USA > Iowa > Pottawattamie County > History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa. Containing a history from the earliest settlement to the present time biographical sketches; portraits of some of the early settlers, prominent men, etc. > Part 80
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bers of the Baptist Church. They have had ten children, four married, four at home and two are deceased.
JOSEPH SEEBOLD, farmer, P. O. Love- land, was born in Dutchess County, N. Y., in 1826, and went to Michigan while small. Ile made Michigan his home till 1850, when he crossed the plains to California, stopping in Iowa for some weeks. He remained in Cali- fornia for five years. While there, he was min- ing most of the time. Then he returned to Michigan in June, 1855, remaining there till December of the same year, and then came to this county, arriving here about the Ist of January, 1856. He crossed the State by stage. It was storming badly, and the driver got lost on the prairie and night came on. Mr. Seebold was the only passenger, so they tied the horses to the coach and went inside, tore up the carpeting of the stage, and in that and what robes they had they wrapped up for the night, but it was all they could do to keep from freezing. The next morning, aid was sent for, but they had managed to find the way into the station before it came. He was married at Magnolia, Iowa, January 12, 1856, by Judge Hardy, then Judge of Harrison County, to Miss Jane Palmer. She had come to Harrison County, with her uncle, from Michigan, in 1852. They have nine children, five boys and four girls, all of whom are at home. In April, 1856, our subject came to Rockford Township, and has been in it ever since, and about twenty- three years on his present farm. In 1864, he went into the service, going into the Third Iowa Battery, O. H. Lyons commander, in Gen. Solomon's division, then at Little Rock, Ark., and then removed to Fort Smith, Ark. This was the last battery mustered ont of the Seventh Army Corps. He is Republican in politics. His farming is general, but for a few years he has turned his attention to sorghum, raising sorghum cane to quite an extent. His farm is well improved. When first coming
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ROCKFORD TOWNSHIP.
here, in 1856, there was only one house on the Missouri bottom between Loveland and Cal- houn, IFarrison County.
GEORGE WEST, farmer, P. O. Loveland, was born in Ohio in 1825, son of Harmon West, a native of Virginia, and a descendent of Gov. West, who was Governor of that State while it was a British colony. Our subject's parents who are both deceased, had fourteen children, of whom six are now living. Our subject re- ceived his education in his native State, and was raised on a farm. He came West, and settled in Illinois in 1850. where he remained until 1856, when he came to this State, and located across the line. between this and Har- rison Counties. He was married, in Illinois, in 1851, to Miss Susan Drumm. They have eight children, four sons and four daughters, of whom one son and a daughter are married. Our sub- ject first settled in Cincinnati Township, Har- rison County, adjoining Rockford Township on the north. He settled on the bottoms, to the west and north of the Boyer, but was unable to secure a title to the land, as it was undecided whether it was swamp or Government land. At that time, most of the settlers here were formerly Mormons, who had become dissatis- fied with that religion and had not gone to Salt Lake with the balance. Our subject did not secure a title to the land nntil about 1860. He sold his first land and went to the river, where he had a tract of timber. Here he ran a saw-mill for about two years. In 1868, he sold the mill and timber to the railroad com- pany for $15,000; after which he went to steamboating on the Missouri River. In the following year, his boat, which carried both freight and passengers, was burned at Omaha, Neb., with a loss to himself of about $9,000. This was the Lydia Grace. He had previously, in 1863, lost another boat, the Emma, which sank in the river, he losing about $2,000. In 1869, he came to his present farm. which now consists of 400 acres, which is mostly in corn.
The life of our subject shows what a man with perseverance and energy can accomplish. He has made and lost two or three fortunes. His various occupations have subjected him to all kinds of exposure ; he has employed from twenty to thirty men at a time. After a resi- dence in this part of the State for about twenty- eight years, he concluded that one who has a home in Pottawattamie County cannot better himself in any part of this terrestrial sphere. In politics, he is a Republican.
JACOB J. ZAHNER, farmer, P. O. Love- land, is a native of Switzerland. He was born in October, 1818, and came to America when he was about twenty-six years of age. About two years later, he was married in Michigan, in which State he had first settled, to Miss Kath- arine Mundinzer, a native of Germany, who came to this country previous to our subject. They were married at the house of a Mr. Lusts. They came from Michigan to Dubuque, this State, about 1851, and lived there till abont 1856, when he came to this county, and settled on his present farm, which now consists of 220 acres. Our subject was in the military school in the old country with Gen. Sigel, of rebellion fame; he also served his time in the Swiss Army ; he is a Catholic in religion and in pol- itics a Republican.
