USA > Iowa > Poweshiek County > History of Poweshiek County, Iowa: a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. II > Part 36
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Mr. Morrison and his wife are consistent and faithful members of the Con- gregational church, in which they take an active interest. Ever since reaching manhood he has given his support to the republican party, and fraternally he holds membership in Herman Lodge, No. 273, A. F. & A. M. He is recognized as a representative citizen of unusual enterprise and marked ability. He belongs to the class known as progressive men and by his integrity, energy and industry he has won the confidence and esteem of his associates and of all with whom he has come in contact.
OLE FIGLAND.
In a history of Poweshiek county mention should be made of Ole Figland. now deceased, whose efforts along agricultural lines earned for him the proud American title of a self-made man. He was one of Norway's contributions to the citizenship of Iowa, and throughout his lifetime exemplified many of the ster- ling traits for which the people of that country have ever been noted.
In early manhood he left his native country to seek a home amid the strange environment of a strange land. Crossing the Atlantic to America, he made his way direct to Chicago, and thence went to Wisconsin, arriving in that state in 1861. There he worked as a laborer for a few years, after which he went to Michigan and was there employed as a chopper of cordwood for three winters. He then returned to Wisconsin for a short time, after which he came to Powe- shiek county, locating in Searsboro in 1866. In 1871 he came to Malcom town- ship and purchased a tract of unbroken prairie located on section 31. With char- acteristic energy he at once began its improvement and as the years passed suc- ceeded in developing it into a highly cultivated tract. This farm, consisting of ninety-six acres, became the homestead, and subsequently he added other prop- erty, becoming the owner of two hundred and twenty acres lying across the road in Grinnell township. Later he traded eighty acres of that property for land in South Dakota, and also sold forty acres. He improved the home place with a good dwelling and substantial outbuildings, and continued to carry on agricul- tural pursuits there for a number of years. Later, however, he rented it and went to South Dakota, spending his last years on his property in that state.
Something of the prosperity which attended his efforts is indicated by the fact that he reached Chicago with a cash capital of but twenty-five cents, with
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no knowledge whatever of the language or customs of the American people, and at the time of his death he not only owned two hundred and sixteen acres in the home farm in Poweshiek county, but also six quarter sections of land in San- born county, South Dakota, all well improved, which stand as a monument to his life of undaunted energy, unfaltering industry and a perseverance that never flagged. When death claimed him, at the comparatively early age of fifty-six years, he was able to leave to his family a most comfortable competence.
Mr. Figland was united in marriage, in 1863, near Madison, Wisconsin, to Miss Annie Sandmark, who was born in Norway on the 24th of April, 1840. After the death of her mother she came with a sister to the United States to join her father in Wisconsin, arriving in that state in 1861. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Fig- land were born nine children, as follows: Charles, of Grinnell township: Belle, the wife of Ed Larson, of Minneapolis: Christina, who married M. C. Bean, of Wheelock, North Dakota: Anna, the wife of Christ Olson. of Malta, Illinois ; Lily, who married Theodore Olson, of Grinnell ; Lena, who passed away at the age of one year, seven months; Lewis Johann, who died when two years. nine months old; Clara Josephine, who passed away when eleven months old: and Louis J., renting the home place in Poweshiek county, who married Miss Nora Tysdal and has one child, Le Roy. The mother still survives and makes her home on the old homestead farm with her youngest son.
Mr. Figland passed away on the 12th of October, 1892. his death resulting from the kick of a horse. lle was a strong, powerful man physically, and still in the prime of life. The story of his success is short and simple. It contains no exciting chapters, but is a record of well directed effort, guided by a sturdy common sense and persistency of purpose. He came to this country with no capital save brains, energy, integrity and rugged health, but he was not afraid to work, and accepted any honorable employment which came to his hand, and as time passed he attained a position of independence which was well won and justly merited.
HENRY HILL.
