USA > Iowa > Page County > History of Page County, Iowa : also biographical sketches of some prominent citizens of the county, Vol. II > Part 44
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
John Shoberg, who was a lad of sixteen years when he accompanied his parents on their emigration to the new world, obtained most of his education in the common schools of his native land. His youth was one of unremitting toil, for the family was poor and when he could be spared on the home farm he worked for others in various capacities, thus earning enough money to buy his own clothes and support himself. He continued to assist his father in the cultivation of the home farm until the time of his marriage and sub- sequent to that important event in his life he remained on the home place for another year. He then accompanied his father to Kansas but remained there for only one summer and in the following fall came to Page county, Iowa. Being practically penniless, he found immediate employment a neces- sity and went to work husking corn. By dint of earnest labor and close economy he saved forty dollars in forty days and seven dollars of this sum was expended for household effects, including a table, some old chairs and a bed. His employer, Charles Carlson, went security for him for a cook stove. When the corn husking season was over he obtained a position in the elevator owned by Linderholm & Pendleton, receiving a wage of thirty dollars per month His capability and trustworthiness was soon recognized and within a year he was managing the elevator at a salary of fifty dollars per month. He remained in the employ of Linderholm & Pendleton for about two years and then again turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, being engaged in the operation of a rented farm for four years. He was then offered a remunerative position as engineer in the Essex Roller Mills and, accepting the same, was thus employed for a period of seven years and four months, During this time he had purchased a block of town property and also a forty- acre farm in Pierce township and on resigning his position in the mills lie gave his attention to the cultivation of his farm. A short time afterward he traded this farm and his town property for his present place on section 21, Pierce township, on which he has made his home since 1899. He has re- built the fences and has placed many substantial improvements on the prop- erty, so that it is now lacking in none of the accessories and conveniences of a model farm of the twentieth century.
Mr. Shoberg has been married twice. In 1878 he wedded Miss Augusta Englund, of Henry county, Illinois, by whom he had one child, Alice, now the wife of Ludwig Falk, of Fremont township, Page county. Mrs. Augusta Shoberg was called to her final rest in 1893 and in March, 1895, Mr. Sho- berg was again married, his second union being with the widow of Nels Mun- son, who in her maidenhood was Miss Ida Ring. They have become the parents of five children, as follows : Edith M. E., Pearl A. C., Bernard C. J., Helen V. V. and Laurine V. R. Mrs. Shoberg had one child by her former marriage, Sadie Munson, who is a graduate of the Lindsborg ( Kansas) Col- lege, received a life's certificate and is now teaching in the Essex high school.
Politically Mr. Shoberg is a stalwart republican and his fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, have called him to various positions of public trust. He is now serving for the second term as a member of the board of trustees of Pierce township. He was a member of the town council
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of Essex while living there and served on the school board for seveu or eight years, while for the past six years he has been president of the board. Fra- ternally he is identified with Essex Camp, M. W. A. His genuine personal worth and sterling traits of character have won him the unbounded con- fidence and esteem of the entire community and the respect and admiration of all with whom he has come in contact. His example should serve to en- courage others who start out in life as he did-without capital-for his history shows what may be accomplished when one has the perseverance to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles, wresting fortune from the hand of fate.
I.I. S. SWANSON.
H. S. Swanson is president and general manager of the Swanson Manu- facturing Company, manufacturers of agricultural implements, and is also an inventor of considerable note, his genius in that direction being manifest in several practical and beneficial results. He is a native of Sweden, born October 1, 1867. His parents were Henry and Sophia Swanson, also na- tives of Sweden, who came to the United States in 1882. The father con- ducted business in his native land as a lumberman and farmer and on cross- ing the Atlantic to the western world he made his way into the interior of the country, locating in Pottawatomie county, Kansas, where he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres. For nine or ten years he resided upon and cultivated that property and then removed to Marshall county, Kansas, where he made his home up to the time of his death. His widow still survives and resides in Shenandoah.
