USA > Iowa > Pottawattamie County > History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, from the earliest historic times to 1907, Vol. II > Part 59
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township, and in 1900 he bought the piece of timber land of one hundred and twenty acres on sections 11 and 12, whercon he later erected his residence and is now living. In 1902 he further invested in one hundred and sixty acres on sections 9 and 10, and in 1904 one hundred and sixty acres on sec- tion 17 became his property. Thus his landed possessions are extensive, em- bracing eight hundred acres in Waveland township.
On the 1st of April, 1871, Mr. Mundorf was married to Miss Anna I. Bagby, of McDonough county, Illinois, and unto them have been born four children: Belle I., the wife of J. I. Cocklin, of Omaha; Viola, the wife of Andy C. Hausen, of Waveland township; Ogden S., who cultivates the old homestead farm: and George W., who i- operating a farm belonging to his father.
Mr. Mundorf is unfaltering in his support of republican principles and has served as township trustee, but has never been an aspirant for office. The cause of education. however. finds in him a stalwart friend. and as a member of the school board during several years he has done effective service in behalf of public education. He is one of the best known men in this section of Pottawattamie county. His life work is indeed commendable in that he has steadily advanced from a very humble position. Starting out in life, as he did. when only thirteen years of age, he certainly deserves much credit for what he has accomplished. His course has been marked by consecutive progress. and each forward step has brought him a wider outlook and a broader view. He has not been favored by luck or fortunate circumstances. but has worked earnestly for what he has enjoyed. He has, however, watched for good opportunities and has utilized them as they have been presented. and this has constituted one of the salient elements in the success which makes him today one of the largest landowners of his part of the county.
A. V. MICHELSON.
A. V. Michelson, whose time and energies are devoted to general agricul- tural pursuits in Boomer township, is numbered among the native sons and early settlers of the county. his birth having occurred in Council Bluffs on the 14th of February, 1867. His father, Hans W. Michelson, was born in Denmark in 1818. and having arrived at years of maturity he wedded Sophia Nelson, whose birth occurred in the same country in 1824, she being six vears his junior. It was in 1857 that the parents crossed the Atlantic to the new world and located first at Crescent. Iowa, where the father was employed for a year. In 1858 he became a resident of Council Bluffs, which was then a small town of little commercial or industrial importance. He worked at the tailor's trade and continued in that line of business until 1872. when he determined to give his attention to farming interests. and removed to Boomer township, where he cultivated rented land until 1875. In that year. with the capital which he had saved from his earnings. he purchased eighty acres of land. which is now in possession of his son. A. V. Michelson. This he im-
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proved and cultivated, and in course of time he purchased sixty acres more. He still lives upon this place and is now a venerable citizen, having almost attained the age of ninety years. His wife passed away in 1902. They were the parents of six children, of whom four are living: Mary, now a resident of Council Bluffs; Peter, whose home is in Wheeler county, Nebraska; Mrs. Emma Christensen, of Council Bluffs; and A. V., of this review.
The last named spent his boyhood days in his parents home, being about five years of age when the family removed from Council Bluffs to Boomer township. Within its borders he has since lived. His educational advantages were those afforded by the public schools, and when not busy with his text-books he worked with his father on the farm, early becoming familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. In 1894 he bought eighty acres from his father and has since remained on the old homestead. In 1901 he purchased sixty acres additional and now has a farm of one hundred and forty acres which he has improved, making it a nice place. It is devoted to general agricultural purposes and is neat and thrifty in appearance, giving to the passerby every evidence of the careful super- vision and practical and progressive methods of the owner.
Mr. Michelson was united in marriage to Miss Sena C. Nelson, who came to America in 1874, the family home being established in western Iowa, where her parents now reside. She was the third in order of birth in the family of four children, the others being: Chris, a resident of Granite, Oklahoma; Mary, now living in Omaha; and John, who is located in Emmet county, Towa. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Michelson have been born seven children, namely: Hans. Alfred, Clara, Nellie, Mable, Lydia and Hannah, and the family circle vet remains unbroken by the hand of death, all of the children being still with their parents on the home farm in Boomer township.