A resident of Grinnell for fifty-seven years, Henry Hill has watched the little hamlet with its scattered log cabins develop into a thriving town with beautiful homes and an institution of learning, which causes it to be recognized as one of the educational centers of the state of Iowa. Mr. Hill was born in Norfolk, England, on the 12th of November, 1831, and is a son of Warner Chevalier and Georgiana ( Fanner) Hill, also natives of Norfolk. The father. who was a lawyer, assessor and postmaster of Walsingham, England, passed away at the age of forty years and the mother survived him but a short time. They were the parents of seven children. One of their sons, who was a mem- ber of the Third Dragoons during the Crimean war, returned to England and was killed in a mob in London.
Henry Hill was reared in the paternal home, acquiring his education in the common and high schools of his native town, and later he delivered mail be-
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tween Fakenham and Walsingham, walking the distance, which was five miles, twice a day. When he was eighteen years of age an uncle of his, who was a farmer in the vicinity of Niles, Michigan, wrote to the father and asked if his eldest son could come to the United States and work for him. As the brother did not care to accept the offer Henry asked permission to come, which was granted, whereupon he took passage for America, arriving in Niles in 1848. He resided there until June, 1854, when he came to Latimer's Grove, Iowa, going by stage to Iowa City. From there he walked north until he came to Sugar creek, Poweshiek county, where he found the log cabin of J. B. Grinnell, for whom the town was later named. The country, which was very sparsely settled at that time, was full of wild game, and there were deer as well as wolves. Mr. Hill liked the country and decided to settle here, immediately en- gaging in cutting logs for cabins. To him was given the distinction of felling the trees for the first cabin built in Grinnell. Much discomfort and untold hardships were endured by the early settlers, who were so remote from all resi- dence and trading centers as to be compelled to live in the most primitive fash- ion. The nearest trading point, of any size, was Iowa City and owing to the distance, poor roads and slow gait of the oxen-horses being almost unknown in this section at that time-a week was consumed in the journey, which was not made often. In order to facilitate matters somewhat the neighbors took turns in going to town, whoever made the trip discharging the errands of the entire community in which he lived. Mr. Hill helped to lay out the city of Grinnell by carrying a chain for the surveyors who platted the town. After a settlement was established he and E. S. Bartlett opened a meat market, which they conducted for thirteen years. At the expiration of that period, however, Mr. Hill disposed of his interest to Mr. Bartlett and thereafter devoted his attention to his public duties. Having captured a thief who stole some money in the vicinity of Des Moines, Mr. Hill was recognized as one well qualified to discharge the duties of constable, of which office he is still the incumbent. He was also marshal for many years as well as street commissioner and a mem- ber of the city council, but having reached the age of eighty years he is now living rather a retired life.
Mr. Hill has been twice married, his first union being with Miss Susan Nesbor Harris, and their marriage, which was solemnized in 1855, was the first per- formed in Grinnell. Mrs. Hill, who was a daughter of James Harris, and a native of Pennsylvania, passed away in 1890. By this marriage five children were born, as follows: Harry E., who is married and living in Hutchinson, Kansas, where he is engaged in the meat business; Clara E., who became the wife of F. J. McCumber ; Albert, a graduate of the Grinnell high school and college, who is a barber in Peoria, Illinois; William E., who is conducting a barber shop in Grinnell; and Charles, who is employed by the Armour Pack- ing Company, of Kansas City. For his second wife Mr. Hill chose Miss Rosa Turner, a daughter of Walter and Martha (Hilsabeck) Turner, the father a native of England and the mother of Germany.
Mr. and Mrs. Hill are members of the Congregational church, and in politics he is a republican. Many are the interesting reminiscences he relates of the pioneer days, some of which are humorous as well as pathetic. Particularly
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vivid is the story which he relates of his experience in killing a wolf, of which there were many when he first came to Grinnell. Although he has passed the eightieth milestone on life's journey Mr. Hill is still quite active and takes an interest in all that pertains to the welfare of the town which he helped found over fifty years ago.
JOHN McDONALD.
At the present writing ( 1911 ) John McDonald is not actively engaged in busi- ness in Montezuma but for many years was closely associated with commercial in- terests here and is still connected with the grain trade in other parts of the state. He has ever placed a correct valuation upon life and its opportunities and as the years have gone by has made such wise use of his advantages that a very desirable measure of success has crowned his industry and perseverance.
