USA > Iowa > Pottawattamie County > History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, from the earliest historic times to 1907, Vol. I > Part 42
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John Peter Mergen, the only son, was a student in the public schools of Council Bluffs in early youth and for three years attended St. Benedict's College in Atchison, Kansas, where he was graduated in 1893, being the youngest pupil to complete the course in that institution. He was married September 7, 1898, to Miss Ellen Frances McGann, a daughter of Hugh and Anna McGann, of this city. Mrs. Mergen was born and reared here and was educated in the public schools. She, too, is a member of the Catholic church and is identified with the Degree of Honor. By her marriage she has become the mother of two daughters: Rodna Marguerite, born Novem- ber 3, 1899; and Cecil. born August 3, 1901.
Mr. Mergen is now manager for the Willow Springs Brewing Company of Council Bluffs, having been connected with this industrial enterprise since 1905. His office is at No. 617 Main street, while the brewery is located at Third and Hickory streets, Omaha, Nebraska. It was formerly owned by the Nebraska Brewery Company but was purchased by the present company in 1903, since which time the business has rapidly grown, while extensive additions and improvements have necessarily been made in order to meet the inereased demand for the output of this celebrated brewery, which is recognized as one of the leading enterprises of this character in the west. Much eredit is due Mr. Mergen for the success of the business. He is a genial, whole-souled, publie-spirited citizen, highly esteemed in the community. He belongs to the Catholic church and is without aspiration for political office, preferring to devote his entire time to his business interests. He is yet a young man but he occupies a responsible position in trade circles, his ability winning for him his present place in the commercial world.
A. T. HUBBARD.
A. T. Hubbard, living on section 26, Ncola township, carrics on general farming and the raising and feeding of stock, his place of three hundred and forty-three acres indicating his practical methods and systematic labor in its well improved appearance. He has for a quarter of a century made his home in Pottawattamie county. His birth occurred in Crawford county. Pennsyl- vania, October 14, 1846, and he comes of English ancestry, the family having been founded in the new world during the early years of the seventeenth cen- tury.
His father, J. T. Hubbard, was born in Fredonia, New York, a son of Jonathan T. Hubbard. In the Empire state he was reared to the age of four-
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MR. AND MRS. A. T. HUBBARD.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
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teen years, when he went to Pennsylvania, where he attained his majority. In that state he wedded Emeline Cooper, a native of Vermont, and to provide for his family he followed agricultural pursuits in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, where his remaining days were passed. There his death occurred about 1895, when he had reached the ripe old age of seventy-five years. His wife still sur- vives him and is now a well preserved woman of eighty-one years. A. T. Hub- bard is the eldest of the five children, two sons and three daughters, his brother. being William Hubbard, who died when a young man of twenty-two years. The sisters are: Mary, the wife of T. B. West, of Lyonsville, Pennsylvania; Caroline, the wife of William Head, of Conneautville, Pennsylvania; and Har- riet, the wife of Ira Hites, of West Springfield, Pennsylvania.
Upon the home farm A. T. Hubbard spent the days of his boyhood and youth, enjoying the educational advantages afforded by the common schools and by the Conneautville Academy. Later he engaged in teaching for four winters in the Keystone state but afterward took up the occupation of farming as a life work, and has since engaged in that pursuit. He was married in Pennsylvania in 1876, to Miss Mary J. Dull, who was born in Paris, Portage county, Ohio.
They took up their abode upon a Crawford county farm and Mr. Hubbard carried on a large dairy business there for a number of years, but the middle west attracted him and in 1882 he arrived in Pottawattamie county, hoping to find it easier to purchase land and become owner of a good farm in this section of the country. He first rented a traet of land in Norwalk township-his brother-in-law's place-comprising fourteen hundred acres. Upon this farm he lived for seventeen years, being thus extensively engaged in agricultural pursuits. During that time, about 1887, he bought his present property on section 26, Neola township, and upon this place took up his abode in 1899. Here he has erected a good residence, barns and outbuildings and has fenced and made a valuable place of this property, which is pleasantly located within a mile of Neola. He makes a specialty of raising, feeding and fattening stock and is extensively engaged in the business, shipping about twenty-five car- loads of cattle annually. In fact he is one of the most prominent stock-dealers of the county and his large business brings him a gratifying financial return annually.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Hubbard has been blessed with three children: John N., a farmer and stock-feeder of Harlan county, Nebraska; Louise, the wife of Clarence F. Sealock, a farmer of Neola township; and Wilbur F., who assists his father on the home farm.
