mother, William and Elizabeth (Finley) Glenn, died in the old country, the for- mer in 1863, and the latter in 1858, having had a family of three children-Jolm, William and Mary Ann. William is still residing in Ireland, but Mary died in 1867.
John Glenn was reared in his native land and followed farming on his father's place until 1868. In the spring of that year, being convinced that in America, under more liberal institutions, and where land was freer and cheaper, his efforts to- wards a competency would yield better results, April 9, he took passage for the United States, and after a seventeen days' trip, landed in New York. Coming at once to Monona County, he reached Blencoe on a sand train, he, his wife and eight children, and a few weeks later purchased eighty aeres of land on section 8, Sherman Township, where he has since lived. He put up a log house, which is still standing, the material of which cost him some $18, in the rough, and was by him hewn into shape. Ilaving broken about thirty acres of -
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land, and sowed it to wheat, his expectations of a crop were good. But during the summer of 1869, the grasshoppers came, and after carefully thresh- ing what little there was left by these devouring pests, beating it out with a flail, he found he had but about four bushels. The usual fortunes and vieis- situdes of a farmer's life have attended him here, but on the whole he has been prosperous and is ranked among the well-to do people of the community.
John Glenn was united in marriage March 2, 1846, with Miss Margaret Ferguson, also a native . died in infancy; Charles, born March 4, 1854; of County Donegal, Ireland. By this union they have been the parents of eight children-William, Elizabeth, Robert, who married Miss Martha Ken- nedy, and lives in Sherman Township; Mary Ann, Mrs. Charles Danforth, a resident of the same pre. cinct; Margaret, the wife of James McFarlane, of Blencoe; Nancy, who married Samuel Cunningham of the same village; John, and Jane, the wife of William McFarlane, the banker at Blencoe.
ILLIAM COOK, a prominent farmer of Lincoln Township, residing on section 27, is a native of Prussia, Germany, and was born in March, 1825. He is the son of Frederick and Elizabeth (Castrup) Cook, and remained in the land of his birth until the spring of 1850, when, fol- lowing in the footsteps of many of his countrymen, he crossed the wide ocean, and settled in Cincinnati, Ohio. After working there one summer. he went to West Virginia, and a year later to St. Louis, Mo., but not finding what he sought be removed to Grant County, Wis., and engaged in farming on leased land. In the spring of 1865 he came to Monona County and purchased the place where he now lives, building a cabin on section 27, but was forced to remove it to section 8, by the movement in the current of the river, which cut away part of its bank. This being just at the close of the war, prices were very high, and although the house which he built was but twenty-four feet square, it cost about $600. This latter he used for some years, after which he erected the new cottage in which he now resides. When he settled here the
township was almost uninhabited, there only being one neighbor within a radius of five miles of his place.
In March, 1850, in his native land, Mr. Cook was united in marriage with Miss Hannah Ilillman, but immediately after their union, he started for the New World alone, not having money enough to bring his bride with him. Three years later she crossed the ocean to rejoin her husband. They were the parents of nine children: Hannah, who Anna, May 28. 1856; Louisa, May 8, 1858 ; Carrie, April 11, 1860; Henry, March 25, 1862; Willie, January 25, 1865; Ida M., November 21. 1867; Lewis. October 11, 1870. Mrs. Cook died Septem- ber 4, 1888.
G EORGE SCHELM. In the spring of 1885 there came to St. Clair Township the gen - tleman whose name heads this sketch, who settled on section 13, the whole of which he had purchased the previous year. Upon it. at that time, was a small house and about two hundred and fifty of its acres were broken and fair fence surrounded it. Upon this place he has made his home ever since, living in the inconvenient house that he found here, until the spring of 1889. when he put up the handsome villa which he now calls home, one of the best in the township, at an ex- pense exceeding $2,500.
Our subject's birth took place in Germany, July 25, 1848, he is the son of William and Minnie Sebelm. In the land of his birth he grew to man- hood. The law and customs of the Fatherland re- quiring the children of all citizens, both rich and poor, to attend the schools from an early age until fourteen years of age, Mr. Schelm acquired a good education in his mother tongue. At the age of eighteen years he crossed the stormy Atlantic, bound for America, where he landed in the spring of 1866, and upon stepping upon its free shores. came directly to Iowa and settled in Jackson County. There he remained until the spring of 1873, when having purchased a farm in Hanover Township, Crawford County, he took up his resi-
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dence there and made it his home until coming to this county as above stated.
