USA > Iowa > Pottawattamie County > History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, from the earliest historic times to 1907, Vol. II > Part 49
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P. W. FREDERICKSON.
P. W. Frederickson, a farmer and stock-raiser living on section 15, Grove township, owns and cultivates one hundred and twenty acres of rich and productive land, which he has converted from the raw prairie into a fine farm. He became a resident of Iowa in 1856, when he settled in Fremont county, spending twenty years there ere his removal to Pottawattamie county in 1876. He was born in Hancock county, Ohio, March 17, 1842, his parents being Porter and Elmira (Coolidge) Frederickson, who resided from 1856 in Fre-
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mont county, Iowa, until they were called to their final rest about twenty years ago. The father followed both carpentering and farming. The family num- bered four sons and three daughters, of whom one died in infancy. Four of the number are still living: Mrs. Martha Savage, who is located near Tabor, Iowa; Mrs. Catherine Penney, living near Albion, Nebraska; and Solomon, of Woodbury county, Iowa.
P. W. Frederickson was a youth of fourteen years when he came to Iowa with his parents. His education was largely acquired in the public schools and in Fremont county he was reared amid pioneer scenes and environments, for the district in which they located was then but sparsely settled. He per- formed the arduous task of developing a new farm as he aided his father in the improvement of the homestead property, and in Fremont county he con- tinued to reside until 1876, when he came to this county. Here he has since carried on general agricultural pursuits and has now a well developed farm of one hundred and twenty acres on section 15, Grove township.
Mr. Frederickson was married in Fremont county, Iowa, to Miss Laura Green, who was there born, a daughter of Noah and Sarah (Gaylord) Green, who were pioneer residents of this state. In his political views Mr. Frederick- son has always been a democrat and has twice served as trustee of Grove town- ship. He keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day, as every true American citizen should do, and his vote is the indication of his honest belief. His religious views are indicated by his membership in the Church of the Latter Day Saints.
NICHOLAS KIERCH.
Nicholas Kierch has probably resided longer in Keg Creek township than any other of its residents, for he took up his abode here in 1868 and from that time to the present has been successfully connected with agricul- tural and stock-raising interests on section 31. He was born in Germany, April 8, 1844, his parents being Frank and Josephine Kierch, who came to the United States in 1847, locating in Dubuque county, Iowa, where the mother passed away the same year. The father entered land as a dollar and a quarter an acre, successfully operating the same until 1856, when he sold out and removed to Mills county, making the journey with ox teams. He purchased land in Oak township, for which he paid four dollars an acre and continued to reside thereon until called to his final rest in 1858 when he had attained the age of fifty-six years. In his family were four children, three of whom are yet living: Margaret, who makes her home in Black Hawk county, Iowa; Mrs. Susan Sausa, of Minnesota; and Nicholas, of this review.
The youth of Nicholas Kierch was largely one of strenuous toil, for he had to provide for his own support from the age of thirteen years. He worked in Council Bluffs and in that vicinity for several years, and at the time of the outbreak of the Civil war offered his aid to the government in crushing the rebellion in the south but was rejected on account of being too
MR. AND MRS. NICHOLAS KIERCH.
THE NEW YORA PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILD N FOUNDATIONS.
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young. In November, 1864, however, he was accepted and joined Company I, Thirteenth Iowa Regiment, with which he saw active service. He was dis- charged in August, 1865, having made a most creditable military record. In 1868 he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of raw land which is now comprised within his home farm. He built a log cabin, began to till the soil and otherwise improved the place. The primitive condition to the coun- try is indicated by the fact that he had to haul rails with which to make a fence for a distance of nine miles and as there were no roads or bridges at that early period the task was a most difficult one. However, he was not discouraged by the many obstacles that confronted him in his efforts to estab- lish a home here and as the years have gone by has continued the work of development and improvement and has also added to his original purchase until he is now the owner of two hundred and forty acres of rich and arable land, eighty acres of which is situated in Mills county. In addition to gen- eral farming he is also engaged in raising cattle and hogs and for the past twenty years has sold none of his grain, feeding all of it to his stock. He has met with a gratifying measure of prosperity in his live-stock interests and is therefore accounted one of the successful farmers as well as honored pioneer . citizens of Pottawattamie county. He has resided on his present place for thirty- nine years and, as stated, there is probably no other resident in Keg Creek township who has lived here for as long a period.