The parents are members of the Presbyterian church at Neola, in the work of which they are actively interested. Mr. Hubbard is serving as one of its elders and contributes generously to its support. Politically he is a life-long republican, and while never a politician in the sense of office seeking he has been identified with the educational interests of the county, doing effective work of that character while serving on the school board for fifteen years. A quarter of a century has passed since he arrived in this county and he has therefore witnessed much of its growth and development, while his labors have been an important element in its advancement, especially along agricultural
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lines. His worth as a man and citizen are demonstrated by the high regard which is uniformly tendered him, while his ability in business circles has found expression in the acquirement of a valuable property which he now owns and in the conduct of the business which has made him one of the sub- stantial residents of the community.
NELS OLSEN.
Nels Olsen, who died August 30, 1907, resided on section 26, Neola township. He was classed with the prosperons and progressive agriculturists of his community and that he deserved this reputation is indicated by the neat and attractive appearance of his home farm of two hundred and forty acres. In addition to this place he owned another tract of three hundred and twenty acres and that his life was a very busy one may be readily imagined owing to the fact that he personally superintended the cultiva- tion of both farms. He possessed the characteristic thrift and enterprise of his Danish ancestry.
His birth occurred in Denmark, October 12, 1840, and there the days of his boyhood and youth were passed, his education being acquired in the common schools, while his knowledge of the English tongue was gained after he came to the new world. A residence of thirty-three years in his native land convinced him that he would find better business opportunities in the new world and accordingly in 1873 he came to the United States, making his way to Council Bluffs, Iowa. There he worked in the transfer yards for four and a half years. On the expiration of that period he came to Neola and bought eighty acres of land upon which no improvements had been made. He cleared and fenced the place, erected good buildings and opened up the farm. AAs the years passed he carried on the work of development and improvement in such a practical, progressive way, that he had one of the best farms of his locality. As his financial resources increased he added to his original holdings from time to time until he secured two hundred and forty acres in the home place. He erected here a commodious and pleasant residence. good barns and a granary, set out an orchard and made the place what it is today-one of the best developed properties of the locality. He also had another farm of three hundred and twenty acres situated on section 35, Neola township. This is also a valuable property and with his farming he carried on raising and feeding of stock, conducting his varied interests so carefully, systematically and industriously that he was numbered among the prosperous agriculturists of this part of the state. In all his labors he was ably assisted by his wife and son, Mrs. Olsen indeed proving to him a faithful companion and helpmate on life's journey.
It was on the 19th of June, 1875. in Council Bluffs, that Mary Jen- sen became the wife of Nels Olsen. She was born January 22, 1852, and reared in Denmark, came alone to the new world and was here married.
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Fourteen children have been born of this union, eight of whom are living, three sons and five daughters: Julius, who aids in carrying on the home farm; George and Edward, also at home; Olena, the wife of Samuel Christ- ianson; Anna, at home; Sophia, the wife of Hans lIansen; Alma; and Dagmar. They lost four daughters and two sons, of whom Augusta grew to womanhood and married but died December 13, 1906, while the others died in infancy.
Politically Mr. Olsen was independent, supporting men and measures rather than party, nor has he ever sought or desired office. He was, how- ever, much interested in the cause of public education and did effective service in behalf of the schools while acting as a member of the school board for eighteen years. He and his wife were members of the Danish Lutheran church. In the community where they resided they became widely and favorably known by reason of the many good qualities which they displayed in business and social relations. The life record of Mr. Olsen is a splendid illustration of the fact that success may be gained by those who start out in life empty-handed if they have but the determination and energy to closely apply themselves to business.
AUGUST OLDEROG.