Mrs. Michelson is a member of the Lutheran church. Mr. Michelson gives his political allegiance to the republican party, and both he and his wife are highly esteemed as people of genuine personal worth. He owes his success to his own efforts, and although his advantages in youth were some- what limited, he is today in possession of a valuable farm.
IRA NIXON.
Tra Nixon is a worthy representative of one of the prominent pioneer families of Pottawattamie county and needs no special introduction to the readers of this volume for the name of Nixon has figured conspicuously in con- nection with the history of development and improvement here in agricultural lines for many long years. He now resides on section 33, Hazel Dell town- ship, and it was in this township that his life record began on the 29th of March, 1874. The history of his father, David Nixon, is given on another page of this volume.
At the usual age Ira Nixon was sent to the public schools, where he mas- tered the common branches of English learning. In the summer months as
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his years and strength increased he aided more and more largely in the work of the home farm and became thoroughly familiar with the best methods of cultivating the crops and caring for the stock. He thus brought practical ex- perience to his business, when at the age of twenty-six he began farming on his own account. He is the owner of one hundred and twenty acres of rich and arable land on which are fair improvements, including a new house and barn that he has erected. He tills the soil after the most modern methods and his labors find reward in the rich crops which are annually gathered. In addi- tion to this work he raises thoroughbred Shire horses and is meeting with good success in this branch of his business.
On the 17th of October, 1901, Mr. Nixon was married to Miss Lillian O'Donald, who was born in Hazel Dell township, where her parents, Anthony and Maggie (Frank) O'Donald, still reside. Three children grace the union of Mr. and Mrs. Nixon, a son and two daughters: David 1., Viola Fern and Dorothea May.
Mr. Nixon is a republican with firm belief in the principles of the party. but without desire for political preferment. Fraternally he is connected with the Odd Fellows and with the Woodmen of the World. He is well known in the community where his entire life has been passed and where he has dis- played many good qualities that have gained for him warm friendships. By nature he is genial and social and has thus become popular.
WILLIAM P. GARDNER.
William P. Gardner is well known in agricultural and financial circles in Neola township and is meeting with a gratifying measure of success in the operation of his excellent farm of two hundred acres situated on sec- tions 19 and 20. He became a resident of Boomer township, this county. in 1876 and therefore for almost a third of a century has been a witness of the changes which have occurred in this part of the state as the county has emerged from pioneer conditions and taken on all of the evidences of a modern civilization.
Mr. Gardner was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, on the 11th of July, 1852. His father, Matthew B. Gardner, was a native of Kentucky and was there reared. When a young man he went to Ohio, in which state he met and married Miss Mary Ann Glace, a native of the Buckeye state. Fol- lowing his marriage Mr. Gardner engaged in farming in Hamilton, county, Ohio, and later followed the same pursuit in Hamilton county, Indiana, and he opened up a farm and reared his family, spending his remaining days there. His wife also died upon the home farm in that locality. In their family there were four sons and four daughters. of whom W. P. is the eldest. The others are Frank, Henry. Leander. Alwilda, Clara, Martha and Elizabeth. The eldest daughter is now the wife of Albert Thomas. Eliza- beth also reached womanhood and was married but is now deceased.
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W. P. Gardner spent his boyhood days under the parental roof and when a youth of sixteen started out in life on his own account. He then went to Putnam county and from that time has been dependent entirely upon his own resources, so that whatever success he has achieved has come to him as the merited reward of his labor. His educational privileges were limited and he had no special advantages at the outset of his business career. In Putnam county he worked as a farm hand by the month and endured many hardships and privations in the early days but resolutely set to work to over- come the difficulties that barred his path and as the years passed these dimin- ished.