H. S. Swanson was reared on the home farm. He was fourteen years of age at the time of the removal to America and his education, begun in the schools of his native country, was continued in the public schools of the United States. He also spent one term as a student in Bethany College at Lindsburg, Kansas, and at the Atchinson Business College at Atchinson, Kansas, from which he was graduated with the class of 1891. He then engaged in the agricultural implement business at Irving, Kansas, and four years later he opened a branch house at Frankfort, Kansas, conducting the two houses until the fall of 1901, when he turned his attention to the manu- facture of agricultural implements at Blue Rapids, Kansas. There he re- mained in business until June, 1903, when his manufacturing department was washed away by flood and the water power of the town destroyed.
In the fall of 1903 Mr. Swanson arrived in Shenandoah and organized the Swanson Manufacturing Company. In the short period of six years the business under his management has been increased from forty thousand to two hundred thousand dollars annually and is yet growing with substantial and gratifying rapidity, being one of the manufacturing industries of this city which is proving a gratifying success. The firm manufactures a spe- cialty for listed corn cultivators, hay stakers and portable grain elevators,
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
shovel cultivators, disc harrows, etc., and the output of the house finds a ready sale upon the market. Mr. Swanson is the inventor of a flying Swede corn cultivator, which is a radical departure from former cultivators and a decided success. He is also the inventor of the Lay Bye corn cultivator, which cultivates the corn in three plowings. He possesses marked mechani- cal ingenuity and his ability in management is displayed in the excellent suc- cess which has attended the manufacturing company which he organized.
In 1898 Mr. Swanson was married to Miss Emma Gould, of Blue Rapids, Kansas, and they have two children, Marguerite and Arbury E. In his po- litical views Mr. Swanson has been a republican since age conferred upon him him the right of franchise and but the honors and emoluments of office have no attraction for him. He holds membership in the Knights of Pythias Lodge at Irving, Kansas, and in Shenandoah Lodge, No. 1122, B. P. O. E. He is a man of determined and resolute spirit, knowing that persistency of purpose and indefatigable energy will do more to win success than any num- ber of plans or brilliant theories. He possesses many of the sterling char- acteristics of his race and bears an unassailable reputation for business integrity.
G. W. PETERSON.
G. W. Peterson, devoting his time and attention to general farming on section 7, Tarkio township, well developed fields being a clear indication that his labors are intelligently directed, was born in Hamilton county, Iowa, Sep- tember 18, 1871. His parents were Olaf P. and Sarah (Nelson) Peterson, both of whom were natives of Sweden. The mother came to the United States in 1852 with her parents when but seven years of age, the family home being established in Knoxville, Illinois. Olaf P. Peterson arrived in this country as a young man during the period of the Civil war and soon after- ward, entering the government employ, was sent to Tennessee. He was one day inspecting a boiler when parties, forgetting that he was thus employed, turned on the steam and his life was almost terminated thereby. However, he recovered and continued to work for the government until the close of the war, after which he went to Knoxville, Illinois, where he formed the acquaintance of Sarah Nelson, whom he afterward married. They removed to Hamilton county, Iowa, but later returned to Knoxville, Illinois, where they lived for two years, and then, in 1874, came to Page county, settling in Fre- mont township. Year by year Mr. Peterson carefully tilled his farm and conducted a successful business in the line of general agriculture until 1906, when, with a handsome competence, he retired and took up his abode in Essex. He still owns his farm of one hundred and sixty acres and his property is the visible evidence of his life of diligence and unfaltering per- severance.
G. WV. Peterson spent his youthful days in his father's home and acquired his education in the common schools. He was twenty-three years of age when, in 1894, he began farming on his own account on land which he leased.
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
For seven years he thus cultivated the fields and during that period carefully saved his earnings until, in 1901, he was enabled to purchase eighty acres lying just across the road from the farm which he leased. He continuously operated the two hundred acres on which he resides until a recent date, since which time he has rented to others both his own farm and his father- in-law's farm, which he had himself leascd and tilled for twelve years. His labors have been fruitful, bringing to him well merited reward, and not only is he numbered among the farmers of affluence but is also connected with financial interests in the county as one of the stockholders in the Farmers Savings Bank of Essex.
On the 11th of December, 1895, Mr. Peterson took to his home as his bride Miss Minnie M. Johnson, a daughter of Mack L. Johnson, who is now living retired in Essex. Four children were born unto them but only two are now living: Olive and Clifford. The parents hold membership in the Swedish Mission church in Essex, in which Mr. Peterson is one of the trustees and cashier. Their home is a hospitable one, its good cheer being greatly enjoyed by their many friends.
