USA > Iowa > Pottawattamie County > History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, from the earliest historic times to 1907, Vol. II > Part 48
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Samuel R. Read was quite young when the family left Indiana and re- moved to Bureau county, Illinois, and at the age of fifteen came to Iowa, settling in Cerro Gordo county. His educational privileges were those af- forded by the public schools. In 1874, with his wife and one child he re- moved to the vicinity of Malvern, in Mills county, Towa, and in 1881 he came to this county, settling near Carson, on the farm which is now owned by his widow. It is pleasantly located two miles northeast of the village of Carson and comprises one hundred and sixty acres of land situated on the southeast quarter of section 36. It is one of the best farms in Carson town- ship although it came into his possession a tract of wild and unimproved land. His characteristic labors and his unfaltering diligence converted it
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into one of the finest farms of the county. Here in connection with tilling the soil, Mr. Read also engaged in the breeding of fine stock, both branches of his business claiming his attention until his death.
On the 25th of December, 1871, Mr. Read was united in marriage to Miss Julia Bushnell, who was born in Rock county, Wisconsin, March 29, 1854, and went to Cerro Gordo county with her widowed mother in 1867. HIer parents were Robert L. and Margaret (LaFever) Bushnell, natives of New York city. Both are now deceased, having passed away soon after reach- ing middle life. The father's death occurred in Vermillion, South Dakota, and the mother passed away in Mason City, Iowa. Their family numbered five sons and two daughters: Permelia, the wife of W. J. Sherman, of Ma- son City, Iowa; Minard, who died in Kansas; Mrs. Read; Elisha, of Malvern, Iowa: Augustus, of Fremont, Nebraska; Eugene, of Butte, Nebraska; and William, who resides in LaPorte, Texas. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Read were born eight children: Alice, now the wife of Thomas Dungan, who is living on the farm formerly her father's property; Irving, also upon the farm; Nettie, at home; Minard, who died at the age of eleven years; Margaretta, Joy, Irena and Paul, all yet at home.
For many years Mr. Read continued to reside upon his farm, and his life of thrift and industry was manifest in its excellent appearance, but in order to give his children. better educational advantages he removed to the village of Carson and soon afterward died there, passing away on the 17th of December, 1905. In politics he was a republican, and from childhood had been a devoted and faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His life had been true and honorable in every respect, his home duties were per- formd with a sense of conscientious obligation and in them he found a gen- nine pleasure, doing everything in his power to promote the happiness and welfare of his wife and children. He was a man of strong domestic taste and found greatest contentment amid his family and his own fireside. He had, however, an extensive circle of friends and acquaintances and was honored and respected by all who knew him. To his wife and children he left not only a comfortable competence, but also an untarnished name, and for years to come his memory will be lovingly enshrined in their hearts.
THOMAS N. CHRISTIAN.
Thomas N. Christian is one of the pioneer settlers of Waveland town- ship, having developed his farm from raw prairie to a highly cultivated tract of land presenting an excellent appearance, with its waving fields of corn and grain giving promise of abundant harvests. A native son of the middle west, he was born in Putnam county, Indiana, February 2, 1836, a son of Lewis and Levina (Frazier) Christian. There were two younger children in the family: Melinda, now the wife of Amos Spencer, of Blair, Nebraska; and Joseph S., of White Cloud, Kansas. The father was born in Knox county. Tennessee, in 1811, and when a young man went to Indiana,
T. N. CHRISTIAN.
THE NEW YOR PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.
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settling in Putnam county, where he purchased land and engaged in farm- ing until 1849, when he sold his property there and removed to Gentry county, Missouri. In that locality he also owned and developed a farm and there spent his remaining days, being called to final rest in March, 1897, when eighty-six years of age.
Thomas N. Christian was reared on the old homestead and acquired a public-school education. He was thirteen years of age when the family removed to Missouri, and the same fall he joined a hunting party that traveled through southern Iowa. It was said that the houses at that time were fifty miles apart. Possibly this was exaggerated, but yet the homes were widely scattered and the frontier condition of the country is indi- cated by the fact that it was no unusual thing to see ten or twelve elk at one time, while deer were numerous. In 1854 Mr. Christian drove a team to Kaneville, now Council Bluffs, Iowa, to bring his maternal grandmother and her family to Pottawattamie county. Kaneville was then a settlement of Mormons who lived in dugouts and on going up the hill beyond the asylum it seemed to be a hill of human heads, for popping out of the ground everywhere were seen the faces of the inhabitants of those primitive dwell- ings.