On the 22d of April, 1871, Mr. Gardner was married to Miss Mary E. Wanker, who was born and reared in Putnam county, a daughter of Zimri Wanker. The young couple began their domestic life upon a rented farm, which continued to be their home for two years, when they removed to Cum- berland county, Ilinois. There Mr. Gardner again rented land and fol- lowed farming for two years but thinking to find better opportunities to se- eure a farm of his own in the newly settled districts of Iowa, he came to Pot- tawattamie county in 1876 and took up his abode in Boomer township, where he lived for a year. In 1877 he removed to Neola township, where he rented land for three years, and in 1888 he made his first purchase, thus becoming owner of forty aeres which was raw prairie. This he broke and tilled and upon it he built a house. With characteristic energy he began to farm this place and as the result of his economy and industry he was at different times able to add to his property until he now has two hundred acres all in one body. Here he has erected a large two story residence, two good barns, a granary and corn cribs. There is also a windpump on his place, a chicken house, and in fact all the modern equipments which con- stitute a part of progressive farming. He has a good orchard and a fine grove of willow trees and the place is neat and thrifty in appearance, indi- cating careful supervision and practical methods. His fields annually bring forth good crops and in addition to this he raises and fattens stock. He con- tinued to reside upon the farm until 1907, when he left his son upon the place and removed to Neola, where he is living retired from the more active labors of the fields, although he still gives supervision to his business affairs. He also owns three hundred and twenty acres of land in South Dakota, of which eighty acres has been broken, while the remainder is being placed under cultivation. The success which Mr. Gardner has achieved it attrib- utable entirely to his own efforts and the assistance of his estimable wife, who has indeed been a faithful companion and helpmate to him on life's journey. He knew what it was in boyhood, youth and early manhood to undergo privations and harships but success comes to him who labors dili- gently for it and Mr. Gardner has put forth strenuous effort. He is now regarded as one of the substantial residents of the county, deriving his in- come from two valuable properties.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Gardner have been born six sons: Alvin, who is married and follows farming in South Dakota, owning a tract of land there;
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Zimri, who is married and resides in Council Bluffs; Henry, who is married and carrie, on farming in Boomer township: George. who is married and cultivates the home farm: William Gardner, a resident farmer of Neola township; and Oscar, who is farming with his brother in Neola. They also reared an adopted daughter. Emma Gardner. who became a member of the household when eight years of age.
Politically Mr. Gardner has been a life long democrat. - tanchly advo- cating the principles set forth by Jackson. He has served as road supervisor and as a member of the school board. While in Illinois he joined the Odd Fellows society and is now a member of Neola lodge. I. O. O. F., in which he has filled some of the offices. while his fidelity to the teachings and tenets of the society make him a worthy exemplar of the order.
WILLIAM SOUTHERN.
William Southern i- engaged in merchandising at Honey Creek. where he carries a large stock of goods and is meeting with gratifying success. He was born in Yorkshire. England. January 30. 1863. and in that country his parents are still living. but the favorable reports which he heard concerning America and her opportunities led him to try his fortune in the new world. .At the age of eighteen years therefore he bade adieu to home. friends and family and sailed for America. He went first to Canada. where he remained a short time. and then came to Pottawattamie county. Iowa. and worked by the month as a farm hand for a year and a half. On the expiration of that period he began farming on his own account. being thus engaged until 1895. when he leased the store of Sievert Rief. his father-in-law. and con- ducted it for four years. He then bought a store in Honey Creek and con- ducted this for eighteen months. after which he sold out. A year later. how- ever. he again engaged in business, puchasing five lots on the west side of the street. On one of these he erected a small building and put in a stock of good -. He has been quite successful in his commercial interests and now owns other buildings and has added to his stock until he now has an extensive store. keeping everything in the line of groceries. dry goods. notions. glass- ware. farm implements and lumber. At times his stock is worth as high as four thousand dollars and his check book shows two thousand dollars worth of business each month. in addition to which there are hundreds of dollars of which he keeps no record. He closely studies the needs and the wishes of the public. is watchful of the market as well and introduces goods of the latest character. In manner he is genial and courteous. and his earnest efforts to please his patrons have resulted in making for him a very large and grati- fying business.
In 1890 Mr. Southern was united in marriage to Miss Julia M. Rief. a daughter of Sievert Rief. who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume. Mr and Mrs. Southern have become the parents of five children: Martha L .. Dora F .. Ralph S .. Raymond W. and Margaret. all vet at home.
