USA > Iowa > Sac County > History of Sac County, Iowa > Part 44
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John Wesley Younie was educated in the Canada schools and also at- tended two winter terms in Delaware county, Iowa, after his parents moved to this state. In 1873 Mr. Younie came to Sac county, and invested in one hundred and sixty acres in old Clinton township, later Richland, for which he paid five dollars and a half an acre. He was given six years to pay for it. On May 12. 1874, he returned with a breaking team and broke seventy-five acres, and planted forty acres of wheat and twelve acres of sod corn. The first crop of wheat averaged twenty-three and a half bushels to the acre, which he hauled twenty-two miles and received fifty cents for each bushel. The second year he raised ninety acres of wheat, averaging six bushels to the acre. For this he received eighty-two cents a bushel, but decided that wheat raising was unprofitable 'and quit the business and began raising stock.
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When he first came to this county Mr. Younie brought his shack with him on the train and set up his twelve-by-fourteen home and used this for six years. Here he and his young wife started to housekeeping, and during the first few years there were times when things looked pretty discouraging, but they had brave hearts, stout hands and determined to stick to the land, and in six years they were able to build a new house, which cost them nine- teen hundred and fifty dollars. This was considered a large sum in those days. In 1882 they sold the farm for thirty dollars an acre cash and spent some time traveling in Dakota and Nebraska, looking for a location which might suit them better. However, they found nothing which pleased them any more than their own county, so they returned to Sac county and pur- chased one hundred and sixty acres of section 31 in Richland township, at twenty-three dollars an acre. It had no buildings on it and was unimproved in every way. They improved it, built a good home, barn and outbuildings and have put, all told, about six thousand dollars worth of improvements on the farm. He has the farm well fenced with woven wire fence and cement posts and the farm today can not be purchased for less than two hundred and twenty-five dollars an acre. In 1907 Mr. and Mrs. Younie moved to Ode- bolt, where they had previously built a concrete bungalow.
John Wesley Younie was married on February 2, 1875, to Emma M. Messerole, who was born April 28. 1855, in Delaware county, Iowa. She was the daughter of Jacob and Mary .Anna ( Holcomb) Messerole, natives of Brooklyn. New York, and Loraine county, Ohio, respectively. The Mes- seroles came to Delaware county, Iowa, in 1854, four years after their mar- riage in Ohio. Jacob Messerole was born in Brooklyn, New York, January 20, 1820, and died April 6, 1871. Mary Ann Holcomb, the mother of Mrs. Younie, was born September 9, 1830, in Loraine county, Ohio, and died January 20, 1804. After the death of her first husband, Mrs. Messerole married Reuben Durrin. Jacob Messerole and wife were the parents of a large family of children: Edward J., born January 18, 1851, killed on rail- road June 22, 1860; Emma: William Ellison, born February 5, 1857, and now lives at Cedar Rapids, Iowa: Ransom E., born April 12, 1859. now living at Pierson, lowa: Florence Eudora, who died at the age of five; Cur- tis Grant, born January 3. 1864, and died January 25, 1914. To the second marriage of Mrs. Messerole and Reuben Durrin there was born one dangh- ter, Mrs. Jasper Dennis, who now lives in Nebraska.
Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Younie have reared a family of interesting chil- dren, five of whom are now living: Mrs. Jeanetta S. Prusia, born December 9. 1875, and graduated from college at Ames, Iowa, in 1899; she is now
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taking post-graduate work at the college at Ames; she has four children, one of whom is deceased, Cedric Edmunds; Helen Constance, deceased ; Joyce Eleanor and Lee Miles. The second child of Mr. and Mrs. Younie is Louis, of Portland, Oregon, born March 26, 1877, and has one child. Virginia Caroline, born February 13. 1914; Mrs. Effie Ethel Weston, of New York state, born May 16, 1880, and has two children, John Miller and Marian Josephine; Roy William, of Beresford, South Dakota, born August 16, 1883; Guy Leslie, a farmer of this township, born October 16, 1887, and married August 3, 1910, to Minnie Johnson : Marian Abbott. born November 21, 1897, and died June 14, 1898.