Mr. Christian was married in Gentry county, Missouri, in 1861. The following year he enlisted for service in the Civil war, joining Company F, of the Thirty-fifth Missouri Infantry on the 13th of August, 1862. In 1863 he was honorably discharged, after which he returned to his home in Gentry county, where he remained until 1866. He next removed to Iowa and for a year lived at Lewis, Cass County. In June, 1867, he came to Pottawattamie county, and while looking about for a desirable location he operated a rented farm for two years. In 1869 he bought the north half of the northeast quarter of section 4, Waveland township, and the west half of the northwest corner of section 3, adjoining. It was raw prairie, which he broke, and when the sod was turned and the fields harrowed he planted his crops, in due time gathering rich harvests. In 1871 he built a good residence upon this farm and removed to his new home. He has added to the original purchase the south half of the northeast quarter of section 4, the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 4, and the east half of the northwest quarter of section 3, Waveland township, making his present holdings something more than one half section of land. The first purchase was made for five dollars per acre and his first payment was three hundred dollars. When he took up his abode here the earlier settlers who were located near the timber along the river tried to dissuade him and told him he was too far from civilization and that his children would grow up wild Indians, that there would never be any schools in his locality, and other discouraging things. But Mr. Christian's foresight was better. for he believed that in time this would become a populous and rich district. There was, however, little settlement here until 1876, and the first school was held in the summer of that year, Mr. Christian allowing a room of his house to be used as a schoolroom, the teacher being Miss Ada Teff. From that time on the settlement has been rapid and the labors of man have made
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this part of the country to bloom and blossom as the rose. Mr. Christian has borne his full share in the work of agricultural development here and now owns a valuable and productive farming property.
The lady who now bears the name of Mrs. Christian was in her maid n- hood Miss Rebecca E. Cranor, a daughter of Joshua Cranor, who moved from Indiana to Missouri. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Christian have been born thir- teen children, of whom seven are yet living: Ida, the wife of William Dean, of Waveland township; Alner B., who cultivates the home farm; Lewis J., who resides in Seattle, Washington; Manlove Benton, of Wave- land township; Cena, the wife of Ed. Davis, of Cass county, Iowa; Isabelle, the wife of Donald Mckenzie, of Waveland township; and Ethel, the wife of David Blaine, of Wright township, this county.
Mr. Christian is a republican in politics but has never been an aspirant for public office. He has, however, filled all of the township offices, to which he has been called by the vote of his fellow townsmen, who recognize his ability and appreciate his effective labor in behalf of community inter- ests. He is now serving as township trustee and as a member of the school board. He belongs to the Christian church and in early years was affiliated with the Masonic lodge but took a demit and has not since been affiliated with any local organization. The history of western Iowa and its develop- ment is largely familiar to him for he has been a witness of its growth through many years, having seen its wild prairies reclaimed for the purpose of civilization, while its natural resources have been used in the develop- ment of fine farms and good homes, where live a contented, prosperous and happy people.
LEWIS A. HATSWELL.
Lewis A. Hatswell is one of the large resident landowners of Grove town- ship and a business man whose enterprise and executive ability have been a strong element in agricultural and commercial development in this section of Pottawattamie county, contributing at the same time to his individual prosperity. For twelve years he has resided upon his present farm on sec- tion 34. Grove township, having here two hundred and sixty acres, constitu- ting one of the best improved properties of the district. Throughout his en- tire life he has brooked no obstacles that could be overcome by determined and honest effort, and the careful utilization of his opportunities has gained him rank among the foremost residents of Grove township.