He was born in Godridge, Ontario, Canada, June 10, 1837. his parents being John and Hannah ( McMillan ) McDonald, both of whom were natives of Nova Scotia. The former was the son of Angus McDonald, who was born in Scotland and on coming to the new world settled in Nova Scotia but afterward engaged in farming near London, Ontario. Hannah McMillan's father was also a native of Scotland. In fact both of the grandfathers of our subject were from the High- lands and became residents of Nova Scotia, where John McDonald and Hannah McMillan were born. They were married. however, in London, Ontario, and in 1866 became residents of Iowa. Two or three years later they took up their abode in Montezuma, where Mr. McDonald passed away in his seventy-fifth year. His widow afterward made her home with her daughters and reached the very advanced age of ninety-four years.
The second in order of birth in a family of eight children, John McDonald remained at the place of his nativity until he came to lowa in 1862. The follow- ing year he established his home in Montezuma and after the great Chicago fire of 1871 went to that city, where he remained for three years. In early life he entered the carpenter's trade with his father and for a long period followed that pursuit, being engaged in the rebuilding of Chicago after much of the city had been destroyed. He also worked at his trade in Montezuma for about four years. In 1879, however, he went to Colorado, where he resided until the fall of 1884. He owned a ranch upon which he made his home and also engaged in the hay and feed business there. In 1884, however, he again came to Monte- zuma, where he established a lumber and grain business, in which he continued with gratifying success until July, 1910. He then disposed of his interests in the city but is still part owner of an elevator at Barnes City and another at Cla- rion, being associated at the latter place with T. Harris under the firm style of T. Harris & Company. Mr. T. Harris, Sr., was Mr. McDonald's partner in the lumber and grain business in Montezuma and following his death his son be- came a partner in the business. In addition to his other interests Mr. McDonald owns a good farm of one hundred and twenty acres a mile and a half west of
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Montezuma and an attractive residence in this city which he has occupied con- tinuously since 1885.
Mr. McDonald first married Miss Mary E. Vest, who died in 1875. She was a daughter of Dr. J. W. H. Vest, one of the pioneers of this county and quite a prominent man. In 1880 Mr. McDonald was again married, his second wife being Miss Sarah Elizabeth Harris, who was born in Massachusetts in 1856 and came to Iowa with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Harris, both of whom are now deceased. The home of Mr. and Mrs. McDonald has been blessed with five children, as follows: Professor Thomas H., a graduate of Iowa State University at Ames, Iowa, who is now an engineer in the employ of the state, being located at Ames and having charge of improved road work in lowa ; Ross, who was a stu- dlent for three years in the Towa College at Grinnell and is now operating his father's farm : Charles MI .. an employe of the Southern Pacific Railroad located at Tuscon, Arizona, who attended the engineering department of the University at Ames for three years: Jean, at home; and Florence, a student in the Monte- zuma high school.
Mr. McDonald has never been an office seeker but has served as a member of the city council and also as a member of the school board. He belongs to the Presbyterian church and is interested in all that pertains to the material, social, intellectual and moral progress of the community. In fact his influence is al- ways on the side of right, justice and truth, and his friends recognize in him a man who is dependable under all circumstances.
JOHN EDWIN VAN EVERA.
Among the honored citizens of Poweshiek county who have passed to their reward may be named John Edwin Van Evera, who for many years was well known as one of the most prosperous farmers of the county. He was born at Canajoharie, Montgomery county, New York, June 3, 1849, a son of Rynier and Katharine (Stowitts) Van Evera. The family traces its ancestry to an enter- prising Hollander who established his home in New York at an early date in the history of the colonies and whose descendants may now be found in various states of the Union. Rynier Van Evera was married in New York state to Miss Katharine Stowitts and they began their wedded life on a farm in Montgomery county. In 1855 he came to Scott county, Iowa, where our subject's grand- father, John Van Evera had previously settled. Rynier Van Evera was a farmer and devoted the remainder of his life to agriculture and stock-raising. There were four children in his family. the subject of this review being the youngest.