On the 3d of November, 1865, Mr. Kierch was united in marriage to Miss Mena Green, a native of Germany, who came to America in 1862 and was employed in Council Bluffs at the time of her marriage. Her father passed away in Germany but the mother died in this country about twenty years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Green became the parents of eleven children, five of whom are living: Charles, of Pottawattamie county; Henry, living in Mills county; Gottlieb, of Seattle, Washington ; Mrs. Kierch ; and Mrs. Dora Rina, who resides in Council Bluffs. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Kierch have been born nine children: Frank, who married Mary Mundt and resides in Har- rison county. Iowa; Charles; Dora, the widow of Frank Miller, who makes her home in Harrison county, Iowa; Julius, who wedded Annie Schoening and resides in Mincola, Iowa; Bertha, who became the wife of Chris Lumby and lives in Harrison county, Iowa; Peter, who passed away at the age of nine years; John. Agnes and Harry, all at home.
Mr. Kierch gives stalwart support to the republican party, having affil- iated with that political organization since casting his first presidential ballot for Abraham Lincoln. He has served as township trustee for several terms and has also held the office of school director for fifteen years. The family are members of the German Lutheran church and during the long period of their residence here have gained the warm regard and friendship of many of the county's residents. Forty-seven years have passed since Mr. Kierch came to Pottawattamie county to cast in his lot with the pioneers. People of the present period can scarcely realize the struggles and dangers which attended the early settlers, the heroism and self-sacrifice of lives passed upon the borders of civilization, the hardships endured, the difficulties overcome. These tales of the early days read almost like a romance to those who have
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known only the modern prosperity and conveniences. To the pioneer of the early days, far removed from the privileges and conveniences of city or town, the struggle for existence was a stern and hard one, and these men and women must have possessed indomitable energies and sterling worth of char- acter, as well as marked physical courage, when they thus voluntarily :- lected such a life and successfully fought its battles under such circun .- stances as prevailed in the northwest.
STEPHEN SMITH.
Stephen Smith, now living retired but still residing on his farm on sec- tion 27, Grove township, came to Pottawattamie county about the 1st of November, 1847. On this day he arrived in Council Bluffs, where he spent the winter. In the following April his father arrived in Macedonia township, bringing his family with him, and there he built the first house within what is now the borders of the township. John Smith, the father, resided there for eight years or more, and in the fall of 1853 or 1854 became a resident of Grove township, settling on section 8, where he continued to reside until his death occurred, in 1870, when he was seventy-two years of age. His remains were interred in the cemetery of the Latter Day Saints in Grove township. He was a farmer by occupation and at one time he built the first saw-mil! on Farm creek, which he operated for several years, thus becoming associated with the industrial development as well as the agricultural interests of the county. In politics he was originally a whig, but upon the dissolution of that party became a republican. He served for several terms as supervisor from his township and was a member of the county board when the first courthouse at Council Bluffs was built. As a determined pioneer and influen- tial citizen he was well known in this county. His birth had occurred in North Carolina and he had resided for some time in Indiana prior to coming to Iowa. The wife, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Martha Koonts, was born in Indiana, and from that state they removed to Adams county, Illinois, where the death of Mrs. Smith occurred, in 1840.
Stephen Smith was born in Henry county, Indiana, January 28, 1836. His father wedded a second time, having wedded Miss Sarah Winegar in Adams county, Illinois, after losing his first wife. She accompanied her hus- band to Pottawattamie county and died here in 1882. By the two marriages there were seven sons and six daughters. Those of the family who came to Pottawattamie county were: Mary, Patience, Hannah, Elizabeth, Lydia, Rhoda, Anna, Stephen, Joseph, Hiram, Carlos and Abraham. Two brothers of the family died in early childhood. Of the children Stephen, Lydia and Abraham are still living, the sister being a resident of Cheyenne county, Kansas, while the brother makes his home in northwestern Nebraska.