His birth occurred near Mineral Point, Iowa county, Wisconsin, June 28, 1856, his parents being John and Mary (Collard) Hatswell, who were natives of Devonshire, England, the former born in 1812 and the latter Sep- tember 29, 1821. They were reared and married in their native country and came to the United States in April, 1851, with three children, settling in Iowa county, Wisconsin. The father continued a resident of that state until his death in October, 1898, having always followed the occupation of farm-
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ing as a life work. His widow still survives and is now living with a son in Red Oak, Iowa. Their children, eight in number, were: John, a retired farmer of Red Oak; Mary, who became the wife of G. W. Fairchild and died in 1904; Elizabeth, the wife of the Rev. W. H. Newman, of Holt, Nebraska; Martha, who became the wife of Robert Turney and died in 1878; Selena, the wife of W. M. Tindall, of York county, Nebraska; Lewis A .; William T., of Red Oak, Iowa, where he is engaged in the real-estate business; and Royal C., a retired farmer of Red Oak.
Upon the home farm in Wisconsin Lewis A. Hatswell was reared, early becoming familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He left home in the fall of 1870, and removed to Red Oak, Iowa, with his older brother and two sisters. The brothers lived there to- gether for several years engaged in farming. Mr. Hatswell began renting land and hiring men to cultivate it. He had had practical experience in farm work, for from the time that he was twenty-one years of age he had been employed as a farm hand. He worked by the month for one year for Judge Tubbs and also for one year for Andrew Davis, of Illinois. At length, as stated, he began renting land and raising crops, and gradually he devel- oped his business into the cattle industry. which he followed until he came to Pottawattamie county in the spring of 1881. His first purchase of land here made him owner of eighty acres on section 26, Grove township. He afterward went to Oakland, where he leased three hundred and twenty acres, residing there for two years. He then returned to Grove township, where he has since made his home, and for twelve years has resided on his present farm of two hundred and sixty acres on section 34. Here he has erected a good dwelling and new barns. There are three dwellings on the farm. two of which are tenant houses. Mr. Hatswell now owns five hundred and eighty acres in Grove township comprised within three farms, has two hundred acres adjoining the village of Macedonia and two hundred and forty acres in Harlan county, Nebraska, together with six hundred and forty acres in Saskatchewan, Canada. He has been extensively engaged in raising. feed- ing and shipping stock, shipping from fifteen to twenty carloads of cattle and hogs per year. He raises and ships hogs on a very extensive scale, and as the years have passed he has made investments until he is today one of the large landowners of Grove township and one of the most extensive stock- men of this section, his undivided attention being given to general agricul- tural pursuits and the raising of stock. Aside from his farm property he owns a business house in Macedonia in partnership with William Lewis, and he is a stockholder in the Macedonia State Bank.
In 1894 Mr. Hatswell was married to Miss Maude Atteberry, who was born in Monroe county, Indiana, but was reared in Logan county, Illinois, where her parents. William and Fannie (Rodgers) Atteberry, still live. They were natives of Illinois and Indiana respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Hatswell have become the parents of a son and daughter: Carl and Lois Marie.
Mr. Hatswell is an exemplary Mason, belonging to Ruby lodge, No. 415. A. F. & A. M .. of Macedonia. In politics he has been a life-long republican and has served as chairman of the school board of Grove township. Com-
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munity affairs are always of interest to him and his active co-operation has been given to many measures for the benefit of the township and county. In matters relating to the public good as well as in business life he is prac- tical and his success is well merited, for he started out on attaining his ma- jority as a farm hand and has made advancements through the opportunities that he has utilized, carving out his own fortune, and upon the safe founda- tion of industry and perseverance building his success.
MINOR T. PALMER.
Minor T. Palmer, deceased, who was the pioneer physician of Big Grove and a man whose service was of the utmost benefit and value to his fellowmen, was born in Indiana and with his parents removed to Rock Island, Illinois, when about ten years of age. He resided there and at Oquawka, Illinois, until he had attained his majority, after which he married Miss Caroline Tuel. a native of Ohio. They resided at Sugar Grove, Mercer county, Illinois, until after the birth of their first two children, Marion and Sumner S. In the late spring of 1853 they started across the state of Iowa with an ox team and arrived at Kanesville, now Council Bluffs, in the fall of that year, hav- ing completed the long and tedious trip. Here Mr. Palmer worked at the carpenter's trade, and while thus engaged he assisted in building the first frame house in Omaha, Nebraska. He finally secured a team of horses and followed teaming from the old boat landing to the bluffs. In the winter of 1854-5 he removed to Big Grove, bringing with him the first team of horses that he purchased and which he kept until they died of old age.