Politically, Mr. Younie is a Republican, and has served as school di- rector in his district for the past twenty-three years and also served as treas- urer of the school board of Richland township. The family are all members of the Methodist Episcopal church and render it their zealous support. Fra- ternally, Mr. Younie is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Ma- sons, the Order of the Eastern Star, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Daughters of Rebekah and the Yeomen. The career of Mr. Younie shows the result of a life of hard work and good business management. since he started in life with practically nothing and has gained a very com- fortable competence for his declining years. All of this has been accom- plished without incurring the ill will of any of his neighbors, and by tak- ing his full share in the public life of the community in which he has resided.
EDWARD DREWRY.
Scholarly attainments broaden the mental horizon of the individual and render his pathway through life more enjoyable and success easier of attainment. In all new countries the citizen who is possessed of an edu- cation is afforded opportunity for advancement which can not be adequate- ly grasped by every person. Such a man is and can be a very useful ad- dition to any community as his sphere of activity is practically unlimited. and avenues of procedure are opened for him which are otherwise denied the man who does not possess a literary education. Then, too, it is true that the old age period of the educated man whose mind has been taught to read and assimilate at the same time. is more happily passed on this account. Though old in years, yet young in mental and physical activity. Edward Drewry, of Sac City, is one of the truly interesting characters
MR. AND MRS. EDWARD DREWRY
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who has resided for a long time in the country and has been a valuable mem- ber of the body politic and is yet active in affairs which concern men. Although having passed the age of three score years and ten, which is said to be nian's allotted time on earth, he is still a vigorous specimen of man- hood and keenly intelligent.
Edward Drewry was born June 5. 1835, in Toronto, Canada, and is the son of Edward B. and Elizabeth ( Ray) Drewry, the former a native of Lincolnshire, England, and the latter a native of Ireland. Edward B. was born in 1801 and left England when eighteen years of age to seek his fortune in the New World in company of his parents who removed to Canada in 1819. When he became of age he adopted farming as a vo- cation and followed it for several years in Canada. He was appointed court commissioner in Ontario and held this important office for several years. He afterwards opened a tavern which he conducted for about six years. After a year's residence in western Canada he migrated to Milwaukee, Wis- consin and lived there for one and one-half years. He went from Mil- waukee to a pioneer farm in Sheboygan county, Wisconsin, which was then a wilderness. He hewed a home from the wilderness and died after two years' residence thereon on January 4, 1849. at the age of forty-seven years, one month and seventeen days. Edward B. Drewry was the son of George and Elizabeth Drewry and was. himself, the father of eight chil- dren, as follows: Frances Elizabeth, deceased; David Bemrose, deceased ; Eliza Jane, deceased ; Edward ; George, deceased; William, deceased, who was one of the early settlers of Douglas township and who located in Sac county as early as 1866; Mrs. Mary Ann Roundsville, of Sac City.
Edward Drewry received his education in the schools of his native land and in the rural schools of Sheboygan county, Wisconsin. He also pur- sued a business course in Milwaukee. He first took up the profession of teaching and taught in the rural schools of Sheboygan county and also filled the position of town superintendent of schools and also county super- intendent of schools, being the third county superintendent of that county. He also served as township clerk. For some years he taught school during the winter season and farmed during the summer. For three years he had charge of the schools of Plymouth, Wisconsin. In 1860 he was elected county superintendent of schools of Sheboygan county and filled this responsible position for two years. In the year 1869 he removed to the neighboring state of Michigan and purchased a farm which he operated for some time or until 1871, when he disposed of his land and returned to Plymouth. He
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bought a farm near his home town and tilled it for nine years, after which he sold his holdings and came to Iowa, arriving here in 1882. He settled on what was formerly known as the Dobson farin four miles north of Sac City, in Douglas township, and cultivated it for eight years.
In the year 1890 Mr. Drewry was elected county superintendent. The position came to him unsolicited and he was elected on the Democratic ticket, winning out over his Republican opponent by but four votes, but over- coming a big Republican majority of over twelve hundred in the county. He filled this responsible position in an able manner for two years. In 1892, or thereabouts, he, in partnership with Asa Platt, purchased a store and stock of merchandise of J. L. Criss and was engaged in the mercan- tile business for five years. He then sold out and retired from active pur- suits, other than engaging in the insurance and real estate business in- dependently.