In Crawford County, Iowa, June 25, 1876, Mr. Schelm was united in marriage with Miss Caroline Bogleman, the daughter of Fred and Sophia Bogle- man. Unto them has been born a family of six intelligent and interesting children, to whom they have given the following names: Edward, Adolph, Ferdinand, Martha, Mattie and Edith.
The success of Mr. Schelm since coming to this country, is most marked. With empty hands he reached our shores, having just enough money to pay his railroad fare to the Mississippi River and not enough to pay for ferriage. He commenced working by the month for a farmer and some at the butebering business, and, by the exercise of the virtues of uncommon industry, thrift and economy, so characteristic of his race and people, has attained the position of wealth and influence, which he now occupies in the community, entirely by his own unaided efforts.
HIRISTIAN EVENSON, a thrifty and suc- cessful farmer of Soldier Township, came to Monona County in the fall of 1873 on a visit to Nels and Peter Olson, who live in Fairview Township, and remained in that vicinity about two months. Having been acquainted with Engabret Evenson, who had lately moved to Monona County from Wisconsin, he thought he would go down and make him a visit before returning to the Badger State, but was induced by the latter gentleman to remain here. After working for Mr. Evenson a short time he removed to a piece of land on section 34, Soldier Township. upon which he built "a dug- out," and the following spring, broke about eleven acres. This place belonged to some Eastern specu- lators who would not sell unless they could close out the whole tract of four hundred acres, and this was too much for our subjeet's limited circum- stances. However, he continued to reside there until the fall of 1881, when he removed to his pre- sent residence on section 35, where he had just built him a house. He has made all the improve
ments upon this place and has upon it a neat and tasty cottage. a good, spacious barn, and excellent outbuildings. Ile has a farm of some four hundred and eight acres, and ranks among the well-to-do agriculturists of this district. In early days, when there were but few settlers in that portion of the county, he killed quite a number of deer, some years as many as twelve during the winter.
Mr. Evenson was born in Norway, January 26, 1816, and is a son of Even and Mary (Hagenson) Christianson. Ile remained at home until April, 1867, when he sailed for America.
HARLES W. BISBEE, the present County Surveyor and a representative of one of the old pioneer families of Monona County, is the son of lon. Charles C.and Eunice M. (Wheeler) Bishee, a sketch of whose life is given in this work. Ile is one of the extensive farmers of Belvidere Township, residing on section 11. The position of County Surveyor he has held for four years, and he is, also, District Township Treasurer, and has filled many other minor offices in the township. For sixteen years he has held this office of Trea- surer to the full satisfaction of everybody con- cerned.
Charles W. Bisbee, the eldest child of his par- ents, was born at Bakersfield, Franklin County, Vt., June 21, 1816. On attaining a suitable age, be was there sent to school and in study remained until May, 1857, when he was brought by his parents to Monona County, where he had only the advan- tages of the pioneer district schools. He remained with his father until the death of the latter, which occurred when our subject was about twenty-five years of age, and has since made his home on the old homestead, now owning the site upon which the family landed thirty-two long years ago. ITis farm now embraces two hundred and eighty-five acres, and upon it he has some excellent build- ings.
Mr. Bisbee was united in marriage February 22, 1876, with Mrs. Martha Graham, ner Humphries, a native of lowa County, Wis., who was born Afune
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9, 1847. and is the daughter of William H. and Ann (Reese) Humphries. In early life she re- moved with her parents to Le Sueur County, Minn., and was a resident of that part of the country dur- ing the great Indian massacre of 1862, when hundreds of defenseless settlers lost their lives. and thousands, leaving all their possessions, filed for safety, many never to return. By their union Mr. and Mrs. Bisbee have had a family of two children : Fordice W., born March 3. 1877, and Marcella A., horn August 21, 1879.
The family of which Mr. Bisbee is a descendant. sprang from one of the Puritan Pilgrims, who col- onized what is now the State of Massachusetts, as shown in the sketch of Ilon. Charles C. Bisbee, in this volume, and is of distant English ancestry. The original spelling of the name, in the old coun- try, is variously given as Besbeach, Besbectch Besbitch, Besbye, Besbey and Bisbee.