FRANK ZAHNER, farmer, P. O. Missouri Valley, was born in Dubuque County, this State, December 26, 1852; son of Jacob J. Zahner, who came to this county about 1856. Our subject came here with his parents, and has since lived here. He was educated in this county. going three miles to school in winter, and working in the summer. When he was nineteen years old, he went to Jewell County, Kan., and took up a pre-emption claim of 160 acres, which he kept for five years, finally trad- ing for 140 acres of his present place, paying $800 difference. He made a subsequent pur- chase of 160 acres, and of his present farm 130 acres are in cultivation, the balance being in
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pasture and meadow. He was married, March 29, 1875, to Miss Clara Kirkland, born in Logan County, Ohio, daughter of Samuel Kirkland, who came to this county about the time our subject did. He died in the army. Mrs. Kirk- land is still living near Neola, this county. Our subject has three children. two boys and one girl. He and his brother-in-law, W. T. Roden, are engaged in stock-dealing, in which business our subject has been for about three years. In the winter of 1880, they shipped 1,600 head of cattle, besides hogs. Mr. Zahn-
er's farming consists principally in raising corn for his stock. Though young at the time, Mr. Zahner remembers the winter of the deep snow, when his father, in company with four others, started to mill, with four yoke of cattle, and some corn. They set out for what was then called the Willow Mill, a distance of twelve miles, which took them all day to travel. Our subject has three thoroughbred cattle, which came from Corbin & Mcclintock, Kentucky. He is Republican in politics, and in religion a Catholic.
SILVER CREEK TOWNSHIP.
SHADRACH AUKLAND, farmer. P. O. 1 Living Spring. Mr. Ankland is a native of England, born in 1844 in Lincolnshire; came to America in 1852, stopping in Zanesville, Ohio, where they remained about one and one- half years. Soon after settling there, his father, William Aukland. was thrown from a horse and was killed. Mr. Aukland and his mother moved to Peoria County, Ill., about eighteen months after this, and his mother still lives there. Mr. A. came to Pottawattamie County in 1869, and has made this his home ever since. He received his education in Illinois in com- mon schools. He was married in Peoria Coun- ty, Ill., in 1866, to Miss Priscilla A. Evans; she was born in Ohio. They have three children living and one dead. all boys. He is Repub- lican in politics. He and wife are members of the Church of God. Farming has always been his business. In 1864, he enlisted in Company I. One Hundred and Forty-six Illinois Infan- try (Col. Dean); served till close of war. Most of the time they were at Springfield, Ill., doing. provost duty. Mr. Aukland's farm consists of 160 acres. It was raw prairie when he bought it; he gave $8 for the first eighty and $12.50 per acre for the second eighty; most of it is
now in cultivation. Mr. A. has just completed a residence 18x26, one story and a half, his being one of many neat farmhouses rebuilt in this township in the last few years.
J. A. BROCKMAN, farmer, P. O. Carson. Mr. Brockman is a German by birth, and was born in 1841 in Holstein, and came to America in 1852. His own parents being dead, he was adopted by his aunt, and after she was married came with her to America; they settled in Iowa. His father, Frederick Brockman, was in the Holstein and Denmark war in 1847, and died during the war. Mr. Broekman was educated in Iowa. August, 1861, he enlisted in Com- pany E, Second Iowa Cavalry. He served three years, serving under Col. Elliott and Col. Hedge, in Gen. Hooker's division; Atlanta was the leading engagement. He stood on guard at Memphis when Gen. Forrest made his raid. After his discharge, he returned to his home in Scott County. Iowa, and remained there till he came to Pottawattamie County in 1869, fall of the year. He was raised on a farm but had not followed farming for himself till he came to this county. He had been in the hotel busi- ness in Davenport. In Durant, Cedar Co., Iowa, he ran a hotel for about eighteen months,
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SILVER CREEK TOWNSHIP.
and was burned out May. 1869, and then came out here. He was married in Seott County, in 1868, to Miss T. G. Suser; she is a native of Germany, coming from near Mr. Brock- man's old home. They have six children, two sons and four daughters. When he came to his present farm, it was wild land. His farm now consists of 136 acres, all in cultivation; corn and hogs are his principal business. He is Republican in politics. He and wife are members of the Lutheran Church. He is one of the Township Trustees, and has been three years. Mr. Brockman has been influential in bringing in about twenty families who have settled in Silver Creek, Keg Creek and Wash. ington Townships.
