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 79
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82
635
MONONA COUNTY.
They had a family of eight children, of whom the following four are living: Elizabeth D., William 1 .. , George L. and Oscar.
Our subject grew to manhood in the county of his birth, receiving in youth a common-school edu- cation, and at the age of seventeen commenced an apprenticeship at the carpentering trade, at which he has worked. both as employe and contractor, in New York City, Charleston, S. C., Utica, Glenns Falls and on Long Island. until 1843. In the fall of the latter year he removed to Boston, Mass., where for twelve years he followed the same vo- cation, but growing tired of city life, in 1855 started West to engage in agriculture. After spend- ing the winter in St. Louis, in the spring of 1856, he came to Council Bluffs, and in the following fall, to Monona County, where lie settled on seetion 6, Cooper Township, taking up a claim of one hun- dred and sixty acres. Ile has seen this county grow from its infancy. for on his arrival here he found but few settlers in the neighborhood, and. in fact, in this part of the State. lle has developed his farm and greatly improved it, but for some years has rented it, as age stealing over him, necessitates liis giving less attention to the active cares of busi- ness.
Mr. Ring was united in marriage at Onawa, lowa, December 11, 1867, to Miss Sarah E. Ring, a daughter of l'eter and Ilannah ( Hagadorn ) Ring, a native of Dutchess County, N. Y., born March 14,1837.
In the fall of 1873, Mr. Ring was elected County Treasurer, and filled that office most acceptably for some two years. He has also served as County Supervisor and in several of the minor offices of the county and township. In 1863, he was elected County Superintendent of the common schools. but would not qualify, not desiring the office.
ILLIAM PAYNE. A prominent agricul- turist of the town of West Fork, and one of its most prominent citizens, is the gentle- man whose name heads this sketch. Mr. Payne is a native of England, who was born September 28,
1834. and is the son of Daniel and Mary A. Payne. He remained with his parents until October, 185 f. when, bidding adieu to the "white cliffs of Al- bion's shore." he sailed for America, landing in New York about Christmas time. From that city he went to Lockport. Niagara County, in the Em- pire State. and went to work on a farm in that vicinity. Two years later he removed to Michi- gan. where he made his home for something like two years, and then, being seized with a Western fever, started for Utah. lle went by boat and railroad to Nebraska City. Neb., whence he drove an ox-team in a wagon train across the plains. IIe left Nebraska City May 17, 1858, and only reached Ft. Ilull, near Salt Lake City, in November. Not being satisfied with the country, he remained there but a short time, and in company with a party of some twenty-five, started for California, reaching Chico, in that State, about December 20. For three years he worked upon a ranch. but. becom- iug master of a little capital, he started in the same line of business for himself. Later on he admitted a partner, with whom he carried on business until 1868, when, selling out, he went back to England. His intention being ouly to pay a visit to the home of his childhood. he stopped at New York ('ity and deposited about $1,000, the bulk of his property, in one of the banks until his return. After visiting with his friends in the Old Country, about the 1st of April following he returned to America. On his arrival he found that the bank to which he had entrusted his money had failed, and he was again thrown upon his own resources. After a short stay in the metropolis. he came to lowa. visiting friends in Michigan on the way, and settled in Woodbury County on a farm. In the spring of 1870 he removed to Monona County, locating on a farm on section 3, West Fork Town- ship, which was totally unimproved. During the summer he broke up about fourteen acres of land and made other improvements, but not being mar- ried at the time nor having any home, he hoarded with a friend in Woodbury County. At that time there were no settlers in the northern part of the township.
As the years rolled on and his farm began to be highly improved, he began to think of estab-
636
MONONA COUNTY.
fishing a home of his own, and he, accordingly. sent for his betrothed in England, who came to this country and met him at Sioux City, where they were married JJanuary 23, 1879. The lady was a Miss Louisa Osler, and is the daughter of George and Martha Oster. By this marriage there have been born five children: Martha C., Daniel W., Mary L., Gregory A. and Emma E.
AMES MCDONALD is an extensive and enterprising farmer of Jordan Township. lle came to Monona County in 1877 and located on section 18, where he now lives. At that time he purchased eighty acres of land, which, under his hands, have yielded abundantly and increased until he is now the owner of a fer- tile farm of three hundred and sixty acres, one hundred of which he devotes to cultivation, the rest being in pasture and meadow, as stock-raising is an important branch of his business.