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Mr. Southern has never sought to figure prominently in public affairs. but on the contrary has preferred to concentrated his time and energies on his business. His capital was limited when he came to America, but in this country, where labor is unhampered by caste or class, he soon gained a good start, and as the years have gone by has so conducted his commercial interests that he is now one of the prosperous business men of his community.
GEORGE S. CUTCHALL.
George S. Cutchall is the owner of a finely improved farm of one hundred and seventy acres in James township and the time and labor which he devoies to the fields bring to him large harvests annually. Moreover, his place is the visible evidence of his life of thrift and industry, for all that he possesses has been acquired through his own labors.
He was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, on the 17th of Sep- tember, 1863, his parents being Abraham and Katharine (Steele) Cutchall, who were likewise natives of the Keystone state, where the mother is still living, but the father has passed away. In their family were eleven children: Sarah E. and Martha, both deceased; Jacob, of Pennsylvania; Elmyra, the wife of A. M. Drorbaugh, of Union county, Iowa; E. W., of Oklahoma; Mary, the wife of D. J. Miller, of Pennsylvania; George S .; Abraham, also of Pennsylvania; Flor- ence. the wife of Jacob Gaster, of Henry county, Illinois; Carrie, the wife of Alexander Edward, of Pennsylvania; and Elizabeth, who has departed this life.
George S. Cutchall was reared in the place of his nativity and acquired a public-school education while spending his boyhood days in the home of his parents. At the age of eighteen years he came to the middle west, first locating in Johnson county, Iowa, where he worked by the month for one season. He then went to Audubon county, this state, where he remained for two years and then again went to Pennsylvania, where he spent one year. He afterward re- turned to Audubon county, Iowa, and for a time was employed by the month, after which he went to the northern part of the state, there remaining until 1885. The succeeding year was passed in Nebraska, after which he lived for a time in Calhoun county, Iowa, and later again in Audubon county, where he worked for one season.
Next he removed to Shelby county, Iowa, and it was while living there that he was married in the fall of 1887 to Miss Pauline Albertus, who was born in Sauk county, Wisconsin, a daughter of Charles and Pauline Albertus, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Switzerland. In their family were nine children, while unto Mr. and Mrs. Cutchall have been born five children but one died in infancy. Those still living are: Pearl E., who is a graduate of the Hancock high school; May E., Charles A. and George A., all at home.
After his marriage Mr. Cutchall rented a farm for four years and with the capital he managed to save through his industry and economy he purchased eighty-two acres of land in Shelby county, Iowa, where he resided for four
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years. On selling that property he bought one hundred and seventy acres on section 13, James township, Pottawattamie county, where he has since made his home. Here he has erected a fine residence, has put up a commodious and substantial barn and other necessary outbuildings and in fact has added all the equipments and accessories of a model farm. He uses the latest improved ma- chinery to facilitate the work of the fields and in every department his farm presents a neat and thrifty appearance. In connection with the tilling of the soil he has engaged quite extensively in raising and feeding cattle and hogs and thus has largely augmented his income. He has a thoroughbred sborthorn bull.
In his political views Mr. Cutehall is a republican and for several years he filled the office of school director, while at the present writing he is township trustee. He and his family attend and support the Methodist Episcopal church at Hancock and their influence is ever found on the side of right, progress and improvement. Mr. Cutchall is justly accounted one of the prosperous farmers of James township and that he is now the owner of a valuable property is due to his care and labor in former years. He is still an active factor in agricul- tural development and at all times keeps in touch with the trend of progres- sive farming.