In politics Mr. Peterson is a democrat and has served as road boss and also as school director for several years. His aid and influence are always on the side of progress and improvement, and he stands for whatever tends to promote the general welfare. He largely finds his recreation in motoring and is an enthusiast on the subject, owning a Buick car. Although he started out in life for himself without capital, his course has been marked by orderly progression and the years have chronicled his success which, resulting from its concentration of purpose and his carefully directed in- dustry, has made him one of the substantial farmers of Page county.
J. CALE GUTHRIE.
J. Cale Guthrie, owner and proprictor of the Alba Dairy, the model institution of this kind of the United States, was born at Coin, this county, on the 19th of March, 1882, his parents being William A. and Isabelle (Sewall) Guthrie, natives of New York and Quincy, Illinois, respectively. The father was born about thirty miles south of the city of Rochester and, coming to the Mississippi valley, settled in Iowa in 1865. For four years he resided in Marshall county and in 1869 came to Page county, purchasing a farm in Lincoln township, on which he resided for thirty-nine years. In the spring of 1908 he retired from active life and removed to Coin, where he now makes his home, his long connection with agricultural interests and his untiring activity bringing to him a comfortable competence that now supplies him with all of the necessities and some of the luxuries of life. His wife came to Iowa about 1875 on a visit to a sister who was a neighbor of Mr. Guthrie and it was during that period she became acquainted with him and four years later, or in 1879, they were united in marriage. Mr. Guthrie is now sixty-seven years of age, while his wife has reached the age
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of sixty-two years. Both are consistent members of the United Presby- terian church and are interested and active in its work, Mr. Guthrie having served for a number of years as a member of the official board of the church. He has been also a prominent factor in the cause of prohibition in Page county for years and has been the party's nominee for various offices. He is a stanch advocate of temperance, doing all in his power to abolish the use of intoxicants both by prestige and example.
J. C. Guthrie spent his youthful days as a farm boy and acquired his early education in the district schools, while his preparatory course was pursued at Amity College in the town of College Springs, Iowa. Later he spent four years in study in the Iowa State College at Ames, where he took special work in dairying. He completed the course with the class of 1906 and for a year thereafter he had charge of the dairy extension work of the college. He was then sent to the dairy division of the United States department of agriculture, his work taking him to Tennessee and Ken- tucky. He traveled throughout every portion of those states and to some extent over other sections of the United States.
In the spring of 1908, Mr. Guthrie returned to Page county and took charge of his father's farm, which he is now operating. He resided there until November, 1908, when he removed to Shenandoah, where he intends to make his future home. In the fall of that year he began the erection of his model dairy buildings, just within the city limits of Shenandoah, and his is said to be the finest dairy in the United States, operated after the most modern, sanitary and scientific methods. He certainly deserves to be rewarded with substantial success in this venture and already is accorded a liberal patronage.
On the 21st of December, 1907, Mr. Guthrie was married to Mrs. Carolyn Miller, nee Middleton, of Los Angeles, California. Mr. Guthrie belongs to Shenandoah Lodge, No. 1122, B. P. O. E., and to the United Presbyterian church, while in politics he is independent. He is one of the representative and progressive citizens among the younger business men of Shenandoah, belonging to that class upon which the future growth and progress of the city rests.
ALBERT V. HUNT.
The place which Albert V. Hunt has ocenpied in business circles in Clarinda during the past decade is no inconsequent one. He was, through much of this period, closely, actively and successfully connected with gen- eral agricultural interests but is now engaged in the real estate business and is making rapid progress in that line. He started upon the journey of life at Onargo, Iroquois county, Illinois, January 6, 1859, and is a son of George and Mary (Riner ) Hunt. The father was a farmer by occupation and through the tilling of the soil provided a fair living for his family and gave to them good educational privileges. Albert V. Ilunt was a youth of
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
seven years when his parents removed from Illinois to Kansas, settling at Ottawa, where he pursued his education as a public-school student for nine years. He then returned to Illinois at the age of sixteen years, spending the succeeding three years in his native state, and when a young man of nine- teen he came to Taylor county, Iowa, where he began farming. In the succeeding eight years he was connected with agricultural pursuits in that locality, during which period he was married to Miss Agnes Aiton on the 13th of July, 1881. She was a daughter of William Aiton, a farmer of that district.