CHIARLES CASSON, farmer, P. O. Living Spring. Mr. Casson is a native of Yorkshire, Eng., born in 1826. When he was eleven years old, he went into a woolen mill, where they made the finest woolen goods, and contin- ued to work in the same mill till 1869, where he quit, and came to America, giving himself only about a week to prepare from the time he left the mill till he started. He was married, in 1851, to Miss Eliza Wood ; she was born in the same shire. They brought nine children with them to America, and one was born since coming, but the oldest son died in Iowa ; five sons and four daughters still living. One son married. When he came to America, he settled first in Logan County, Ill., where he remained one year ; then went to Fayette County, Ill., but was there only two years, when he returned to Logan County, and made that his home till he came to his present farm in 1877, but had bought it in 1875. His farm consists of 160 acres. It was raw land when he bought it, and paid $10 per acre. Since coming on to it he he has been steadily improving ; now it is all in cultivation. Corn-raising is most of his farming, and then feeding part of the time. Mr. Casson's objeet in coming here was to make a home which should be his own, and he
has succeeded. He is Republican in politics. He also has 160 acres in Wayne County, Neb.
JOHN CLARK, farmer, P. O. Macedonia. Mr. Lyman Clark, the father of John Clark, was born in New York State February 12, 1811. Lived there till about 1851, and then went to Perry County, Ohio; was in Ohio for about eight years, and then went to La Salle Connty, Ill., and was there about twenty years, and then came to Iowa in 1879, settling in Sil- ver Creek Township. He was married, in New York January 15, 1832, to Miss Betsey Cran- dall. She was born in New York February 8, 1814. January 15, 1882, they passed their fiftieth wedding anniversary, both quite active and strong. They have had seven children, four sons and three daughters, two sons and two daughters now living-Charles H., Frances J., Wilson M., Isadora O., Floretta Geraldus E., John. Charles H. died when he was a boy. All the others lived to be grown, and all were married except John, he living at home. Except three years that he worked at black- smithing, Mr. Clark's whole life has been spent in farming. Mr. and Mrs. Clark began their life together with nothing, but have lived to see their children doing well, and have made a good property for themselves. All their chil- dren were born in New York, except the youngest, and he was born in Ohio in 1857. Mr. John Clark was educated in Illinois in common schools. He has always followed farming, and has remained at home. He and his father have each 160 acres of land in a body-260 in enltivation-the remainder in pasture and hay land. His business is raising corn and feeding cattle and hogs-feeding thirty-five head of cattle, besides hogs. He is Republican in politics. His father also has been a Republican since the party started. llis father worked for three years for Moses and Henry Tilden, brothers of Samuel J. They were then in their manufacturing business. Mr. Clark being boss on the Tilden farm.
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JAMES A. FRAZIER, stockman, Silver ('ity. Mr. Frazier was born December 31, 1848, in Ohio, and lived there till he was twenty years old, and then came to Marion County, lowa, and was there for four years, and then moved to Mills County, where he remained for one year, and then came to Pottawattamie County. He is the son of John R. Frazier, who was born in Indiana. Mr. Frazier's mother was born in Ohio, his parents are both living, and just across the line in Mills County, He is one of seven children, five sons and two daughters, only one of the family dead, a sister of Mr. Frazier's; while he was a small boy, he always said he was going to be a stock dealer, and he worked for that all his life. First be- ginning by raising sheep, an uncle gave him one lamb and from this he made a start, selling the first fleece of wool for a dollar, and invested that in another lamb, and then he let out his three or four lambs to a farmer to keep on the shares, and kept on in this way till he had about 500 head, when he left Ohio. In Marion County, Iowa, Mr. Frazier and two of his broth- ers, Randall and William, went into partner- ship and rented a farm; James was only twenty- two, Randall, eighteen, and William, sixteen years old. From this time till 1878, these three brothers were in together. They farmed and fed some cattle for themselves, and some for their landlord. In this way, they learned the business of buying and feeding cattle. After coming to Mills County, they continued in the same way, only steadily increasing, and begun buying and shipping cattle and hogs, J. M. Strahan, of Malvern, Mills County, fur- nishing the money and getting half the profits. As they accumulated means of their own, they made use of it, and finally got enough to carry on business on their own account. In 1878, they dissolved partnership, but in the spring of 1881 James and William again went in together, and continue. William earries on the business in Nebraska, where they have
bought 1,600 acres of land. besides leasing 3,400 acres of school and college lands. Of their land there, above 400 acres are fenced. and 200 in cultivation, and have cattle sheds, ete., to make a complete cattle ranch, and have on hand there now over 400 head. James Frazier tends to the business on this side of the river. He used to think that if he had a team of horses. he would be all right, but now he and his brother have thirty-nine horses, mules and colts. His leading business here is buying and shipping stock. This summer, he has fed about 550 head of hogs, and shipped about 5.000 head, and of cattle fed about 100 head and shipped 800. Randall Frazier has continued in the same business, but alone sinee 1878, and has made a suecess also, having now a section of land, joining the town of Wayne, Wayne County, Neb., which is his home. Mr. James Frazier was married in Marion County, Iowa, 1873, to Miss Mary M. Cross, who was born in Ohio. They have six chil- dren, three girls and three boys. He is Re- publican in polities; eame to his present farm, spring of 1874. His independent farm here consists of 200 acres, well improved with fences, orchards, groves, etc.
