USA > Iowa > Page County > History of Page County, Iowa : also biographical sketches of some prominent citizens of the county, Vol. II > Part 49
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On the home farm Joseph Auracher was reared to manhood, acquir- ing his early education in the public schools, while later he pursued a busi- ness course at the Eastern Normal College at Columbus Junction, Iowa. During the meantime he had devoted the hours not spent in study to assist- ing his father in the work of the farm, and he remained under the parental roof until the fall of 1885, when he went to Shenandoah, Iowa, and engaged in business on his own account, forming a partnership with O. H. Schenck in the grain business. They operated at Shenandoah and Bingham under the firm name of Schenck & Auracher, the relationship existing for about eighteen months. At the expiration of that period Mr. Auracher purchased his partner's interest in the business which he has since conducted inde- pendently. The enterprise, which has been most successful from the first, has enjoyed a rapid and continuous growth and now has branches at Bing- ham and Summit, Mr. Auracher being considered one of the leading grain men in this section of the state. He has also found time to devote his attention to other lines of activity and for the past six years he has been engaged in raising and breeding registered polled Angus cattle, and in this latter branch of his business he has been remarkably successful. He now owns some of the finest cattle of this breed in the United States and has taken premiums at all of the fairs of Page county and the surrounding counties. At Lincoln, Nebraska, he exhibited three animals and was awarded three premiums, and also exhibited at the Iowa state fair. His stock farm is located in Walnut township, Fremont county, and is known throughout
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the state for its fine cattle. Preeminently a man of business, he conducts his activities in an energetic and determined manner and is a man who brings things to pass, never doing anything by halves. These characteris- tics have proved the salient elements in a prosperity which is now ranking him among the successful and substantial business men of Page county
Mr. Auracher laid the foundation for a happy home life by his marriage, on the 9th of March, 1893, to Miss May Scholl, of Shenandoah, Iowa, the couple being prominent among a large circle of warm friends. Fraternally Mr. Auracher holds membership in Nishna Lodge, No. 300, F. & A. M., and is likewise a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, while along the line of his business he is the president of the Aberdeen Angus Cattle Association of the state of Iowa. His political allegiance is given to the republican party, in the affairs of which he is deeply and helpfully interested, and he has served on the city council for about seven years. Public-spirited, his influence has at all times been upon the side of progress, improvement, reform and ad- vancement. His has been a life of continuous activity, inspired by laudable ambition, and his enterprise and aggressiveness have stood him well in the battle of life, winning him the prosperity which he now enjoys and plac- ing him in the foremost rank as a representative citizen of Page county.
CLYDE W. TURNER.
The business interests of Coin, Iowa, are ably represented by Clyde W. Turner, who is engaged in the undertaking and embalming business in this city. He claims Page county as the place of his birth, which occurred January 1I, 1878, his parents being James W. and Martha (Turk) Turner, natives of Pennsylvania. They came to Page county in 1858, where they took up their permanent home, the father engaging in general farming until about eighteen years prior to his demise, when he retired from active busi- ness and took up his residence in Coin. He passed away in July, 1906. but the mother still survives and makes her home with the subject of this re- view. In their family were the following children: Elizabeth, the wife of Dr. E. E. Lymer, residing at Mount Pleasant, Iowa; Sultana, deceased ; John C., who has also passed away; Grant P .; George W .; James E .; William A. ; Judson L .; and Clyde W.
Clyde W. Turner spent the years of his early boyhood on his father's farm and received his early training in the schools at Long Branch, later attending the high school at College Springs, while his education was com- pleted in the high school at Coin. After laying aside his text-books he en- listed for service in the Spanish-American war as a member of the Third United States Volunteer Engineers, serving for one year, at the expiration of which period he was mustered out with his regiment. He then engaged in the restaurant business at Randolph, Iowa, for one year, and next be- came identified with the undertaking business, first in connection with C.