Among the citizens of German birth now living in Silver Creek town- ship is numbered August Olderog, whose home is on section 6, where he has one hundred acres of good land. This is now a model farm property and its splendid appearance is due to the labor which the owner has bestowed upon it. A native of Holstein, Germany, he was born January 16, 1851, of the marriage of Clans and Gertrude (Mekermang) Olderog. The father died in Germany and the mother came to America in 1881, her death occur- ring in 1903, when she had reached the advanced age of eighty-four years. By her marriage she had become the mother of four children: Henry died in Nebraska at the age of fifty-six years on the same day on which his mother's death occurred-March 3, 1903; August is the second of the family; Doris is the wife of William Husz of Silver Creek township; and Amolia is the wife of Ulysses Strohbehn, of Silver Creek township.
August Olderog arrived in Davenport, Iowa, on the 8th of May, 1869, when a young man of eighteen years. He had attended school in his native country to the age of fourteen years in accordance with the laws of that land and afterward worked at the carpenter's trade, completing his apprenticeship in Davenport. He continued his residence in that city from 1869 to 1871 and afterward spent one year in Chicago. He then returned to Davenport, where he made his home until 1876, being engaged in car- pentering during the greater part of the time.
In the last mentioned year he came to his present farm, which he had purchased in 1872 and which comprises one hundred acres of land on sec- tion 6, Silver Creek township, Pottawattamie county, lying partly in the
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village of Treynor. It was unbroken prairie when it came into his posses- sion and he paid about ten dollars per acre for the tract. It has since in- creased in value tenfold owing to the rapid settlement of the county and the splendid improvements which Mr. Olderog has placed upon it. He has erected good buildings here, has set out a fine grove of maple trees, having brought the nursery stock from Davenport, and has also planted an orchard which has come into good bearing. For the first two or three years after he came to the county he continued to work at his trade to some extent and thus secured some ready money which enabled him to prosecute his farm work. He has followed farming and stock-raising with excellent suc- cess, also feeding and shipping stock, and his careful management has brought to him gratifying prosperity. His business is systematically con- ducted and through the rotation of crops he keeps his land in good con- dition. He is also an excellent judge of stock and this enables him to make judicious purchases and profitable sales.
On the 3d of May, 1878, Mr. Olderog was married to Miss Marie Dorothy Dow, who was born near Kiel, Holstein, Germany, November 7, 1859, and was brought to Iowa in 1872, the family home being established in Daven- port. Her parents were Detlef and Dorothy Dow. The father died during the first year of their residence in the new world and the mother is now living in Welton, Iowa. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Olderog has been blessed with six children, namely: Augusta, the wife of Peter Kilgore, of Council Bluffs; Rosa, Emil, Minnie, John and Elsie, all yet at home.
Mr. Olderog's political views accord with the principles of the repub- lican party and he gives loyal allegiance thereto. Ife has served as trustee of his township for six years and is a member of the Treynor council. He filled out an unexpired term in that office and was then elected to the posi- tion. In this capacity he gives loyal support to every measure introduced for the good of the village, and his labors in behalf of public progress have been far-reaching and beneficial. He belongs to the Lutheran church of Treynor and in his life is actuated by honorable principles and. worthy methods.
J. C. MILLER.
J. C. Miller, the owner of two hundred acres of land in Knox town- ship, Pottawattamie county, which he is successfully operating. was born in Denmark on the 9ili of September, 1860, a son of Andrew and Hannah Miller, who were also natives of Denmark and passed away in that country. They had the following children: Christine, the wife of Chris Sorenson, living in Nebraska; J. C., of this review; William, deceased; Trine, the wife of Peter Nelson, a resident of this county; Carl, who makes his home in Shelby county, Iowa; Lena, who became the wife of Martin Larson and now resides in the state of Washington ; and Marie, who still resides in Denmark.