Stephen Smith was eleven years of age when he came with his father to Pottawattamie county. In Illinois he had attended subscription schools, but owing to the fact that this county was a frontier district in which the homes
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were widely scattered he had no educational advantages in this locality. He has always followed farming as a life work. In early days he underwent the hardships, privations and experiences incident to pioneer life and performed the arduous task necessary to the development of a new farm, but as the years p &sed he was very successful and now is enabled to live retired in the enjoy- ment of all of the comforts and some of the luxuries of life.
In Mills county, Iowa, Mr. Smith was married to Miss Mary C. Frain, who was born May 31, 1837, and was brought to Iowa at an early period in its development when about five years of age. The family home was estab- lished in Cedar county, where both her father and mother died. To her husband she has been a faithful companion and helpmate on life's journey and they have reared a family of five children: Henry A., living in Mace- donia; George M., of Fremont county, Iowa; Mrs. Clara V. Bogue, of Eagle county, Colorado; Willard E., a farmer of Macedonia township: and Arthur J., at home.
Mr. Smith of this review was reared in the faith of the Church of the Latter Day Saints. but is not connected therewith at the present time. In politics he is an earnest republican. having supported the party since casting his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln. He has served in various township offices and as township trustee altogether for about seventeen years, a fact which indicates his fidelity to duty and the confidence and trust reposed in him by his fellowmen. Wherever known he is held in high esteem and his good qualities entitle him to the record which is uniformly given him, while his close application and industry in business have justly merited the success that has came to him through his farming operations.
VALENTINE PLUMB.
Valentine Plumb, who owns and cultivates two hundred acres of rich land on section 26, Macedonia township, where he is engaged in the raising of both grain and stock, has here lived for six years, prior to which time his entire life had been passed in Mills county, Iowa. His birth had occurred in Anderson township, that county, on the 10th of August, 1869, but he is of English descent, his parents being Valentine and Lucinda A. (Gonser) Plumb, the former a native of Lincolnshire, England, whence he came to the United States when a young man. He settled first in Ohio and afterward was engaged in mining in the far west for a number of years. His wife was born in Ohio and. still surviving her husband, is now living among her children. The father died upon the old home place in the Buckeye state about twenty- four years ago. when sixty-two years of age. In their family were ten children, eight of whom are now living, the subject of this review being the fourth in order of birth.
Valentine Plumb was reared as a farm boy and his work in the school- room was interspersed with his labors in the fields as he aided his parents in carrying on the task of plowing. planting and harvesting upon the old home-
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stead. Ile continued to reside in Mills county until six years ago, when he came to his present farm. He had lived upon the old homestead up to the time of his marriage, when he began cultivating an adjoining farm, which, however, was really a part of his father's original property. There he lived for twelve years, when thinking a removal would prove advantageous, he set- tled on section 26, Macedonia township, where he now has two hundred acres of land devoted to the raising of grain and stock, the latter, however, being the leading feature of his business.
On the 1st of September, 1890, Mr. Plumb was united in marriage to Miss Dora B. McFall, a native of Indiana. They now have four children : Wilbur E., Lilly G., Vernon and Gladys. Mr. Plumb votes with the de- mocracy. IJe and his family are well known in the community, where they reside, and in the management of his business interests he shows thorough familiarity with farm work, winning through his practical methods a gratify- ing competence.
W. H. CRANDALL. _
W. H. Crandall, who is engaged in general farming on section 31, Grove township, is a native of Pennsylvania, his birthplace being near Troy, Brad- ford county, while the date was January 1, 1840. He was the fifth in order of birth in a family of nine children born unto Stephen Allen and Saralı (Chase) Crandall, the former a native of Cortland county, New York, and the latter of Delaware county, that state. Both died in Pennsylvania, Mr. Crandall passing away in 1876 at the age of seventy-four years, while his wife survived until 1891 and reached the age of eighty-two years. Their sons, De- witt C. and Charles Lee, each served for three years as Union soldiers in the Civil war.