JURGEN HEESCH, farmer, P. O. Council Bluffs. Mr. Jurgen Heesch was born in Ger- many in 1848, Holstein being his native State. He came to America in the fall of 1870, settling in Scott County, Iowa; was there about fifteen months, and then came to Mills County, where he remained for one year, and then moved to Pottawattamie County, to his present farm. His parents both died in the old country; he was educated in his native land. Was married, at Council Bluffs, Iowa, June 12, 1873, to Miss Anne Sehmielan; she was born in Germany also. They have four children, four girls. He is Republiean in politics. His farm consists of 240 acres, 140 in cultivation, the remainder in pasture and meadow. He bought it when it was raw prairie, paying $10 for the first eighty and
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SILVER CREEK TOWNSHIP.
$15 per acre for the last 160. His farming is general corn-raising, and feeding to his stock his leading business. When he came to this country in 1870, he had abont $700, and the remainder he has made in this country.
JAMES W. HOLMES. farmer. P. O. Silver City. Mills Co., lowa. Mr. Holmes was born and raised in Tazewell County, Ill., born 1842. In 1856, his father moved to Page County, lowa, but is now living in Conncil Bluffs. In 1861, Mr. Holmes went to California, and re- mained there for seven years. By trade he is a carpenter, and learned his trade by working with his father. While in California he was mining, and also following his trade. In com- ing back to Page County from California, he went the longest way round, going to South America, England, Scotland and Ireland, and back through Canada to the United States, having been more than a year on the trip. He was married, in Page County, January, 1870, to Miss Millie Worthington, who was born in Pennsylvania. They have four children, all boys. He has always been Democratic, in poli- tics. Is a member of the Masonic fraternity, joining that society in Oregon when twenty-one years old. His farming is principally raising 1 corn and feeding to hogs. Mr. Holmes has been in Pottawattamie County for twelve years, and has been in this township ever since, and now there are only seven or eight families in this township that were living here when he came. Mr. Holmes has seen more of the world than most men of his age, and his own experi- ence would make a volume in itself. His farm consists of 120 acres.
L. F. HUSZ. farmer, P. O. Council Bluffs. Mr. Husz was born in Germany January 1, 1850. He was born on the Island of Fehmarn; came to America in 1867, settling in Daven- port. Iowa, and lived there till the spring of 1875; he came to this county and settled on his present farm. He was married, in Pottawatta- mie County in 1881, to Miss M. L. Bebensee;
she was born in Germany also. They have two little children, both girls. His farm consists of 360 acres, 200 in cultivation, 160 in pasture. His farming is general, but mostly corn and stock. He is Republican in politics; his mother is still living, and in this county. Since com- ing here, farming has been his business, while in Davenport he was teaming. When he reached New York City, he had $5, and was seventeen years old; all that he has, he has made himself in this country. In the old country he began to hire out, and worked hard when he was only abont ten years old. He has had to make his own way by hard work and perseverance.