J. C. Miller was reared in his native country and there acquired his education. In 1885, at the age of twenty-five years, he determined to take
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up his abode in the new world and accordingly crossed the briny deep, tak- ing up his residence in Pottawattamie county, Iowa, on his arrival in this country. He operated rented land for nine years and then, with the money which he had saved during this period, purchased a farm of his own. He is now the owner of two hundred acres on section 26, Knox township, Potta- wattamie county, and has improved his farm until it is one of the model properties of the county. He has built a fine residence, also a barn and other outbuildings and has equipped his place with all modern accessories and conveniences. He is meeting with success in his agricultural interests by reason of his well directed energy and capable business management and is recognized as one of the county's alert and enterprising farmers and busi- ness men.
In 1881, Mr. Miller was joined in wedlock to Miss Marie Hansen, who was born in Denmark in 1859. She was one of a family of six children and both her parents died in Denmark. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are the parents of seven children, namely: Christ F., of Twin Falls, Idaho; Hannah, Christine, Fred, Antone, Emma and Carl, all yet at home.
In his political views Mr. Miller is a democrat and has served as school director for two terms. He and his family support the Lutheran church and are recognized throughout the community as people of genuine per- sonal worth and commendable traits of character. Mr. Miller has never had occasion to regret his determination to scek a home in the new world, for here he has found the opportunities he sought and through their utilization has gained his present prosperity. He also attributes his success in large measure to the aid of his estimable wife, who has ever been a faithful com- panion and helpmate to him on the journey of life.
MELVIN J. BELLINGER, M. D.
For over twenty years Dr. Melvin J. Bellinger has been engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery in Council Bluffs and has gained a leading place in his profession. He is of German lineage and was born in New York state, his parents being J. H. and Molly (Smith) Bellinger. His boy- hood and youth were passed upon the home farm in his native state and his early education was acquired in the local schools. He began prepara- tion for his life work as a student in the Albany (New York) Medical Col- lege, which he attended for one term, and spent the same length of time in a medical college at Omaha, Nebraska. He next entered the Des Moines Medical College and was graduated from that institution in 1886 with the degree of M. D.
Seeing a favorable opening at Council Bluffs, Dr. Bellinger and his brother, Dr. F. P. Bellinger, came to this city soon after the former's grad- uation and embarked in general practice. Success attended their efforts and in the spring of 1890 they opened a hospital at the corner of Broad
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and Twenty-sixth streets, there erecting a handsome two-story frame build- ing with accommodations for forty patients.
Our subject is a thorough student of his profession, thoroughly up-to- date and progressive in his methods, and the success that has come to him is well merited for he received no outside aid or assistance upon starting out in life for himself. His practice has steadily increased from the be- ginning and he now has a large and lucrative patronage. He is an honored member of the Pottawattamie County Medical Society, the Iowa State Medi- cal Society and the American Medical Association, and socially is also con: nected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. In religious faith he is an Episcopalian and in polities is a demo- erat.
J. P. ALLENSWORTH.
.J. P. Allensworth, familiarly known as Uncle Jim, is now living re- tired from active business cares but still resides upon his farm on section 1, Silver Creek township, where he owns one hundred and thirty-five acres of land in the home place, from which he derives a good rental. He dates his residence here from the spring of 1881. His birth occurred in Jefferson county, Ohio. November 12, 1835, his parents being John and Lydia (Bar- tholomew) Allensworth, both now deceased. The mother died during the early boyhood of her son, J. P. AHlensworth, while the father's death occurred in Mills county, lowa, in the latter '70s. They were the parents of eight children, of whom three sisters became residents of Mills county: Mrs. Susanna Ewing; Mrs. Rebecca Boileau, who died at Red Oak. Towa; and Mrs. Katherine Sowers. After losing his first wife John Allensworth wedded Mary Thompson, also now deceased. They had five children: Albert, of Nebraska; Mrs. Violet Rhodes, who has passed away; Estella, formerly of Milwaukee; Emma, who is married and lives in Fremont county, Iowa; and Lewis, of Mills county, this state.