John Edwin Van Evera was reared to manhood upon his father's farm and received his education in the district schools and at Hopkinton, Iowa. He con- tinued in Scott county until 1884, when he removed to Poweshiek county and purchased one hundred and sixty acres near Grinnell, cultivating his farm to such good advantage that he became the owner of four hundred acres, which he developed into one of the most valuable properties in the county. He raised
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stock upon an extensive scale and also fed stock for the market. In 1902 he took up his residence in Grinnell. About two years previous to this time he had become identified with the loan and insurance business, in which he was very successful, and after removing to the city he devoted his attention largely to those lines. His health, however, had become impaired and he and his wife spent a year traveling in the west in the hope that a change of scene and climate would restore him to his usual vigor. He was unusually active and efficient in business affairs and was treasurer of the Poweshiek County Mutual Insurance Company and also of the Poweshiek County Agricultural Society.
In January, 1873. Mr. Van Evera was united in marriage to Miss Ella Cessna, a native of Bedford county, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Thomas R. Cessna, a record of whom is given in the sketch of N. W. Cessna which appears elsewhere in this work. Four children came to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Van Evera, namely: Ray, now engaged in the stock business at Wessington Springs, South Dakota ; Rynier, manager of the Kansas Milling & Export Com- pany of Kansas ; Jay, a member of the firm of Crow & Van Evera, who are en- gaged in the real-estate and loan business at Kansas City, and Gertrude, now Mrs. H. L. Viets, of Grinnell.
Mr. Van Evera died July, 1904, and the general expression of regret which followed the announcement of his death gave evidence of the high esteem in which he was held by the community. Religiously he affiliated with the Meth- odist Episcopal church, of which he was an earnest supporter. Politically he gave his adherence to the democratic party. He was essentially a man of busi- ness and his judgment was usually so correct that his neighbors regarded him as an authority on subjects pertaining to agriculture and stock-raising. He was a man of kindly and genial temperament who attracted friends wherever he was known. Mrs. Van Evera still resides at the family home. She is well known and has many warm personal friends in Grinnell and Poweshiek county.
JOSEPH MORRIS.
Joseph Morris has the distinction of having served in the Civil war for a longer period than any other of the enlisted men of Poweshiek county, and his military record is one of which he has every reason to be proud, for at no time was his valor or his loyalty ever questioned. He was born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, on the 18th of March, 1844. The family is of Irish lineage. His paternal grandparents were Samuel and Sarah (Girard) Morris. They were probably born in Pennsylvania and spent their entire lives there, the former dy- ing at the age of ninety-eight and the latter when eighty-nine years of age. Samuel Morris was a son of Jonathan Morris, a native of New Jersey, and a relative of Gouverneur Morris, one of the signers of the Declaration of Inde- pendence and a most active factor in support of the continental government at the time of the Revolutionary war. The parents of Joseph Morris were Justin and Rebecca (Goulden) Morris, natives of Greene county, Pennsylvania, born March 25, 1800, and the year 1814 respectively. Their last days were passed
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in Clark county, Missouri, where Mrs. Morris died in 1851, her husband having survived her for a half century, his death occurring in 1901. He had been a life- long farmer and thus provided for the support of his family of ten children, six sons and four daughters, of whom Joseph Morris was the fifth in order of birth. After losing his first wife Justin Morris married again and there were two chil- dren by that union. John P. and George Morris, brothers of our subject, were both soldiers of the Civil war. The latter died soon after enlisting and John P., in the fall of 1863, joined the same company and regiment of which Joseph Mor- ris was a member.