In 1888 Mr. Hunt removed to Newmarket, Taylor county, and putting aside agricultural interests became connected with commercial pursuits. Establishing a drug store, he conducted it for four years and then entered the field of general merchandising. He also bought and sold grain and in the latter undertaking he was joined by G. E. Clayton. This partnership existed until 1898, when Mr. Hunt sold out and removed to Clarinda, be- lieving that there was an advantageous field for business in this city. Here he established the store of IIunt & Clayton, which was thus continued for five years, at the end of which time the business was incorporated under the firnt style of the Hunt & Clayton Company, his partner being G. E. Clayton. For nine years Mr. Hunt remained as a member of the firm, con- ducting a business of large and growing proportions, the extent of the trade making the enterprise a profitable one. In January, 1909, they sold out and entered the field of real estate operations, in which they had been previ- ously engaged for three years. They were more and more largely concen- trating their energies upon that work and now their entire time is given to the conduct of a real estate, loan and fire insurance business. Although they have now carried on the business for less than a year their previous record was sufficient to commend them to the public and already they have handled many inportant realty propositions, negotiated various large prop- erty transfers, and are doing a business which is hardly second to any in the city.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hunt have been born two daughters: Clarice, now the wife of B. C. Cramer, a merchant of Clarinda ; and Grace, the wife of Dr. E. R. Harrison, who is successfully practicing dentistry in this city. Mr. and Mrs. Hunt hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and take an active interest in its work, Mr. Hunt serving on the official board. His political allegiance is given to the republican party, and while he does not seck nor desire office, he is thoroughly in sympathy with the party platform, believing the issues which it advocates to be of great impor- tance in the welfare of the city and county.
Fraternally Mr. Hunt is a Mason and has attained the thirty-second de- gree of the Scottish Rite. He is also a prominent representative of the Knights of Pythias, is a past chancellor of the local lodge and is now act- ing district grand deputy. Realizing the value of concerted and organized effort, he became one of the founders of the Commercial Club, instituted to develop the business interests of Clarinda. and at the present writing is serving on its executive board. He is a man of keen discernment, and his
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executive ability and excellent management have brought to the concern with which he has been connected a large degree of success. Moreover, he has displayed in the conduct of his business interests those traits of character which ever command regard and confidence, and he belongs to that class of representative American citizens who promote the general prosperity while advancing individual interests.
ALONZO LOVITT.
Alonzo Lovitt, the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of rich and productive land in l'age county, is now a retired farmer living in Coin. For many years his life was one of intense and well directed activity as he carried on general agricultural pursuits and the years of his labor brought to him the competence that now enables him to live in well merited ease.
Ilis birth occurred in Licking county, Ohio, on the 28th of December, 1848, his parents being Price and Mary (Grigsby) Lovitt. The paternal grandparents were John and Anna Lovitt. About the year 1852 Mr. and Mrs. Price Lovitt removed from Ohio to Illinois, where the father of our subject successfully carried on farming until he passed away, being the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of land in Henderson county, that state, at the time of his demise. His widow still survives and makes her home in Henderson county, Illinois. They reared a family of eleven chil- dren, as follows: Sarah, the deceased wife of John Chalmer ; Oliver : John ; Alonzo, of this review; Clarissa, who has also passed away: Cordelia, the wife of Axel Nordstrom; Frances, the deceased wife of Milton Kern; Marion ; Selina, who gave her hand in marriage to John Cooper ; Viola, the wife of Oliver Moore; and Jessie.
In his youthful days Alonzo Lovitt attended the district schools in pur- suit of an education but was only able to prosecute his studies there for a few months in the winter season, as his assistance was needed in the work of the home farm during the rest of the year. When in his twentieth year he attended his last term of school, and after attaining his majority he came to Page county, Iowa, and here started out as an agriculturist on his own account, purchasing a tract of land of one hundred and sixty acres. He has since made his home in this county and throughout his active busi- ness career was successfully and energetically identified with the work of the fields, meeting with a gratifying and commendable degree of prosperity in his farming operations. As the years passed by and his financial resources increased he added to his landed holdings by additional purchase until at the present time he is the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of Iowa's rich and fertile soil. Since 1906 he has been living retired at Coin, now enjoying the fruits of his former toil in a handsome and modern home which he erected in 1908.