Mr. Drewry was married November 14, 1861, in Plymouth, Wisconsin, to Martha A. Dockstader, who was born in the state of New York De- cember 17, 1837, and is the daughter of Benjamin Dockstader, a native of New York and who settled in Wisconsin about 1853. Three children have been reared by this highly esteemed couple, namely: Benjamin Edward, who operates an automobile garage in Sac City: Charles Francis, a bank cashier at Los Banos, California, and who has one daughter named Gladys; Harold John, local manager of the W. J. Dixon Lumber Company, and who is the father of one child, Marjorie M. Drewry.
Mr. Drewry is a Democrat. He was reared in the Episcopalian church of Canada and his wife is a member of the Presbyterian church. He is very prominent in lodge affairs, being far advanced in the ancient rites of Freemasonry. He is a inember of Occidental Lodge No. 178, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Darius Chapter No. 58: Rose Croix Command- ery No. 38, of which he has been the recorder for nine years, and has also served as secretary of the chapter for the same length of time. For a long time he has been the efficient secretary of Occidental Lodge of Masons and his Masonic career extends over a long period of forty years or since the year 1870. He was a member of the Odd Fellows for over forty years.
Mr. and Mrs. Drewry reside in a comfortable and cozy home in Sac City and are hospitable to the core; recognized as valuable members of the community and highly esteemed and respected for their culture and edu- cational attainments. Despite his age Mr. Drewry is still a useful and active citizen and gives promise of many more active and valuable years,
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which will undoubtedly be spent in behalf of his fellowmen in as far as his ability and powers will allow him. It is of such men as he that the biog- rapher is pleased to write for recording in the annals of Sac county.
SWAN ANDERSON.
Among the many excellent citizens of Sac county, lowa. of Swedish origin, is the subject of this sketch, who, through years of honest and un- remitting toil and frugality, is now able to take his place among the well- known farmers of this county, many of whom have achieved most gratify- ing success in their chosen vocation and others who are in a fair way to realize their highest ambitions in this line.
Swan Anderson was born on April 25, 1869, in Sweden, being the son of Anderson Nilson and Johanna Anderson, neither of whom ever left their native country. An older brother (N. P. Anderson), who had been in this country for some time, persuaded Swan also to come to America. N. P. Anderson first lived in Sac county and later went to Nebraska, where he died. Swan Anderson emigrated to America in 1885 and had but four dol- lars in his pocket when he arrived in New York City on November 15th of that year. He disembarked one Sunday afternoon and early Monday morn- ing he started out for Sac county, Iowa. Upon arriving here, he secured employment with P. B. Olson, of Wheeler township, with whom he re- mained during that winter and in the spring of 1886 he secured work on the Cook ranch, where he remained for sixteen years. He proved himself a faithful employe, worthy of every confidence, and carefully saved all pos- sible out of his earnings, In 1901 he purchased the farm where he has since made his home, paying fifty-three dollars per acre for his land, and since making the purchase he has greatly improved the farm buildings and rebuilt the résidence. This house occupies a most lovely location, being set back in the center of the tract in a grove of trees and is reached from the public highway by means of a long drive-way. Mr. Anderson pays particular attention to producing such crops as are raised in this section, being uni- formily successful in his endeavors. He also devotes considerable atten- tion and time to raising live stock, producing from eighty to one hundred head of hogs annually. He prefers the Poland-China breed and has an ex- cellent strain. In cattle he likes best the Angus breed, and has at present about thirty head. He keeps eleven head of horses for general purposes.
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and is well equipped for carrying on the work of his farm. He approves modern methods of farming and to careful attention to detail in this respect he attributes his growing success.
On February 23, 1899, Mr. Anderson was united in marriage with Anna Hakenson, who also was born in Sweden and came to this country in 1897. To their union have been born two daughters: Esther, born De- cember 15, 1899, and Edith, born July 20, 1901, both of whom remain at home, attending school and being carefully trained in such knowledge as best fits a woman for her place in the world. In politics, Mr. Anderson is identified with the Progressive party. exhibiting a commendable interest in its affairs. The family attends the Methodist Episcopal church and also the Swedish mission, giving of time and means to further the cause. Mr. An- derson has won the sincere regard of those with whom he comes in contact on account of his upright principles and consistent manner of living. The success to which he has attained has been most fully deserved and, consider- ing the circumstances under which he began his career in his chosen coun- try, his course has been most commendable in every particular.