J. P. Allensworth was reared in Ohio and in his youth attended the public schools. He continued at home until twenty-one years of age and was trained in the work of the farm. Throughout his active business life he has followed farming and while living in Ohio he also mined coal. What- ever success he has achieved in life is attributable entirely to his own labors and careful management. Ile came to Pottawattamie county in the spring of 1881, settling on his present farm, which he has splendidly improved. He purchased this property of W. L. Kerney, of Council Bluffs, and upon the place has set out a fine orchard of three acres. He has fed cattle and hogs and in his live-stock interests has been very successful. At one time he owned one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 12 Silver Creek township, but has recently sold this at a handsome profit, and he likewise purchased a fine residence in Council Bluffs, which he has disposed of recently to good advantage. His home place is now operated by his son, W. A. Allensworth.
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On the 26th of February, 1860, in Ohio, Mr. AAllensworth was married to Miss Melinda Sowers, who was born in Morgan county, that state, Decem- ber 20, 1841, a daughter of William and Mary Ann (Thrush) Sowers, the father having passed away in Ohio twenty years ago, while a half century has gone by since the mother's death occurred in that state. Of their family all are now deceased with the exception of Mrs. Allensworth and her sister, Mrs. Maria Fickle, of Mills county. Those who have passed away are: George, who died while serving in the Civil war; W. B .; Mahala; Robert, who died in Mills county ; and Augustus.
Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Allensworth resided in Ohio until 1871, which year witnessed their arrival in Iowa. They settled in Mills county, where he owned three forty-acre tracts of land, which he sold on removing to Pottawattamie county. His present farm was purchased at twenty dollars per acre and he recently sold his other land for seventy dollars per acre. The only interruption to his life of activity along agricul- tural lines was when he defended the Union cause for one hundred days as a soldier of Company K, One Hundred and Fifty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Allensworth have been born four children: Aletha is now Mrs. J. P. Boileau, a widow of Red Oak, Iowa, and she has three children, Ethel, Ralph and Pharaby, the first named being now in the First National Bank at Red Oak. George C. married Cora Tipton, resides at Red Oak and has three children, Hazel, James and Edith. Wil- liam A., who operates the home farm, wedded Lunetta McIntyre and has one child, Madge. Edith is the wife of John Killins, of Council Bluffs, and their two children are Wendell and Doris.
The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Carson and are much esteemed in that congregation and by the community at large. He has always been independent in politics, nor has he ever sought political honors. His life has been one of business activity crowned with success, and he is now living retired in the enjoyment of well earned rest.
GEORGE WISE, JR.
George Wise, Jr., who is engaged in raising and feeding stock, is now the owner of two hundred and eighty acres of rich and productive land on section 2, Pleasant township. He is one of Iowa's native sons, the place of his birth being in Muscatine county and the date August, 1867. His parents were George and Lizzie (Meltner) Wise, of whose family of eleven children nine are yet living.
Upon the home farm the subject of this review spent the days of his boyhood and youth, and his education was acquired in the common schools. He early became familiar with the duties and labors of the farm and has always given his time and energy to the further development and improve- ment of farm land. He has made his home in this county since 1880 and
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is now proprietor of an excellent farm, conveniently situated on section 2, Pleasant township. It is a fine tract of land of two hundred and eighty acres and the labor which he bestows upon the fields has made it very pro- ductive. He annually gathers good harvests and at the same time is meet- ing with success in raising and feeding stock.
In 1904 occurred the marriage of Mr. Wise and Miss Jessie Austin, who was born in Missouri in 1875. Her father, Michael Austin, is a resi- dent of Knox township, Pottawattamie county, Iowa. Mrs. Wise was one of five children, and by her marriage has become the mother of one child, who, however, is now deceased. Politically Mr. Wise is a democrat and served as school director for two terms. He has not been a politician, how- ever, in the sense of office seeking but is interested in community affairs to the extent of giving active and hearty co-operation to many progressive movements for the public good. He and his wife are members of the Catho- lic church at Avoca.
URIAH MCLEAN.
Pottawattamie county finds a worthy representative of its agricultural in- terests in Uriah McLean, who devotes his time to the tilling of the soil and to stock-raising, the result of his labors being seen in his richly cultivated fields and in his pastures, where are found good grades of cattle. The farm com- prises two hundred and forty acres and is a well kept place.
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