On the 7th of December, 1876, Mr. Lovitt was united in marriage to Miss Nancy Lucinda Hays, a daughter of John and Rachel (Richards)
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
Hays, who were natives of Mercer county, Pennsylvania. They were mar- ried in that county but afterward took up their abode in Henderson county, Illinois, where Mrs. Hays passed away. John Hays followed the trade of carpentering in early manhood but later turned his attention to general agricultural pursuits, with which line of activity he is still connected, now making his home in northwestern Nebraska. Mrs. Hays died at the home of her daughter, near Coin. Unto them were born the following children: James ; Mrs. Lovitt ; Mary Ann, now the wife of John D. Linder ; Newton ; Mina, the wife of Walter Griffith ; and Ruth, who gave her hand in marriage to Lincoln Davis. Mr. and Mrs. Lovitt have a family of four children, namely : Florence, the wife of Burton Hutchison, of Center, Colorado; Albert, living in Page county, who wedded Miss Cliff E. Whitmore, by whom he has a daughter, Ruth ; and Agnes and Mary, who are still under the parental roof.
Politically Mr. Lovitt is a stalwart advocate of the principles of the dem- ocracy. He and his family belong to the Methodist church, in the work of which they take an active and helpful interest. The period of his residence in this county now covers four decades and he is well known and highly esteemed within its borders as a most substantial and representative citizen.
C. H. LILJEDAHL.
C. H. Liljedahl, who occupies a foremost place among the leading and representative agriculturists of Page county, is also engaged to some ex- tent in stock raising and is one of the extensive landowners of Pierce town- ship, while public opinion accords him a high place among the valued and influential citizens of the community. As the name indicates, he is of Swedish origin, his birth having occurred in Sweden on the 13th of January, 1865. He is a son of John and Mary ( Peterson) Liljedahl, who were also born across the waters, where they were reared and married. The father came to the United States in 1869, his wife and three children joining him the following year. Settlement was made in Moline, Rock Island county, Illinois, where he secured employment in the coal mines, being thus engaged until 1873. In that year he came to Page county, Iowa, locating in Fre- mont township, and in conjunction with two brothers, Frank and Gustaf, purchased eighty acres of land. Later they severed their connection and John Liljedahl removed to Pierce township, where his remaining days were spent. He became the owner of five hundred and sixty acres of property, most of which lay in Pierce township, and he had also accumulated quite a substantial fortune. He passed away in 1901 at the age of sixty-four years, while his wife died in 1892 when fifty-two years old.
It was in Pierce township that C. H. Liljedahl of this review was reared to manhood, acquiring his education in the public schools. He remained at home until his twenty-fourth year, assisting his father in the work of the farm and early becoming familiar with the best methods of plowing, plant-
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HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
ing and harvesting, while in the school of experience he learned lessons concerning the value of energy, industry and perseverance. In the year mentioned, thinking to establish a home of his own, he was united in mar- riage to Miss Emma C. Carlson, of Essex, and the young couple began their domestic life on a farm in West township. Montgomery county, con- sisting of one hundred and sixty acres, which had been purchased for Mr. Liljedahl by his father. He continued in the operation of that farm for four years, when he sold it and purchased three hundred and seventy-seven acres in Sherman township. Montgomery county. There hie resided for seven years and then he again sold out and became the owner of four hun- dred and forty acres of his present farm located on section 23, Pierce town- ship, Page county. Ile established his home upon this property, to the further improvement and cultivation of which he at once directed his entire time and attention. During the intervening years he has been signally suc- cessful in his farming and he has added to his place until his farm now consists of six hundred and sixteen acres, constituting one of the extensive and valuable farming properties in Page county. He carries on general agricultural pursuits and in connection therewith has for several years given considerable attention to stock, feeding from one to three carloads of cattle annually. Both branches of his business-the raising of grain and the raising of stock-are carried on along up-to-date and progressive lines and are prov- ing gratifying sources of income, his prosperity being due to his close appli- cation and good business management.
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