When Mr. Palmer first came to Big Grove he engaged in carpentering, but having studied medicine to some extent in his younger days, he was per- suaded by an old Scotch physician by the name of Barratt, who lived at a place called White Cloud, on the Nishnabotna river a few miles below the present town of Hastings, in Mills county, to take up the practice of medi- cine, which he followed with remarkable success for ten or twelve years before any other physician located at Big Grove, as all the old settlers up and down the Botna valley from Harlan to Hastings will attest. About the year 1867 or 1868 Dr. T. C. Alexander, a graduate of Kings Medical College of Cincin- nati, Ohio, located at Big Grove, but finally concluded to remove to Kansas, against the earnest protest of Mr. Palmer, who saw in him a possible chance of retiring from the practice of medicine, which he so much desired to do, for his health had failed, owing to his arduous duties, the long rides and the exposure incident to the practice of medicine in those days. There were no towns nearer than Council Bluffs and it was necessary to keep a large supply of remedies on hand. This being the case, Mr. Palmer drifted into the gen- eral mercantile business, as it was necessary for him to furnish medicine and other supplies to the neighborhood. In the year 1870 Dr. Tobey located at Big Grove, and in the winter of 1873 Dr. Alexander returned, locating here, so that Mr. Palmer was relieved from the active practice of medicine. He
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never could retire altogether, however, and, in fact, his death was caused by his getting wet and catching cold when going to visit a patient. He passed away on the 26th of August, 1882, and thus ended the career of Big Grove's pioneer physician, a man whose life was one of usefulness and activity and who throughout the entire community was respected and honored by all who knew him.
Mr. Palmer's family numbered seven sons and two daughters, namely : Marion and Sumner S., who are mentioned elsewhere in this volume; George, who died at the age of twenty years; Minor T .. who died in infancy: Mary M., the wife of F. P. Forward. of Holt county, Nebraska; A. L., who for the past ten years has been traveling for the International Harvester Company and others, spending nearly two years in Australia and New Zealand and considerable time in traveling over the west half of the United States; Alexis P .. who died at South Butte, Montana. October 18. 1889; Hiram 'T., who is a farmer of Lincoln township; and Della, the wife of Orlando Trotter, of Pay- ette, Idaho.
Minor T. Palmer, the father, was a member of the Baptist church, which he joined in his youth. He was ever ready and generous in his support of the church and its work and was interested in all matters of progressive citi- zenship. He was never an officeholder, however, except that he served as postmaster. filling the position at the time of his death. His life was of benefit to his fellowmen and his worth in the community was widely acknowl- edged.
WILLARD E. SMITH.
Willard E. Smith, who is engaged in general agricultural pursuits on section 27, Macedonia township. was born May 12, 1865, in Grove township, this county, and is therefore a representative of one of its old families, his parents. Stephen and Mary (Frain) Smith, being still residents of Grove township. Their family numbered four sons and a daughter: Henry, of Macedonia ; George, of Tabor; Clara, the wife of Charles Bogue, of Colorado; Willard E .. of this review ; and Arthur, at home.
No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for Willard E. Smith in the days of his boyhood and youth. He remained with his parents until he attained his majority, with the exception of two vears spent in Colorado and Montana-1884 and 1885. He was engaged in mining in the former state and was employed upon a ranch in the latter. He then returned home, was married at the age of twenty-one years and started out in life on his own account as a farmer of Grove township. He first rented one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he cultivated for three years, and on the expiration of that period he bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Macedonia township, whereon he resided for three years. On selling that property he made investment in two hundred and forty acres. constituting the northwest quarter and the west half of the southwest quarter of section 24. Grove township, which he now owns. In March, 1905, however, he bought his
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present farm and took up his abode upon this place, comprising one hundred and eighty acres on sections 22 and 27, Macedonia township. He therefore has a total of four hundred and twenty acres in the two farms and is cultivat- ing both tracts, raising grain and stock. He is a large stock feeder and ship- per, and his business is bringing to him a very gratifying financial return.