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D. Chapman, of Shenandoah, with whom he remained for about eighteen months, and later as an embalmer for McCowen & Son of Clarinda, for whom he worked two and a half years. During his connection with Mr. Chapman he had taken an examination before the state board at Des Moines, Iowa, and received a diploma as an embalmer, so that, after severing his connection with McCowen & Son, he was qualified to enter the business on his own account. Accordingly he purchased his present business from A. E. Swift, although it was then known as the Dowell Undertaking & Fur- niture Company, and has since directed his energies toward its control. He has been very successful in his undertaking for he has attempted to meet all of the demands of his patrons and his service in their behalf has ever been most satisfactory.
It was on the 3d of October, 1906, that Mr. Turner was united in marriage to Miss Lottie C. Herren, a daughter of David and Mary Louise (Carter) Herren, who were early settlers of Page county, and are now both deceased. She was one of a large family of children, the other men- bers being: Catherine, the wife of Al Wagner; Dr. Herren, now deceased ; Kemp, who resides in Newmarket, Iowa; Jennie, the wife of Lou Elgin, of Des Moines; Roy; Georgia, who married Henry Anan; Harley; and Nannie, the wife of Jesse McCowen. The union of Mr. Turner and Mrs. Turner has been blessed with the birth of one son, Clinton H., born on the 3d of August, 1909.
In his fraternal relations Mr. Turner belongs to Coin Lodge, No. 455, I. O. O. F., and also to Shenandoah Lodge, No. 1122, B. P. O. E. Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise he has voted with the republican party and is a loyal supporter of the principles thereof. He is at present serving as alderman of the city being elected on that ticket. Having passed almost his entire life in Page county, his many sterling traits of character have won for him the respect and esteem of his fellowmen, and he ranks among the substantial, progressive and representative busi- ness men of the community.
LENUS HAGGLUND.
Among Page county's residents who are known beyond the district in which they live is Lenus Hagglund, whose fame in connection with the propagation of seed corn has spread abroad throughout the land. He is now living in Pierce township, where he owns an excellent farm of two hundred acres, and while he has gained fame in the line mentioned, he is doing equally good work in other departments of farming and stock rais- ing. He was born in Sweden, May 11, 1864, and was only three years of age when brought to the United States by his parents, Erick and Britta (Johnson) Hagglund, who arrived in America in 1867. They made their first location at Andover, Illinois, where the father purchased forty acres of land, which he carefully tilled and cultivated until 1876. That year wit-
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nessed his arrival in Page county and, locating in Fremont township, he made investment in eighty acres of land, upon which he resided up to the time of his death in the spring of 1882. He was then sixty-seven years of age. His widow still survives and is yet living on the old homestead with her youngest daughter. The father followed a seafaring life for twenty- six years prior to his emigration to the new world.
Lenus Hagglund was reared at home, acquiring his education in the district schools of Illinois and Iowa, and through the periods of vacation assisted actively in the work of the home farm. In 1887 he purchased eighty acres of land in Pierce township and began farming on his own account. On the 19th of March, 1891, he was married to Miss Alice Seablom, of Tarkio township, and about that time sold his Pierce township farm and purchased one hundred and sixty acres in Montgomery county, upon which he resided for three years. He then sold that property and re- turned to Pierce township, investing in his present farm of two hundred acres, where he has made his home continually since.
Mr. Hagglund has gained a national reputation through the propaga- tion of corn. He has made a close, thorough and scientific study of the growing of corn and for two terms attended the State Agricultural College at Ames. For several years now he has made a specialty of growing seed corn. Ile makes what he terms "an ear to the row" test each season. His plan is to select one hundred or any other number of select ears of corn and plant fifty hills of corn from each ear, numbering the ear and the row. He then retains all the kernels left upon the ear after the planting has been done and awaits the results. On harvesting the crop he weighs the corn from each row and from the best results he selects from each car his next year's seed. Thus he is continually improving the seed corn which he raises and so superior is the quality which he sends out that he has gained a national reputation. He has taken more premiums at the county institutes than any man in Page county and has never exhibited without receiving a premium. In 1908 he won the sweepstakes of Iowa at the National Corn Show at Omaha, where there were five or six hundred exhibitors. In addition to the cultivation of corn and other cereals he is also engaged to some extent in stock raising, feeding a carload of cattle and one of hogs annually. Ile is one of the best known men in this section, being recog- nized as a most progressive farmer, who is not only in touch with the spirit of advancement that is manifest in agricultural life but has been a leader in progressive movements.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Hagglund has been blessed with five chil- dren : Irene E., Bernard L., Raymond S., Oliver E. and Wallace J. The daughter is a graduate of the Essex high school and is now a student at Ames College. The parents hold membership in the Swedish Lutheran church and Mr. Hlagglund gives his political allegiance to the republican party. For eleven years he has served as a member of the school board and the cause of education finds in him a stalwart champion. He is interested in all matters of vital moment to the county and his cooperation can be counted upon to further any movement for the general good. He belongs
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also to the lowa Corn Growers Association and the work which he has done in connection with corn propagation has made his name most widely known. His labors in this direction have been of direct benefit to the great agricultural population of the country and he deserves much credit for what he has accomplished.