Mr. McDonald is of that hardy, thrifty and business-like race known as the Scotch-Irish, and was born in County Meath, Ireland, February 22, 1829. Ilis father, Saunders McDonald, was born in Edinburgh. Scotland, about the year 1807, and grew to manhood in "Auld Reekie," as that city is called, receiving an excellent education, as is com- mon with the people of that nationality. Early in life he adopted the business of a drover, and re- moved to Ireland, where he died about 1865. In 1832 be married Miss Mary O'Brien. a native of County Meath, Ireland, who died shortly after her husband, in the land of her birth, having been the mother of nine children.
James, the third child of his parents, received a good education in the schools of his native land, and at the early age of fifteen commenced life for himself, laboring on the neighboring farms. In June, 1814, with an eye to the main chance, he can.e to America, landing in New York, and thence proceeded to Chester County, Pa., and spent the summer on a farm. For the two succeeding years he was engaged in teaming and other businesses in the city of Philadelphia, after which he spent several years in the Alleghany mountain regions of New York. After a short trip to Connecticut,
he returned to Philadelphia, where he remained until 1865. Making a trip through the West, into Missouri and Kansas, he came to Iowa, and in Ilarrison County was engaged in farm labor on rented land until coming to Monona County, as above noted.
Mr. McDonald, on the 1st of September, 1878, in Jordan Township, was united in marriage with Miss Mary Carver, a lady who was born near Olean, Cattaraugus County, N. Y., August 22, 1849. She came West with her parents about 1869. Mr. and Mrs. McDonald have had a family of six children. as follows: Levi J., born July 15, 1879; Homer A., May 9, 1881; Arden Il., August 29. 1882; Willie and Annie, born August 28, 1887, the latter of whom died in infancy; and Frank. born July 2, 1888.
OIIN HANSEN, a prominent and influential farmer of Belvidere Township, residing on section 36, is a native of Denmark, born near Horsens, September 20, 1852, and is the son Ilans and Anna C. (Ditlefsen) Thompson. His father was born in the same locality, in 1806, and was engaged in farming in the old courtry all his life and died there February 26, 1864. The latter was married in 1836 to Miss Anna C. Ditlefsen a native of the same village, born in 1812, and they had a family of nine children, seven of whom are living, four in Denmark and three in lowa.
John Hansen, the youngest child of his parents, received a good education in his native land, and at the age of twelve years commenced earning his living by working for the neighboring farmers. and followed this line of life until some twenty-two years of age. April 25. 1875, he entered the Dan- ish army and was assigned as No. 566 to the Fourthi Company of the Twelfth Battalion, and remained in the service some eighteen months. Resuming his former life on the farm, he remained two years and a half more in his native land, but May 14, 1879, he left Copenhagen and sailed for Leith, Scotland, and taking passage on the steamship "State of Alabama", from Glasgow, crossed the ocean and landed in New York City about the Ist
637
MONONA COUNTY.
of June. In the neighborhood of Hartford, Conn., he was engaged at farm labor for about six months, after which he came to Monona County and for about two years and a half was in the employ of Thomas Perrin of Spring Valley Township. He then purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land, eighty of it in Belvidere and forty in Sions Township and has raised it from its will state to its present cultivated condition and erected some very nice buildings.
Mr. llansen was married, October 25, 1882, at Onawa, to Camilla Seow, a native of Denmark, born September 16, 1862, and a daughter of Chris- tian and Christina (Yorgenson) Seow, the former born near Horsens, June 16, 1825, and died May 1, 1873, in that country; the latter born December 6, 1823, still living in the old country. Mr. and Mrs. Hansen have five children, of whom we have the following record: Hans C. was born Angust 3. 1883; Oscar L. July 4, 1885, Clara V., July 15, 1886; Axel T .. November 26. 1887, and Vigo A. January 26, 1889.
OIIN T. BRIDGES, a gentleman who is en- gaged in carrying on one of the leading livery stables in the village of Mapleton, commenced business in this line in March, 1883, purchasing the barn and livery stock of Lamb & Chamberlain.
Mr. Bridges was born in Des Moines County, Iowa, January 31, 1840, and is the son of Solomon and Sidney ( Fleener) Bridges. His father, a native of Anrora, Dearborn County, Ind., came to Iowa about 1833, among the earliest settlers of Des Moines County, and there the mother of our sub- jeet died when the latter was a boy. She was the parent of seven children, of whom John T. was the eldest. His father afterwards re-married, and died in Kansas in July, 1888, having been a farmer and stock-raiser all his life.