Mrs. Bisbee's parents were natives of Wales who came to America, her father when he was seven years of age, the mother when about fourteen. The former who was born in 1819 and died in 1862 ; the latter born in 1826.
NDREW SWENSON came to Monona County in June, 1868, and settled on a rented farm in Soldier Township, npon which he remained some two years, and then purchased a farm on section 19, in the same sub-division of the county. Three years later he purchased the place on section 32, in Soldier, upon which he now resides. The place was raw prairie,and in a "dug-out" for about four years, he and his family were compelled to live, before he could get up his residence. When he landed in Monona County he was without money and in debt, but, by the exercise of those virtues that belong to his race, industry, perseverance, fortitude and eco- nomy, he has placed himself in the rank among the af- fluent farmers of the county Five hundred acres of land, three hundred head of cattle and fifty head of horses, besides other possessions, represent his present wealth, and he feels a just pride in knowing 1
that it is entirely the result of his own efforts under the free institution of this land.
Mr. Swenson was born in Norway, April 8, 1813. and is the son of Swen and Anna Knutson. He re- ceived a fair education in the land of his birth, but on attaining his twenty-fifth year. came to America. and was engaged in working on a farm for about a year in La Crosse County. Wis .. pre- vious to coming to Monona County.
Mr. Swenson was united in marriage with Miss Jennie Johnson. By this union there have been born to them four children-Swen. Leni, Mary and ('lara.
IIARLES II. SIMMONS, ex-Postmaster of Mapleton, who is engaged in agricultural pursuits on section 14, Maple Township. where he has a line and conveniently located resi- dence, came to Monona County in the spring of 1871, and settled on the place he row owns. For some two years he was engaged exclusively in ag- riculture. but in 1873. entered into the mercantile trade at Old Mapleton in company with W. II. Willsey. He carried on the business, until 1877, when he and his then. partner. N. A. Willsey. removed it to the new town and the next year sold it out. In the spring of 1881, in company with B. D. Butler, Mr. Simmons purchased the mercantile establish- ment of S. B. Gilmore & Co., and carried on the business until 1884. Disposing of it at the latter date, our subject has since confined his efforts to his large farming interests. Ile is a Democrat in politics, and is a member of the present board of township trustees, and has held the office of Clerk of the township for years. In 1872, he became Postmaster of the old town of Mapleton, and re- moved the same to the new village in the fall of 1877, and remained in charge of it until December 6, 1881.
Mr. Simmons was born in Coshocton County, Ohio, November 19, 1833, and is the son of Charles W. and Eliza (Dewey) Simmons. Ilis father was born in Washington, D. C., in 1800, and was a graduate of the I'nited States Military Academy at West Point, N. Y. While still a young man,
MONONA COUNTY.
Charles W. having resigned his commission, re- moved with his father to Ohio, where he engaged in the mercantile trade and milling business, and remained some years. In 1851, he removed to Terre Haute, Ind., where he was engaged in operat- ing a mill. In 1851, he settled at Lyons, Clinton County, lowa, from which he afterwards removed to Boone County and from there to California. and in the latter State he died in 1876.
Charles II., the second in the family of ten chil- dren, was taken by his parents to Indiana, where he grew to manhood, receiving a common-school education. With his father in a hardware store, at Terre Haute. he remained as clerk until the spring of 1853, when he came to lowa, and fol- lowed various avoentions in different localities. lle crossed the plains to Utah Territory, but in the fall of 1862, returned to Iowa. via San Francisco, Nicaraugua and New York, and after some experi- ence as a clerk in a store at Boone, embarked in the mercantile trade at Woodbine, Harrison County whence he came to Monona County.
Mr. Simmons was married at Nevada, Story County, lowa, to Miss Rachel E. Davis, who was born in Ohio, February 28, 1815. They are the parents of five children, born upon the following dates-William A., July 21. 1865; Laura, Febru. ary 13, 1867; Lizzie, December 16, 1869; James M. November 10, 1871; Bartram, May 4, 1877. 1888, and Bartram died February 22, 1883.