The spirit of enterprise and progress which has long dominated the middle west has been exemplified in the life of Joseph Morris, who was reared west of the Mississippi, having been only eighteen months old when his parents re- moved to Clark county, Missouri. There he resided until after the outbreak of the Civil war, when he enlisted on the 15th of June, 1861, as a member of Com- pany G, Twenty-first Missouri Veteran Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Thomas Rose and Colonel David Moore. He was mustered out April 19, 1866, having been connected with the army for four years, ten months and four days. His enlistment was in response to the first call for three years' men and he re- mained at the front until after the proclamation of peace had been issued by the president. He was first under fire at the battle of Athens, Missouri, August 5, 1861. He took part in the battle of Shiloh, April 6-7, 1862: Corinth, October 3-4. 1862; Tupelo, Tennessee, July 14, 1864; Blue Spring. Missouri, in the fall of 1864; and was afterward allowed a veteran furlough which he spent at home. He took part in the battle of Nashville on the 15th and 16th of December, 1864, and at Fort Blakeley, Alabama, April 9. 1865. He was also in many lesser en- gagements but never did he falter in the performance of duty, whether on the firing line or stationed on the lonely picket line. After the battle of Shiloh he became ill and was forced to remain in the hospital for two months. During inost of the service he was a corporal. After receiving his discharge he went to Oskaloosa and there resided until the spring of 1874, when he removed to Poweshiek county and for two years engaged in farming. Since 1876 he has made his home in Montezuma and was engaged in the painting business until 1885, when he joined his son, Edward K. Morris, under the firm name of Mor- ris & Son, for the conduct of a harness business. They were associated in the enterprise for twenty-two years or until 1907, since which time Joseph Morris has practically lived retired, although occasionally he does work at his old trade of painter, for indolence and idleness are foreign to his nature so that he fre- quently busies himself with that line of work.
Mr. Morris was married, on the 21st of June, 1866, to Miss Elizabeth Golden, who was born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, on the 4th of November, 1849, and in 1856 removed with her parents to Oskaloosa, Iowa, where she was mar- ried. Her parents were William and Catharine Mary (Truxsal) Golden, na- tives of Pennsylvania and Virginia respectively, and both passed away in Oska- loosa. On the paternal side Mrs. Morris comes of Irish lineage and on the ma- ternal side from German ancestry. By her marriage with Joseph Morris she became the mother of five children, as follows: Edward K., of Montezuma : Charles E., residing in Rapid City, South Dakota: Frank, of Castle, Alberta,
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Canada ; Justin J., a resident of Marion, Iowa ; and Ida Louise, the wife of C. C. MeDonald, of Grafton, Nebraska. Of these Frank and Justin enlisted for serv- ice in the Spanish-American war, the former becoming a member of Company D, Fifty-second Iowa Infantry, while the latter was a member of Company I. Fiftieth Iowa. It will thus be seen that the military spirit is strongly developed in the family and that loyalty to their country is one of their marked character- istics. Mr. Morris is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and his life in all of his relations with his fellowmen and in business has been actuated by his belief in the teachings of the Methodist Episcopal church of which he has long been a member. His record is a creditable one and all who know him en- tertain for him the warm regard which is everywhere a recognition of noble traits of manhood.
HERMAN EWOLDT.
Many thousands of ambitious young men have come to America from Eu- rope in quest of home and fortune and it may be said to their credit and to the credit of the American republic that the majority of them were not disappointed. Here they found opportunities that long settled and older countries could not offer, and many of the most respected citizens of the United States are of Eu- ropean birth. In this number may be mentioned Herman Ewoldt, who now owns a valuable farm of two hundred acres in Grinnell township. He was born in Holstein, Germany, December 25, 1864, a son of Henry and Bertha (Koch ) Ewoldt, both of whom were natives of the same place. The father engaged in teaming and is now deceased, but the mother is still living in the old country. There were five children in their family: Anna, deceased; Herman ; Amelia. who came to America and married William Edens, of Davenport, Iowa ; Wil- helm, who is living in Germany; and Antonie, who is the wife of Bernhardt Schrader, and who also resides in Germany.
Mr. Ewoldt, of this review, possessed good advantages of education in his native country and continued at home until eighteen years of age. In March, 1882, he landed in America and in Butler township, Scott county, Iowa, he found employment on a farm where he continued for seven years. He then came to Grinnell township, Poweshiek county, and later to Washington township, where he purchased eighty acres of land and upon which he established his home. As his resources increased he bought more land and now owns a fine farm of two hundred acres. He has erected the buildings which are to be seen upon his place and has put in many modern improvements, making it one of the most desirable farms in the township. He raises the cereals, but pays special atten- tion to feeding cattle and hogs for the market, in which line he has acquired an enviable reputation. He is a stockholder of the Farmers' Elevator Company at Grinnell and the Farmers' Cooperative Creamery at Jacobs, being also treas- urer of the latter organization.
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