ULYSSES S. HILL.
Among the well-known farmers of Sac county, Iowa, is Ulysses S. Hill, who, since March 10, 1887, has resided on his farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Wheeler township. Mr. Hill is numbered among the progressive farmers of the county and his home farm is in an excellent state of cultivation and well improved. All barns and buildings are new, the residence having been completed in November of 1908. This is a hand- some and commodious residence, consisting of ten rooms and having all modern improvements. There is a private gas plant, furnishing illumina- tion for the entire house, and there is also running water throughout the baths, kitchens, etc. The house sits in the midst of fine grounds, affording every pleasure and convenience for the family, both indoors and out, and is in every sense a most attractive home.
Ulysses S. Hill was born on April 3, 1865, in Clinton county, Iowa, being the son of John and Ruth ( Farrell ) Hill, the former of whom was a native of England and the latter born in Canada of English parentage. John Hill, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in 1823 and emi- grated to America in 1851. His early training in England had been along
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agricultural lines, and to this line of work he devoted himself upon arriving in this country. He came almost directly to Clinton county, Iowa, and there passed the remainder of his life. dying in 1895. From the first he pros- pered, owing to native ability and other excellent traits, and later purchased a farm in Sac county. After taking up his residence in this state, John Hill met Miss Farrell, who afterwards became his wife, and to their union were born six children, the oldest being Ulysses, the subject of this sketch; then came Theodore, who resides in Clinton county ; Roland and Earl are in Colo- rado; Martha is the wife of J. T. Irwin and lives in Boyer Valley town- ship, this county, while Pearl, who is Mrs. Blue, resides in Cedar Rapids, this state.
Mr. Hill grew to manhood in Clinton county, where when a youth he attended the schools of the district and assisted the father in the work about the farm. On February 17, 1887, he was united in marriage with Lottie A. McMillan, also of Clinton county, the daughter of John McMillan, and soon thereafter he came to this county, taking up his residence on the farm where he has since resided. In the years he has lived here Mr. Hill has made marked and valuable improvements on the place. His barns and other buildings are especially fine, the large barn covering a space of forty-eight by sixty-two feet and containing many facilities. There is also a large corn crib, twenty-six by forty feet in size, having a capacity of twenty-four hun- dred bushels. Mr. Hill carries on general farming, raising about the usual crops, and in addition to this line of work he also gives some attention to stock raising. He has something of a reputation as a cattle breeder, paying particular attention to Shorthorns, having at the present time about thirty head. He also produces for the market about fifty head of Duroc-Jersey hogs annually and keeps eighteen head of horses, being general purpose ani- mals. Mr. Hill is progressive in his ideas and conducts his business along lines most approved by modern science as related to farm work. These ideals, together with indomitable energy and a determination to win out, have placed him among the ranks of successful men of this county and, while winning his way along financial lines, he has so ordered his life as to win and retain the regard due from his fellow men to a man of sterling worth. Mr. and Mrs. Hill have a family of three children, namely : Ethel, Floyd and Darrell, all of whom are at home, the latter attending school.
In politics Mr. Hill is aligned with the conservative Republican party and takes a commendable interest in that party's affairs as related to local matters. He is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church and his fraternal affiliations are with the body of Yeomanry. His career thus
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far has been a consistent and honorable one, and because of his stanch in- tegrity and accomplishments he is entitled to hold the confidence and good will of all who know him. He is one of those solid men of brain and sub- stance so essential to the material growth and prosperity of a community and whose influence has been willingly extended in behalf of every deserving enterprise that has for its object the advancement of the moral welfare of the community.
ALFRED NELSON.