Dorman Lewis came to Preparation with his James died from an accidental shot April 25, I parents and lived with Charles D. Thompson for
ORMAN LEWIS, a representative and progressive farmer of Spring Valley Town- ship, residing on section 17, was born at Carthage, Hancock County, Ill., December 9, 1841, and is the son of Thomas J. and Priscilla (Rude) Lewis. Ilis parents were both natives of Hamilton County, Ohio, where they were married and thence removed to Morgan County, Ill. Uniting with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, they removed to Hancock County. where Thomas was a member of the Governor's Body Guard at Carthage. When Joseph Smith,,
their prophet, was assassinated in June, 1844, he started with the "Twelve" to cross the plains to the Pacific Coast, with the understanding that they were to locate in Southern California. On his arrival at Council Bluffs, becoming dissatisfied with the new doctrines introduced, polygamy among the rest, he withdrew from the emigrants, and settled in Atchison County, Mo., where he taught school that winter. Two years later he re- turned to Towa, and after spending some time in Harrison and Fremont Counties, came to Monona County and located at Preparation, in the fall of 1851, he having united with the faction of the church that located at that point, and taught the first school in the county at that point in 1854 -- 55. ITe was an Elder in the church, and spent the year of 1858 in preaching the Gospel in Pennsylvania. Putting his property into the general fund of the church, he remained with the organization until it went to pieces in the trouble with their leader, Elder Thompson, as related elsewhere in this book. Returning to Harrison County, he there made his home until 1868, and then came back and took up his residence with his son, Dorman, at whose house he died April 17. 1878. He was born January 20. 1810. January 23, 1834, he had married Miss Priscilla Rude, who was born September 17, 1815, and died March 17, 1875.
several years, working on the paper at that place, thr first newspaper published in Monona County. After that he worked out at farm work until he had saved enough to buy the forty acres upon which he now lives, his father presenting him with forty acres more. This was in 1868. From time to time he has added to his farm until it now com- prises some two hundred and eighty acres, and upon it he has resided ever since with the excep- tion of about two years spent at River Sioux. He is engaged in mixed farming, raising both grain and stock, and is a prosperous man. In politics he is a Republican, and at the present time holds the office of Township Trustee, and is a member of the school board. Religiously, he is connected with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Mr. Lewis was married January 9, 1878, to Miss
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Mary Wilson, the daughter of Levi and Sarab (Jackson) Wilson, and a native of Cass County, Neb., who was born in February, 1859. By this union they have had a family of four children, as fol- lows: Bessie Sylvania, born October 18, 1879; Ada Aurilea, born April 17, 1882, who died April 8, 1884; Dorman A., born December 13, 1885; and Archie Earle, August 30, 1888.
S AMUEL HEISLER, one of the pioneers of Monona County, and a prominent member of the agricultural community of Cooper Township, was born in Harrison County, Ohio, October 2, 1833, and is the son of Frederick and Elizabeth (Steffey) Heisler, a sketch of whom appears in connection with that of lohn A. Heisler in this volume. Our subject grew to manhood in his native county, where he received an education in its common schools. and at the age of twenty- two years left his home and came West, locating in Wapello County, Iowa, where he was employed until the fall of 1856. At that date he came to Monona County and took up the southwest quarter of section 18, Cooper Township, where he has re- sided ever since. Ile has a farm of one hundred and forty-nine acres, all improved and under fence, a handsome residence, and all the convenient out- buildings necessary for the business to which lie devotes his attention.
Mr. Heisler enlisted October 2, 1862, in Company E, Sixth Iowa Cavalry, and went into winter quar- ters at Camp llendershot, Davenport. Ile was detailed as company cook, and on the 15th of Jan- uary. 1863, while going to the well, fell and was seriously injured in the spine and both of his wrists, and contracted a rheumatic fever, which has fol- lowed him all his life. After lying in the hospital for over thirty days, he was discharged February 23, 1863, and returned to his home in this county.
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Mr. Heisler was married November 18, 1860, to Miss Mary Merrill, a native of Ashtabula County, Ohio, who was born February 13, 1845. and is the daughter of John and Louisa Merrill,
the former of whom died in Indiana, and the latter in this county. Of this marriage were born nine children: George Frederick, November 1, 1861, who married Miss Amanda Bruner, and is living in New Mexico; Josephine A., now Mrs. Charles Groom, born April 4, 1864; Elizabeth C., Sep- tember 12. 1866, who died October 7, 1886; Mary L .. born February 21, 1868; Charlotte F., born March 10, 1871, who married Lewis Zediker, April 25, 1888; Geneva A., born December 29, 1873, and died January 31, 1878; Millie, born Decem- ber 26, 1876, who died July 31, 1878; Samuel O., born August 22, 1879, and Clyde P., March 22, 1884, who died May 7, 1884.