O. LAWSON, farmer, P. O. Living Spring. Mr. Lawson is a native of Norway, his early home being about seventy miles east of Chris- tiana. He was born in 1834; came to America about 1853; landed at Quebec. Soon after this, came to Chicago, where he remained about six years, leaving Chicago in 1859, and went to Pike's Peak. For eight or nine years he was in the West, being in Colorado, Utah, Idaho and Portland, Oregon, during the time, putting in the time mining, freighting, prospecting, and working at his trade of carpentering ; came to Pottawattamie Connty about 1866, and has been here ever since. First, bonght the present place of John Van Kirk, buying of Judge Brat- ton. He was married, in Mills County, Iowa, February, 1871, to Miss Viola Orr; died July 13, 1831; she was born in Ohio. He had four children, two are now living, both boys. In 1869, he moved to his present farm, and has been on it since, except one year he lived in Mills County. His farm consists of 320 acres; his principal business is raising corn and feed- ing. All of his farm but fifty acres is in culti- vation. and good improvements. lle is Re- publiean in politics. Mr. Lawson was raised on a farm in the old country, but never followed farming till he came to Iowa. While in Chiea- go, he had learned the carpenter's trade. and
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followed that for some years. Mr. Lawson is one of the oldest settlers now living in the town- ship. There were only six or seven houses in the township when he came, and some of them but the rudest of shanties, being mostly situated along the old stage road. Between Keg and Silver Creeks, there was no house in this part of the county, and east of Silver, Macedonia was the nearest settlement, and Taylor Station on the north; Keg and Silver Creek Townships were in one at that time, and had only seven- teen or eighteen voters.
MALCOLM MCKENZIE, farming, P. O. Liv- ing Spring. Mr. Mckenzie was born in Scot- land August 8. 1834, and came to Prince Edward's Island in 1836 with his parents, who lived there as long as they lived. Ile came to Maine in 1833, and has lived in the United States ever since, coming to Council Bluffs in 1855, but remained there only a short time, and then went to Minnesota and followed lumber- ing for five years; then went to Colorado with the gold-seekers; from here he went to Idaho, on Salmon River; then to Washington Territo- ry, and then to Portland, Ore., where he re- mained for some time, and then back to Idaho, where he was mining for two years; then came back to Denver. Colo., where he remained for three years, and was engaged also in mining; then drove stage for one year from Britcher Path to Green River for Wells & Fargo. In fall of 1867. October, was married at Golden City. Colo., to Miss Elizabeth Brackey, a native of Prince Edward's Island. That same fall they came to their present place, which was raw prairie, and there was not a house in sight at the time. They have five children-three boys and two girls. Mr. MeKenzie was more sue- eessful in his mining than many gold-hunters. He and a partner in thirty-one days took out $17,780; but most of this was paid out for a claim which proved worthless; but striking an- other rich deposit, they got about $4,000 each before the season closed. Mr. MeKenzie
had a partner and mining interest in Colorado, and as this partner had a good chance to make a sale, Mr. Mckenzie, who was in Idaho at the time, sent him a power of attorney. His part- ner made the sale for $80,000. and left with the proceeds. Mr. Mckenzie found that he was gone, and traeed him to New York City, where he had managed to escape on a vessel a few hours before. Mr. Mckenzie's life has been one of varied experience and of mueh interest, leaving his home young, and spending so much of his life in the wilds of the West. His farm consists of 250 acres. He pays attention to stock and farming, having at present about 100 head of cattle. He has been in this township long enough to see all the improvements that have been made, as there were but few shanties in the township at the time he eame. Ile is a Democrat in politics, but votes for what he eon- siders the best man.
A. AND D. MCKENZIE. farmers, P. O. Car- son. Messrs. MeKenzie are natives of Prince Edward's Island, Queens County. A. Me. was born in 1845. and D. Me. in 1849. Mr. D. Mc. came to the United States May 22, 1869. com- ing to Massachusetts, and thence to Iowa July 27, 1869. Mr. A. Mc. came direct to Iowa January 15, 1870. Both have been here ever since, and have been in Pottawattamie County, the first two years in Macedonia Township, and then to Silver Creek Township. January 18, 1874, they bought their present farm, it being raw prairie, paying $10.25 per aere, buying 240 acres, nearly the whole being in cultivation at present. Their principal business is raising corn and feeding to stock. Mr. A. Mckenzie was married January 28. 1879, in Pottawatta- mie County, to Miss Rhoda Ann Jones, born in Indiana. They have one child. a boy. The MeKenzie brothers received their education in Prince Edward's Island. They are Scotch de- scent, their parents coming from Scotland ; both parents now are dead. They are Repub- lican in polities. Mr. A. Mc. has always fol-
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