H. L. ALDRIDGE.
H. L. Aldridge, who follows farming on section 1, Rockford township, was born in Putnam county, Indiana, November 23, 1846, his parents being John Sanford and America (Jones) Aldridge, who were natives of the Hoosier state but were of English and Welsh ancestry. The founder of the Aldridge family in America came to the new world at an early period in its coloniza- tion and located in North Carolina, whence later generations of the family removed to Indiana. All were farming people. In the grandfather's family there were six children, Ruth, John S., Elizabeth, Mary Ann, Betty and Josiah. The eldest son, John Sanford Aldridge, was born in North Carolina, June 15, 1819. and when quite young lost his father. In the winter of 1846 he removed westward to Illinois, bringing his mother with him. Her death occurred in 1880, when she had reached the very advanced age of eighty- eight years. The death of John S. Aldridge occurred March 16, 1849. He was survived by his widow and two children: H. L., of this review; and Mary E., now the wife of George Frazier. The mother in 1853 became the wife of Josiah Skelton, a native of Tennessee, and in 1854 they brought their family to Pottawattamie county, Iowa, settling on Honey Creek, where they resided until the death of Mr. Skelton in 1885. They became the parents of the following children: John, Lewis, Josiah, Jane, Albert, Alice, Allen, Margaret, Jonas and Eddie. The last two mentioned are deceased.
HI. L. Aldridge through the days of his boyhood and youth remained with his mother and was reared to farm life, early gaining practical expe-
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rience in the best methods of cultivating the soil and caring for the crops. On the 14th of April. 1857, soon after he had passed the twentieth anniver- sary of his birth, he wedded Margaret E. Selvy, a daughter of William and Mary (Foster) Selvy, who were natives of Tennessee and were of Irish and German extraction. On leaving that state they removed to Missouri and after some years came to Pottawattamie county. Later they removed to Harrison county. Iowa, where the death of Mr. Selvy occurred on the 10th of April, 1885. His wife died November 22, 1903. In their family were eleven children, as follows: Frank M., George W., Martha J., Margaret E., Eliza Ann, Susan C., Mary E., Amanda B., William A., James Edwin and one who died in infancy. Of this number Mrs. Aldridge was born in Missouri, July 6, 1850, was reared under the parental roof, being carefully trained to the duties of the household, and at the age of seventeen years was married.
Following his marriage Mr. Aldridge purchased forty acres of wild land on the Missouri river bottom in Harrison county and erected thereon a log cabin fourteen by sixteen feet. With characteristic energy he began to improve and develop this farm, which he cultivated for eight years, when he sold out and bought one hundred and fifty acres of wild land in Pottawattamie county, totally unimproved save that there was a small house upon it. He also remained on that farm for eight years and then purchased forty-four acres on section 1, Rockford township, where he is now living. At that time some improvements had been made but the place was largely in a dilapidated condition. Mr. Aldridge at once set to work to repair the ravages and to bring his farm under a high state of cultivation and he now has a fine modern residence, substantial outbuildings, an excellent orchard of peach and apple trees and much small fruit. His fields, too, produce excellent crops and he has dealt in stock to a considerable extent, making a specialty of the raising of horses and Duroc Jersey hogs. He has also kept bees for thirty years, having a fine apiary and in this work has been very successful. That he has prospered is indicated by the fact that he has extended the boundaries of his farm until it now comprises two hundred and forty-five acres, while the place is equipped with all modern accessories and conveniences, indicating not only the careful supervision of the owner but also his close touch with ideas of progressive farming. He is a self-made man, deserving much credit for what he has accomplished in a business way.
Mr. and Mrs. Aldridge have no children of their own but his mother and wife's mother both reside with them at an advanced age. A nephew, Willis A. Selvy, who was born August 3, 1868, and was left an orphan at a very early age, was reared by Mr. and Mrs. Aldridge and now resides upon an eighty-acre farm in Harrison county that our subject helped him to get. They also reared a niece, Annie Jones, who was born August 26, 1872, but is now deceased.
Mr. Aldridge belongs to the Mutual Protective Association and has been its treasurer since its organization. He is a member of the Missouri Valley lodge, No. 232, A. F. & A. M., and in his life has exemplified the beneficent spirit of the craft. which recognizes the brotherhood of mankind
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and individual obligation. Politically he is independent in local matters. He has served as township trustee for twelve years and has also been road supervisor for a number of years. Those who know him, and his acquaint- anee is a wide one, hold him in high regard for what he has accomplished in a business way, for the methods which he has followed and for the kindly, generous spirit that he has ever manifested in his relations with his fellowmen.
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