Pleasantly situated in his home life, Mr. Smith was married in 1887 to Miss Susan Knox, who was born in Youngstown, Ohio, October 21, 1867, and came here at the age of ten years with her parents, Andrew and Matilda (Young) Knox, natives of Ireland, who were married, however, in Massachu- setts. The family home was established in Grove township when Mr. Knox brought his wife and children to Iowa and upon the farm which he there de- veloped and cultivated both he and his wife spent their remaining days. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been born eight children: Ruby, Lois, Lottie, Ralph, Dart, LeRoy, Violet and Lyle. The family attend the Presbyterian church and Mr. Smith belongs to Ruby lodge, No. 415, A. F. & A. M., of Macedonia. For one term he served as trustee of Grove township, but has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking, although he gives stalwart allegiance to the republican party.
WILLIAM H. JURGENSEN.
William II. Jurgensen, a progressive and enterprising agriculturist of Layton township, is one of the worthy sons that Germany has furnished to the United States, his birth having occurred in Schleswig-Holstein, on the 25th of August, 1862. His parents were Fritz and Lena (Sell) Jurgensen, both of whom were also natives of the same section of the fatherland in which our subject was born. The birth of the father occurred in 1834 and that of the mother in 1827, and they were reared and married in their native land. In the year 1872 they crossed the Atlantic to America, locating in Davenport, Towa, where Mr. Jurgensen followed the coopers' trade for four years. In 1876 he took up his abode in Pottawattamie county, purchasing eighty acres on section 1, Layton township, for which he paid ten dollars per acre. At a later date he bought an adjoining tract of eighty acres, whereon he resided until June, 1907, when he was taken to the hospital in Council Bluffs.
Owing to the limited financial resources of the parents, William H. Jur- gensen carly had to provide for his own support and he therefore acquired only a meager education. Soon after arriving in this country he went to work as a cash boy in the store of J. H. C. Peterson & Sons at Davenport and subse- quently he was employed as a painter in the sash and door factory of Roberts & Company. His health became affected, however, because of the poison in the paint and he was therefore compelled to give up this position, after which he secured employment in the store of L. W. Peterson, dealer in wall paper and carpets. On coming to Pottawattamie county he worked for his father on the farm and when he had attained his majority took entire charge of the place, the father making his home with our subject after the death of Mrs. Jurgen-
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sen. In 1895 William H. Jurgensen removed to an eighty acre tract adjoin- ing the home farm on the west, which he had purchased, and has here since made his home in order to be nearer the school which his children are attend- ing. He has removed the building from the old homestead farm to his pres- ent place of residence and has brought his land under a high state of cultiva- tion, the fields annually yielding golden harvests in return for the care and labor he bestows upon them. The air of neatness and thrift which pervades the place is indicative of his enterprise and well directed business ability in the conduct of his farming interests and he is accounted one of the prosperous agriculturists of his community.
On the 18th of December, 1887, Mr. Jurgensen was united in marriage to Miss Emma Range, of Layton township, Pottawattamie county, and a daughter of Adolph Range, who in an early day emigrated from Germany to the United States, locating in Muscatine county, Iowa. Subsequently he came to Pottawattamie county and now makes his home in Walnut. Mr. and Mrs. Jurgensen became the parents of six children, four of whom survive: William F .. Leonora M., Herbert C. and Harry L., all of whom are at home.
In his political views Mr. Jurgensen is an advocate of the democracy and is quite prominent in local political circles, having served as a member of the school board for the past five years and now acting as chairman thereof. He is also a member of the board of township trustees and is widely recognized as one of the leading. progressive and intelligent citizens of Layton township. He is a dominant factor in the affairs of the township and his influence is ever given on the side of reform, progress and improvement. Fraternally he is connected with Walnut lodge, No. 194, A. O. U. W., Excelsior camp of the Modern Woodmen of America, and the German Verein of Walnut. He is also a member of the Lutheran church, in the work of which he is actively and helpfully interested, contributing liberally of his means to its support. Since coming to America-a little lad of ten years-he has been dependent entirely upon his resources for whatever success he has enjoyed and the pros- perity which has come to him is therefore the result of his untiring persever- ance and diligence in the conduct of his business interests. He and his family are highly esteemed throughout the entire community as people of genuine personal worth and enjoy the hospitality of many of the best homes of the locality.
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