Among the citizens of Sac county, Iowa, who have won competencies for themselves and stand high in public estimation, is the man whose name forms the caption of this article. Alfred Nelson is a native of Sweden, born on February 21, 1863, the son of John and Lena (Olson) Nelson. In 1871 the family emigrated to America and first located in Marshall county, this state, and in 1877 Alfred came to Sac county. Here they pur- chased raw prairie land in Wheeler township and set about establishing a home. Their first residence was a small structure, size sixteen by twenty feet. which sheltered the family for a time, and then, as prosperity smiled on them, this home was considerably enlarged. The land was given every care possible and has been developed into an excellent farm. The mother died in February of 1881, leaving eight children, namely: Charles Oscar, deceased : Alfred: Olaf, who died at the age of fourteen: Mary, wife of Henry Banta and living in California; Amanda, who died at the age of twenty-one: August, who died in childhood. and Nels, who was born in 1877 in Marshall county and is now a rancher in the state of Idaho; Joseph is also a farmer in Idaho. After the mother's death in 1881, the father. with the younger children, moved to Nebraska and later to Idaho Falls, Idaho, where he died. John Nelson married the second time and had alto- gether twelve children.
When a boy, Alfred Nelson attended the district schools of Marshall and Sac counties and began farming for himself in 1882. For several years he rented land and in 1908 purchased a tract of eighty acres in section 27, Wheeler township, at a cost of one hundred and five dollars per acre. When he first began farming, he lived on his father's farm and moved to his pres- ent location before making the purchase. Altogether he is farming two hundred and eighty acres, one hundred and twenty of which is owned by
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Mrs. Gorenson, mother of Mrs. Nelson. In addition to his comfortable dwelling, he has a large barn, size forty-eight by fifty-eight feet, which was built in 1911, as well as many other buildings necessary for the carrying on of the business of the farm. The house is attractively located in a little valley, about a half of a mile from the main highway. Mr. Nelson has con- siderable live stock, to which he devotes particular attention. He has ten head of horses which are used for general farm purposes, raises for the mar- ket about one hundred hogs annually and one car-load of cattle.
Mr. Nelson's political affiliation is with the Democratic party and he takes more than a nominal interest in local politics, having served as a mem- ber of the school board and township trustee and in the discharge of the duties thus devolving upon him he met with the approval of all concerned. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being associ- ated with that society through the local lodge at Odebolt.
On March 14, 1882, Mr. Nelson was united in marriage with Anna Sophia Peterson, who was born in Sweden on May 31, 1864. She is the daughter of Olaf Peter Peterson, who died in 1871, and her mother married C. A. Gorenson after being widowed. In 1880 the family came to America, locating in Wheeler township, where Mr. Gorenson died in 1889. Mrs. Gorenson was born April 14, 1839, and is well preserved for a woman of her years. She makes her home with Mrs. Nelson, who is her only child. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson are the parents of an interesting family of thirteen children, the oldest of whom, Albert Oscar, remains at home, while Ida E. is the wife of H. Nelson and lives in Oakland, California: Emma E. is also married, being the wife of O. E. Bergren, of Wheeler township; Will A. is a farmer in this same township; Esther M. ( Mrs. Crownquist) lives at Gowrie, Iowa: Vern M. resides at Holstein, this state, and the others of the family, Lillian, Elmer C., Sydney O., Glenn M., Gladys E., Francis T. and Dorothy E., remain under the parental roof. There are three grandchildren. being Cozette and Wallace Bergren and Jessie Nelson.
Mr. Nelson is a man of marked domestic tastes and takes much pleas- ure in his home and family. That he possesses good business ability, energy and thrift are demonstrated by his accomplishments, and the fact that he stands high in public estimation among those with whom he has lived for many years, marks him as a man of sterling traits of character. Aside from his business duties, Mr. Nelson finds time to keep himself well informed on up-to-date methods as related to general farming and stock raising, and is also well informed on current events.
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HON. WILL DRURY.
Ilistory consists of facts presented in a readable form so that all may read. It is but a record of what man has done and is doing. Biography comprises a review of the lives of men who have assisted in making history. Some of those of whom the biographer must necessarily write. mayhap. occupy humble stations in life, but have done their part in making real his- tory ; others have been gifted above the average of their fellowmen and have achieved marked success in their particular lines of endeavor; some have risen to leadership and have been the recipients of distinguished prefer- ment and appreciation by the people. All combined assist in the creation of narrative history. The biographies of citizens of any section of the com- monwealth form a vital part of the complete record intended to be pre- served for all time to come and to serve as an inspiration and guide for the present and future generations. He of whom this review is written has been an important factor in the civic and official his- tory of Sac county and is one of her successful and best-known citizens. This biography is, therefore, a necessity in the proper compilation of these Sac county memoirs.
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