W. H. Crandall resided at the place of his nativity until after the out- break of hostilities between the north and the south and worked on the farm and at the carpenter's trade with his father. He recalls the time when he labored for a mere pittance as a boy, often receiving only twenty-five cents per day. The first interruption to his farm labor came in 1861, when aroused by a spirit of patriotism, he enrolled at Troy for ninety days' service. The regiment, however, was not called out, as the government at that time declined to receive any more ninety day men. Later he joined the construction corps, but was taken ill and sent home after a few months' service. He continued in Pennsylvania for about a year, when, having regained his health, he re- joined the construction corps and was in the employ of the United States for about two years, working all through the south.
Mr. Crandall dates his residence in Iowa from 1866, when he settled at Red Oak and assisted in building the first church there. There were only two houses in the town at that time. He made Red Oak his headquarters for a considerable period and worked at his trade in the surrounding country. Dur- ing the first winter there he taught school at the Stennett schoolhouse and
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thus eagerly availed himself of every opportunity to improve his financial condition and secure advancement in business life. In 1868 he was married and, having thus made arrangements for a home of his own, he located on a farm south of Elliott, purchasing eighty acres of land, to which he afterward added forty acres. For eight years he resided upon and cultivated that place and then traded it for his present farm of one hundred and twenty acres on section 31, Grove township. He has since lived upon this place with the ex- ception of three years spent in Red Oak. He has carried on farming and carpentering as a life work and assisted in constructing many of the first buildings in this locality and at Macedonia and Carson. In his building operations, as well as in his farming pursuits, he is thorough and practical and his own industry forms the basis of his present position of affluence.
As stated, Mr. Crandall was married in 1868, the lady of his choice being Miss Isabelle Marian McComb, who was born near Rockford, Illinois, and died in 1888 at the age of sixty-three years. They were the parents of three chil- dren: Gertie, the wife of J. M. Pardee, of Red Oak; Nettie L., the wife of Wesley Park, of Macedonia; and Lelith, who died at the age of seven years.
Mr. Crandall has been a stalwart supporter of the republican party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise, but the honors and emoluments of office have had little attraction for him. He has found it necessary to con- centrate his time and energies upon his business affairs if he would win suc- cess and the measure of affluence which has come to him is the just reward of his perseverance and diligence.
THOMAS BOWMAN.
Thomas Bowman. railroad contractor with headquarters at Council Bluffs, was born May 25, 1848, in Wiscasset, Maine. He was educated in the common schools and in Oak Grove Seminary at Vassalboro, Maine. Arriving in Council Bluffs in 1868, when a young man of twenty years, he was first employed by John Hammer, a contractor, and later entered the employ of J. P. and J. N. Casady, land agents and abstractors. In 1872 he was appointed manager of the Crystal mills on Main street owned by Henry F. Plumer, in whose service he continued until 1876.
Mr. Bowman has figured prominently in connection with the public service and has made an irreproachable record. None have ever questioned the honesty of his intentions and his official work has been in large measure satisfactory to his fellow citizens. In 1872 he was elected assessor of Coun- cil Bluffs and was re-elected three times, resigning that position in January, 1876, in order to enter upon his duties as treasurer of Pottawattamie county, to which position he had been chosen on the democratic ticket the previous fall. His fidelity and excellent service were indicated by the fact that he was twice re-elected to that position, and in 1882 was chosen mayor of Coun- cil Bluffs. He served as postmaster of the city under the two administra- tions of President Cleveland and in 1890 was elected a member of the fifty-
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second congress, while in 1893 he was defeated as a candidate for railway commissioner. Mr. Bowman served as a member of the democratic sound money conference held in Chicago, July 23,1893, which resulted in the formation of the "gold standard" democracy and in that campaign he sup- ported the Palmer and Buckner ticket.