John T. Bridges was reared upon his father's farm in Des Moines County, and received the ele- ments of a good education in the common schools of that part of the State, and made his home be-
neath the parental roof tree, until some thirty years of age, following various avocations. In 1871 he removed to Fremont County, where he was engaged in farming for some eight years, and then erected the Randolph House, at Randolph, in that county. and operated it and a livery stable in connection, until 1883, when he came to this county and engaged in his present business, as stated above.
Mr. Bridges was married March 8, 1868, to Miss . Mary Kline, a native of Des Moines County, lowa. Of this nnion there have been born three children : Clara, wife of Dr. Cox at Mapleton, who was born August 7, 1869; Estella, born May 5, 1872; and Lewis, December 15, 1871.
ILLIAM QUATTER, a prosperous and leading farmer of Soklier Township, came to Monona County in the spring of 1882 and settled on a farm on seetion 26, upon which he built a house and broke some twenty acres. In the spring of 1884 he purchased more land lying in section 27, and upon the latter, having erected a neat and substantial cottage of excellent dimen- sions, a good barn and other outbuildings, he re- moved thither the sanie season and has made it his home ever since. He came to Monona County in quite limited circumstances but, by the exercise of industry and thrift has improved bis condition un- til he now owns some two hundred and forty acres of land. which is all well stocked and improved.
Mr. Quatter was born in Germany, February 16. 1843. lle was reared in the land of his nativity and there received the education common to all the youth of that country. At the age of twenty-four years he decided to come to America in search of fortune, sailing from Hamburg, January 1, 1867, and arrived in New York on the 20th of the same month. For about six months he was employed in the latter city by a milk dealer, whence he re- moved to Davenport, Scott County. Iowa, where he was employed by the month at farm labor until the fall of 1869, at which date he removed to Pot- tawattamie County and purchased a farm, lle made his home on various pieces of land in that
638
MONONA COUNTY.
section of the State until removing to Monona County, as above stated.
March 9, 1879. Mr. Quatter was united in mar- riage with Mrs. Christina Jensen. the daughter of Christian Streken and widow of Christian Jensen. ller first husband died in the spring of 1878, leav- ing three children-John, Tina and Christian. Mr. and Mrs. Quatter have three children-Erick, Ber- tie and Clara. Our subject has taken considerable interest in the growth and development of the county since coming here and, particularly, in the cause of education and improvement of the rising generation. He has many friends in the commun- ity and is known quite favorably as a successful, industrious and upright farmer.
G EORGE UNDERHILL, the present Post- master of Onawa and one of its leading and prominent citizens, was born in New York City, March 11, 1836, and is a son of Alpheus and Jane ( Roberts) Underhill, natives of New York and England respectively. His mother, who was born at Dudley, England, in 1809, came to Amer- ica when thirteen years of age and located in New York, where she died in December, 1877, having been the parent of six children. The father of our subject was born in New York, August 19, 1807, and is now residing with a son on Staten Island, N. Y. He was in the box manufacturing business for over thirty-tive years, and, with his wife, was a member of the Baptist Church,
George Underhill grew to manhood in the me- tropolis and received his education at Peekskill and Tarrytown, only a short distance from where Maj. Andre was captured, the monument com- memorating that event being only a few rods dis- tant from the schoolhouse in the latter. In 1853 he commenced the business of wood engraving in New York City, where he remained until 1859, at which date he went to the Capital and was en- gaged in the public printing office at that place. After remaining in the latter city one year, he re- turned to New York and engaged in the sale of trunks and valises, which business h ' followed till
-
-
1870, at which time he came to Onawa and opened the boot and shoe business, which he still earries on. lle has taken a great interest in public affairs in the village; has served as Mayor, Recorder and Councilman at different periods, and was one of the chief organizers of the Onawa fire department, of which he remained chief engineer for some four- teen years. lle was appointed Postmaster March 17, 1887, and is the incumbent of that office at the present writing.
Mr. Underhill was united in marriage in New York City. May 24, 1860, to Miss Mary E. Chap- man, a native of that place, who was born May 17, 1841, She is the fourth child of George Warren and Sarah ( Richards) Chapman. Her father, who was born in New York, December 25, 1812, died in April, 1838. Her mother, also a native of the Empire State, was born April 1, 1813, and died at Onawa, May 29, 1872, having been the mother of six children, three of whom are living.