On the 24th of May, 1881, Mrs. Heister passed " from the lowly earth to the vaulted sky," and her body is buried in the Heister Cemetery, in Cooper Township.
OHN AMUNDSON, who is engaged in farming and stock-raising on section 10, Fairview Township, came to Monona County in 1867, arriving here JJuly 15, from Dane County, Wis. He was born in Norway July 23, !831, and is the son of Amund and Bertha (Ilen- drickson ) Amundson. lle was reared in the land of his birth, receiving an education in the schools of the country, and there attained his manhood. In 1861, in order to better his condition in life and afford his children some chance to rise in the world, he bade adieu to his native land, and with his wife and two children, crossed the wide and stormy ocean to the free land of America. Settling in Dane County. Wis., he was employed for a while at farm labor, and, by the thrift and economy characteristic of his race, accumulated a little cap- ital, with which he purchased his present farm on coming here. In spite of the poverty that oppressed him in his native land, he has under the beneficent institutions of a free country, risen by his own energy, diligence and economy, to a prominent place among the well-to-do agriculturists of this section of the State. He has a farm of one hundred and sixty acres of excellent arable land, all of which is brought under cultivation, or used for the production of grass, and his neat and tasty house,
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barn and sheds, are surrounded by a thrifty grove of good sized trees. Some attention is paid by him to stock-raising, twenty head of cattle and eighty of hogs, embracing his herd.
Mr. Amundson was married in the Old Country to Miss Mattie Christoforson, a native of Norway. They are the parents of four children : Dina, Mrs. A. Anderson, born in Norway, September 22, 1855; Clara, Mrs. Martin Olson, born in Dane County, Wis., February 14, 1861 ; Josephine M., also born in Dane County, November 9, 1864; and Emma, wife of Anton Solien, born in Monona County, lowa, April 6, 1867.
Mr. Amundson and his family are zealous and consistent members of the Lutheran Church, and active in all religious work. He is a Republican in politics.
LE SEVERSON came to Monona County in December, 1869. and settled on the farm which he bought on seetion 6, Willow Town- ship, where he at present makes his home. There was about twenty-five acres of the land broken at that time, Making a dug-out, he moved into it and there lived until the following March when, having erected a small frame house, he moved into that. To this latter he has made considerable additions since. His farm consists of about one hundred and eighty acres. one hundred of which are under cultivation and fairly well improved.
Ole Severson, the son of Sever and Esther Hal- verson, was born in Norway, October 14, 1836, and made his home in his native land until March, 1853. when. in company with his brother, James. he crossed the ocean to America and settling in La Crosse County, Wis., worked at farm labor by the month. In three years time the brothers sent for their parents and about a year after their arri- val here, our subject purchased a farm upon which he made his home until coming to Monona County. He has been quite successful in his endeavors towards a competeney and is ranked with the well- to-do farmers of the community.
Mr. Severson was united in marriage December 15, 1858, with Miss Mary Olson, the daughter of
Erick and Leana Olson, in La Crosse County, Wis., and is the parent of four children: Samuel, Ade- lene, .Iulia and Mary, all of whom are living. Besides these they have had seven children who have died in infancy. Mrs. Severson was born February 17, 1838.
E EDWARD A. ATHIERTON. Among the farm- ers and stock-raisers of Willow Township few are more practical or prosperous than the subject of this sketeh, whose farm is situated on section 26. Ile was born in Wales, September 15, 1841, and is the son of. James and Elizabeth (Jones) Atherton. His education was obtained in the schools of his native country and is fairly eom- plete and thorough. In April, 1869, he crossed the ocean to America, landing in New York May 10, and proceeded at once to LaCrosse County, Wis. From there, in October, 1870, he removed to Dow City, Crawford County, lowa, where he made his home for some ten years. In the spring of 1880 he came to Monona County and settled upon the farm where he now resides, at that time in its primitive condition. He purchased some one hundred and twenty acres of land to which he has added from time to time until his estate now embraces some four hundred and eighty acres, which is well improved and excellently cultivated. At the time of his settlement there were no people in the neighborhood and the nearest schoolhouse was two miles and a half distant. Since coming here he has prospered highly and is numbered among the more affluent and influential citizens of the township.
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