For several years Mr. Bowman was associated with Hon. M. F. Rohrer in business. He aided in establishing the Evening Times in 1870 and in 1883 he acquired the ownership of the Daily Globe, which he controlled for ten years. He also owned the Freie Presse in 1880 and has thus been closely associated with the newspaper interests of the city. Since becoming postmaster Mr. Bowman has been engaged in railroad construction, making his headquarters at Council Bluffs. He was one of the organizers of the Citizens' State Bank and of the Iowa and Nebraska Insurance Company, of the Odd Fellows Building Association, the Tariff Reform Club, the Poultry and Pet Stock Association, the Driving Park and Fair Association, the Coun- cil Bluffs Sportsman's Club, the Rescue Hose Company No. 3, and Johl N. Baldwin, Jr., Hose Company. The enumeration of these interests which owed their formation in greater or less measure to Mr. Bowman indicates the fact that he has been a leader in public thought and action and a molder of public opinion. His intense and well directed activity has never been concentrated on personal ends alone but has touched the general interests of his city in the production and conservation of advancement in various normal lines of human progress.
MRS. SARAH J. PRICE.
Mrs. Sarah J. Price, well known in Pottawattamie county, resides on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Hazel Dell township. She was born in Hancock county, Illinois, in 1840, and is a daughter of William Garner. She was with the family during the terrible experiences at Flor- ence, Nebraska, while that state was a territory. The family endured hard- ships and privations, and faced dangers while the father was serving in the Mexican war. Her girlhood days were spent on a farm in Garner town- ship, this county, and her education was acquired in the country schools. In early womanhood she became the wife of Jacob Groves and unto them were born eight children, namely: Ella, the wife of John Gunnette, of Neola, Iowa; William, a resident of Villa Grove, Colorado; Etta, the wife of Lawrence Goodwin, of Rantoul, Kansas; Nora, the wife of Dick Ely, a resident of Wyoming; John, of New Mexico; Lewis D., who follows farm- ing in Hazel Dell township; Anna, the wife of Sidney Downs, a resident of Neola, Iowa; and Edward, the twin brother of Anna, who resides with his mother.
Thorn Price, the present husband of Mrs. Sarah J. Price, was born in Ohio, December 1, 1840. He served for three years in the regular army during the Civil war as a valiant advocate of the Union cause. He afterward came
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to Pottawattamie county and here wedded Mrs. Groves. He and his wife own one hundred and sixty acres of well improved land, which was a part of the William Garner estate and was inherited by Mrs. Price. They are well known in the community and have the warm regard of many friends. They are also worthy representatives of farming interests here and have a good place which is kept under a high state of cultivation and presents an attractive appearance.
GRANT AUGUSTINE, M. D.
Dr. Grant Augustine is one of the well known members of the medical profession, actively engaged in practice at Minden for the past eight years. He was born in Wapello county, Iowa, December 7, 1872, and was there reared to manhood. His early educational privileges were supplemented by study in the State Normal School. He took a four year course in medi- cine at the State University of Iowa, from which he was graduated in 1900. Since entering upon the active work of-the profession he has taken a num- ber of supplemental courses and by study, investigation and reading keeps abreast with the best thinking members of the medical fraternity. While he does not make a specialty of surgery he is particularly efficient in that line and has successfully performed a number of very difficult operations, his skill and ability in that direction being widely recognized.
In 1900 he located at Malcom, Iowa, and began practice there. In 1901 he removed to Minden, where he has continued to the present time and has here built up a good and constantly increasing business. His practice in surgery extends to Council Bluffs and to Nebraska, while he is the loved family physician in many a household. He belongs to that class, of representative practitioners of the present day who work both for better methods of cure and for the adoption of preventive measures. He is a mem- ber of the Pottawattamie County Medical Society and for several years has been secretary and treasurer of the Botna Valley Medical Society. He also belongs to the State and to the American Medical Associations and through the interchange of thought and experience in these organizations keeps in touch with those who stand foremost in the profession. He is not unknown as the author of various valuable articles touching upon different phases of professional work, writing papers for and addressing the different medical societies upon many questions. He has a wide acquaintance in the profes- sion throughout the state, while the confidence reposed in him by the laity is indicated by the large patronage accorded him. He was recently ap- pointed chief medical director for the Western Mutual Life Insurance Com- pany, is medical examiner for the New York Life, the Mutual Life and the Equitable Life Insurance Companies.
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