To Mr. and Mrs. Underhill there has been born a family of seven children, who are as follows: Frank E., born in New York City May 23, 1861, died March 30, 1865; Sadie R., born in New York, April 1. 1866; Jennie, born in the same city, No- vember 13, 1869; George, Jr., born in Onawa, Iowa, February 19, 1874, died August 22, 1874; Ettie B., born October 24, 1874, diel March 23, 1876; Mary Ella, born June 5, 1877, died July 11, 1877 ; and Allie Pearl, born March 2, 1879,
Mrs. Underhill is a member of the Congrega- tional Church, of which body Mr. Underhill is the Treasurer.
ENRY E. BARD, residing on section 20, Grant Township, was born in Vermillion County. Ind., January 21, 1849, and is the son of Andrew and Margaret ( Wallace) Bard. His father was a native of Tyler County, Va., born March 3, 1818, and when eight years of age removed with his grandfather Brown, to Ver- million County, Ind., where he grew to manhood, Ile was engaged in the packing houses during the winters, and steamboating on the river each sum- mer for some ten years, but in 1854 came to Iowa. Ile located at Ballard's Grove, Story County, and
639
MONONA COUNTY.
followed farming until his death, which took place in the winter of 1873. The mother of our subject was born in Indiana, where she was married in 1817, and is still a resident upon the old homestead in Story County.
Henry E. Bard, the eldest of tive children born to his parents, was about five years of age when the family removed to Iowa, and received his educa- tion in the schools of Story County. On reaching his fifteenth year he found employment in a brick- yard during the summer months, cutting wood for the use of the same in the winter. This he followed for some five years. In August, 1869. he came to Monona County, and commenced life on a farm in Kennebec Township, an avocation that he has fol- lowed ever since. In 1883 he purchased the forty acres of land on section 20, upon which he makes his home, and also owns forty acres more on section 3, in West Fork.
Mr. Bard was married, October 29, 1870, to Miss Ovanda Winegar, a native of Pottawattamie County. lowa, born August 10, 1854, and the daughter of Frederick D. 'and Lodema ( Blanchard ) Winegar, pioneers of Monona County. whose history is re- corded elsewhere in this volume. They have had a family of five children by this union, born upon the following dates: Anna L .. December 26, 1871; Archer J., April 5, 1873; Frederick D) , October 26, 1874, all in Monona County; Amy M., June 21, 1876; and Manfred II., June 19, 1879, in Story County.
AMES SEVERSON came to Monona County in Angust, 1867, in company with Ole E. and H. E. Strand and E. Thoreson, and settled on the farm upon which he now resides. on seetion 6, Willow Township. That fall he built a small log cabin with a dirt roof, which had but one window and had a door made out of one cot tonwood board. At the time there was searcely any settlement in that portion of the county, and there were no roads or bridges across any of its streams. Our subject purchased about one hundred and seventy acres of land and after bringing it, or the most of it, to a high state of culture, has added to
it until he now owns a little over three hundred acres, one hundred and twenty of which he has under tillage. In 1872 he erected a portion of the neat and substantial house in which he lives, to which he has made considerable addition since.
Mr. Severson, the son of Sever and Esther (James) Halverson, was born in Norway, July 12. 1833, and in his native country made his home for about twenty years. In March. 1853, in company with his brother, Ole, he started for America, and on their arrival on these shores came at once to Dane County, Wis., which they reached June 12. Being entirely without means when they left the old country, the brothers were compelled to bor- row every cent with which they started in search of fortune. On a farm in the vicinity of Madison, our subject worked all summer for $8 a month, and in the fall removed to La Crosse County, where for seven years he was employed in farm labor. By close economy during the first three years of their life in this country, he and his brother not only paid their debts but sent ont the money which paid the passage to this country of their father, mother, brother and two sisters. In the spring of - 1860 our subject rented a farm, upon which he remained till January 1. 1864, when he enlisted in Company F. Twenty-fifth Wisconsin Infantry. and being mustered into service, was im- mediately forwarded to Vicksburg, Miss., where he was laid up in the hospital with the measles for about six weeks. He participated with his regi- ment in the battles around Atlanta, at Resaca, Big Shanty, the series of battles at Kenesaw Moun- tain, Chattahoocheend at Marietta, Ga. In the terrible conflict that ensued before Atlanta, on the 22d of May, he took a prominent part, and followed that matchless leader, Sherman, on bis march to the sea. and from Savannah through the Carolinas un- til the surrender of Gen. Johnston. After the review in Washington, with the regiment he was returned to Madison, by the way of Louisville. Ky., and was there mustered out and received his discharge July 16, 1865. Returning to La Crosse County he there remained until coming here as stated above.