LUDVIG T. FALK.
The extent and importance of the farming and stock-raising interests of Ludvig T. Falk, make him one of the representatives of modern, scien- tific farming in Page county. Ile is living on section 20, Fremont town- ship, and is conducting a farm of three hundred and twenty acres, whereon le is extensively breeding and raising live stock. His birth occurred in Henry county, Illinois, September 20, 1874, his parents being John F. and Sophia (Johnson) Falk, both of whom were natives of Sweden. The father was brought to this country by his parents when but three years of age, while the mother in early womanhood crossed the Atlantic. They became residents of Henry county, Illinois, where they were married, and the year 1881 witnessed their removal from that locality to Page county, Iowa, where the father purchased the first land that he ever owned, making invest- ment in what is now known as the Falk homestead of three hundred and twenty acres on section 20, Fremont township. Hle resided upon this place until the spring of 1902, when he resolved to retire from active life, for he had acquired a handsome competence, his financial resources being sufficient to enable him to live comfortably without further recourse to labor. He then turned the farm over to his son and removed to Essex, where he has since lived a retired life. He was very energetic and indus- trious and in addition to the home property he also owned a quarter section of land in Pierce township, adjoining Essex on the east. In business matters his judgment is sound and reliable, and what he has undertaken he has carried forward to successful completion, his record proving what may be accomplished when one has the will to dare and to do. His political allegiance is given to the democracy, and while in Henry county he was a candidate for sheriff but was defeated. He never sought nor desired office in Page county, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs, which carefully directed, brought to him the success which places him among the men of affluence in this part of the state.
Ludvig T. Falk spent his youthful days in the usual manner of most farm lads. He was but seven years of age when he accompanied his parents to Page county and here he was reared on the old homestead, acquiring his education in the public schools and spending many happy hours in sports in which boys of the period indulged. He also received ample training in the work of the farm and in the spring of 1897 he began farming on his own account and for two years cultivated a portion of his father's land. In 1899 lie removed to the farm near Essex and to its further development
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devoted his energies for three years, or until 1902, when his parents re- moved to Essex and, as stated, he took charge of the homestead of three hundred and twenty acres in Fremont township. This he has since con- ducted. He not only has practical knowledge of the work of the fields but also a comprehensive knowledge of scientific farming, knowing much of the nature of the soil and the needs of the crops, together with the best methods of production. He is now one of the more successful agricultur- ists of this part of the county, annually harvesting rich crops, while at the same time he has been extensively engaged in the breeding and raising of horses. For some years past he has been feeding from one hundred to one hundred and twenty-five head of cattle and in fact in all of his farm in- terests liis work is conducted along an extensive scale.
On the 6th of September, 1899, Mr. Falk was married to Miss Alice Shoberg, of Pierce township. They have three children: Annis M. H., Vina E., and Elpha C. In the community they are widely and favorably known. Mr. Falk belongs to Mountain Lodge, No. 36, F. & A. M. and gives his political support to the republican party. While he does not seek office as a reward for party fealty, he is never neglectful of the duties of citizenship. He is serving as president of the school board and is a stal- wart champion of progressive education. In business affairs he is thor- oughly energetic and reliable, and his well managed and extensive interests make him one of the leading representatives of farming and stock raising in the county.
LEVI BAKER.
Levi Baker, a man of action rather than of theory, who carefully formu- lates his plans and is determined in their execution, was born at Middle- grove, Illinois, in 1846. He resided upon a farm until about fourteen years of age and during that period acquired his early education in the public schools of Canton and of Galesburg, Illinois. He also attended the State Normal University at Bloomington and was thus well qualified by liberal educational training for life's practical and responsible duties.
The year 1868 witnessed his arrival in Page county, at which time he settled in the eastern part of Grant township on the West Tarkio river. His place was on a tract of land of eighty acres and upon this he began raising corn and hogs. His financial progress is due to his close application and his earnest purpose. As the years have gone by he has prospered in his farming operations and has also extended his business activities into other fields, becoming a director of the First National Bank of Shenandoah and also the president of the Independent Mutual Telephone Company, which is capitalized for one hundred thousand dollars. Mr. Baker is also presi- dent of the Commercial National Bank of Essex, Iowa, which is one of the oldest and most substantial financial institutions of Page county, established in 1875.
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On the 13th of May, 1873, Mr. Baker was united in marriage to Miss Ernestine C. Farnham and unto them were born four children, three daugh- ters and a son, all of whom are now living, namely: Estella, the wife of J. J. Weber, of Sedalia, Missouri; Wilma, the wife of J. W. Ratekin, of Shenandoah; Louise, the wife of R. R. Lawson, also of Shenandoalı; and Eugene, of the same city.
Mr. Baker has always loved agricultural life and now resides on a farm within the city limits of Shenandoah. He takes life quite easy, for his enterprise and diligence in former years have brought to him a substantial competence, releasing him from the necessity of further arduous labor. However, indolence and idleness are foreign to his nature and when not oc- cupied with business cares his activity reaches out to other interests, many of which directly are beneficial to the county and to the country at large. He is now a member of the Trans-Mississippi Commercial Congress and also vice president in the congress for Iowa. He has never allowed the words discouragement or failure to have place in his vocabulary, believing that one can accomplish what he wishes if he will but put forth the necessary effort to do so. In all that he has undertaken Mr. Baker has found success for he has never allowed obstacles or difficulties to bar his path when they could be overcome by honest purpose and indefatigable energy.
GEORGE R. MORSE.
Situated in the midst of one of the richest agricultural and stock-raising districts of the entire country, Shenandoah has become a center of manu- facture for remedies that are required when disease makes its inroads on the farms where live stock is handled. To such an enterprise George R. Morse is giving his energies, being well known as manufacturer of the Royal Live Stock Remedies. His business is now large and of an im- portant character, placing him with the substantial merchants of the town.
He is a native of the neighboring state of Illinois, his birth having oc- curred in Bureau county on the 31st of August, 1867. His parents were Ruel. W. and Jemima (Morgan) Morse. The father was a native of Maine, tracing his ancestry back to one of three brothers who came to this country in the seventeenth century and located in New England. In his boyhood days, prompted by a restless spirit and a love of adventure, Ruel W. Morse ran away from home and shipped as a sailor. For several years thercafter he sailed from castern ports to the West Indies, but at length, tiring of the sea, he engaged in railroad work and was in charge of one of the first trains that ran over the Quincy branch of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad. A decade was then devoted to railway interests as an engineer, but after his father's death he resigned his position on the railroad to look after the settlement of the estate. When this was accomplished he turned his attention to the milling business, owning and operating a mill at Buda, Illinois, in partnership with J. B. Stewart. In this connection they con-
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ducted an extensive enterprise that brought to them well merited remunera- tion.