Mr. Severson was married in La Crosse County. Wis., to Miss Cornelia Oleson, the daughter of Ole
610
MONONA COUNTY.
and Bertha Halverson, who died April 29, 1886. having been the mother of eleven children-O. B., C. S., George, Julius, Peter, Ole, Norval, Bertha, Mary, Mabel and Huldah. August 29, 1888, Mr. Severson married Miss Laura M. Wood, who is the mother of one child-Fletcher.
nere
NTHONY BROWN, the well-known pro- prietor of the Blencoe House, located in the village of that name, was born in County Mayo. Ireland, September 12. 1839, and is the son of Patrick and Margaret (O'Donell ) Brown. lle remain in his native land until 1863, when feel- ing convinced that in free America there was a. greater show for a poor man than in his oppressed native land, he determined to seek an asylum where so many of his countrymen have found a happy home. Accordingly be crossed the wide and stormy ocean, and after a tedious voyage landed in New York on the 9th of March. Proceeding at once to Scranton, Lackawana County, Pa., he sought and found work in a foundry, in which he remained lif- teen years at steady work. In April, 1878, he came to Monona County, and making his home at Blencoe, was engaged some five years as a section hand on the railroad. Ilaving rented a small farin in the vicinity, he was next engaged in agricultural pur- suits for some three years more. When he first settled here he built a small house, in which he lived which, in the spring of 1882, he removed to the lot where the hotel now stands, and in it started the first place for the entertainment of the traveling public. In 1884 he removed this building to the rear and built on the front part of the edifice, which is 24x36 feet in size, with twenty foot studding, forming his present hotel property. This he still operates, and has become well known to the tray- eling publie of this section of the State.
In August, 1887. Mr. Brown purchased of David Pressinger of Ohio, some 360 acres of land in this county, 160 acres on section 1, Sherman Township, and 80 acres on section 7, and 120 on section 9, Sioux Township. This is very fine hay and farming land, and he has it well protected by a
good fence. Two hundred and sixty acres of land in one tract. he has leased within half a mile of Blencoe where he attends to farming himself.
Mr. Brown was united in marriage April 12, 1859, with Miss Julia Manley, a native also of Ire- land, who has been the mother of thirteen chil- dren : Patrick. Bertha. Maggie, Julia, Michael, John, Anthony, Thomas, Robert, JJames 'and three male children that died in infancy.
Mr. Brown and his sons, in connection with the hotel business, which does not occupy all their time, are engaged in farming, stock-raising and baling and shipping hay. the latter being a business of considerable magnitude.
OIIN T. RAWLINGS, the Postmaster at Preparation, and the popular and the well- known manager of the general merchandise store at that point, was born in Grant County, Wis., September 16, 1860, and is the son of Joseph G. and Mary Ann ( Carhart) Rawlings. llis parents were both natives of Cornwall, Eng- land, who had come to the United States in child- hood with their parents and grew up and were mar- ried in Grant County. In the latter they made their home until 1873, when they came to lowa and for a year they lived at Smithland, Woodbury County, after which they settled in Center Township, Mo- nona County. There the old folks lived until, in the fullness of time, they were called away by death, the mother in 1878, and the father March 3, 1889.
John T., the second in a family of ten children born to his parents, received his education in his youth, and early in life learned the trade followed by his father for many years, that of a miller, which he carried on until March, 1886, when he engaged in his present business at Preparation with R. T. Reece. He carries a general stock of well as- sorted goods and is quite a popular young mer- chant.
Mr. Rawlings was married in Center Township, August 8, 1882, to Miss Retta Polen. The lady was born in Quasqueton, Buchanan County, Iowa,
641
MONONA COUNTY.
July 21, 1861, and is the daughter of Ezekiel and Ellen (Dunlap) Polen. Her parents were early settlers of Buchanan County, where her mother died in September, 1866. In 1870 her father mar- ried Ellen Speake, of Center Point, Linn County, and in 1881 removed to Harrison County, where they still reside, carrying on a farm. Mr. and Mrs. Rawlings are the parents of three chil- dren: Pearl M., born July 18, 1883; Ruby E., April 3, 1886; and Frank E., December 6, 1887. In his political views our subject coincides with the Democratic party, and supports the candidates of that organization usually, although not strictly bound by party lines or unreasoning partisanship.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.