It was in the fall of 1879 that Mr. Morse left Illinois and came to Iowa. In the spring of 1880 he settled in Shenandoah, Page county, and from that time forward was a dominant factor in the upbuilding and devel- opment of this progressive little city. He possessed a notable initiative spirit and much constructive ability, and in those early days there was no move- ment put forth for the advancement of Shenandoah that did not feel the stimulus of his activity and profit by his cooperation. He was the prime mover and the organizer of the first light plant in Shenandoah, which he controlled for thirteen years and which, in 1891, was incorporated under the name of the Shenandoah Electric Light & Power Company. As the city grew he saw what might be accomplished in real-estate fields and laid out and platted several subdivisions. He was very enthusiastic concerning the future of the town and imbued others with the same spirit of enterprise and progress. After taking up his bode here he engaged extensively in the grain trade, having elevators at Shenandoah, Summit and Imogene. He also established himself in the lumber business, which he conducted for a number of years, and then sold out to the Green Bay Lumber Company. The word fail had no place in his vocabulary. He displayed remarkable prescience in foreseeing the opportunities for the city and county, utilized his advantages in the best possible manner and, while working for individ- ual success, also contributed in substantial measure to the public progress. Aside from his business affairs in Shenandoah Mr. Morse became in- terested in mining in the Black Hills and was a heavy stockholder in the Squaw mine tunnel and in other properties in that region. He attained high rank in Masonry and was very familiar with the work of the craft and the principles upon which it was founded. In politics he was a republican and served for some years as a member of the town council, at all times exercising his official prerogative in support of many measures for the public good. He was also an active worker in the Baptist church, and his interest in moral progress was manifest in his generous support of and active cooperation in the various branches of the work. He died December 14, 1904, at the age of sixty-seven years, and his death was the occasion of deep and wide-spread regret. Ile was a man of kindly spirit, of generous disposition and of broad humanitarianism. While he never courted popu- larity he held friendship inviolable and as trute worth could always win his regard he had a very extensive circle of friends. The public work which he did was largely performed as a private citizen, yet made extensive de- mands upon his time, his thought and his energies. In his life were the elements of greatness because of the use he made of his talents and his opportunities, his thoughts being given to the mastery of great problems and the fulfillment of his duties as a man in his relations as a man to his state and his country.
George R. Morse, whose name introduces this review, was reared in his father's home and acquired his education in the public and high schools of Shenandoah, together with a business course in the Western Normal Col-
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lege. In 1888 he became associated with his father in the lumber trade, and from that time on they were closely identified in all of their business enterprises. As the father advanced in years the son more and more largely relieved him of the arduous duties connected with the management of affairs. Mr. Morse and his father were much more closely associated than the average parent and son. They spent most of their time together, in- terested in the same projects and thinking along the same lines. From the organization of the electric light plant, when it needed careful manage- ment to make it a substantial enterprise, George R. Morse gave to the business his attention almost day and night, personally ran the engine and the dynamos, climbed the poles and wired the houses. From a plant with five hundred lamps he built it up to an enterprise of five thousand lamps, and during that time paid six per cent dividends to the stockholders. He was actively associated with the business until it was sold in 1904. In April, 1905, he purchased the Trotter & Amburg grocery business, which he carried on successfully for fourteen months, when he disposed of his mer- cantile enterprise and turned his attention to the manufacture of live-stock remedies, in which he has since built up an extensive business. He is also a stockholder in several of Shenandoah's manufacturing concerns, and his sound judgment makes his opinions of value in the conduct of any indus- trial or commercial concern.
Pleasantly situated in his home life, Mr. Morse was married to Miss Alice Peairs, of Carrollton, Missouri, and unto them have been born three children, Ruel W., George F. and Elcthea M. Mr. Morse is a member of Tricentum Lodge, No. 300, A. F. & A. M .; Sheshbazzar Chapter, No. 82, R. A. M .; Juniata Lodge, No. 195, K. P .; Shenandoah Lodge, No. 1122. B. P. O. E .; Nishina Lodge, No. 249, A. O. U. W .; and Page Camp, No. 1049, M. W. A. Mr. Morse is a member of the board of directors of the Western Normal College and his interest in public affairs is evidenced by the active and extensive cooperation which he gives to every movement for the public good. While he was fortunate in his entrance into business circles, having the benefit of his father's association and success, he has yet proved in his later career that in his own life are the elements of cap- able management, discriminating judgment and unfaltering perseverance. He is a well known, prominent and honored representative of industrial and financial affairs in Shenandoah.
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