USA > Iowa > Story County > History of Story County, Iowa; a record of organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 43
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In July. 1885. he came to Ames, where he has since continued, being professor of chemistry in the Iowa State College throughout the interim of twenty-six years. President Stanton and General Lincoln are the only ones now connected with the college that were here at the time of Pro- fessor Bennett's arrival, together with Professor Herman Knapp, who was an assistant professor at that time. Professor Bennett, therefore, ranks fourth in the period of service in the college and he is accorded a high po- sition among the educators of the state. Ifis authorship includes two books on general chemistry, which he has published since becoming con- nected with the Iowa State College, and he has also written many articles on chemistry which have appeared in different periodicals. His first work, published in two volumes, on Inorganic Chemistry appeared in 1892 and a second edition in 1894. His work on General Chemistry and Qualitative Analysis was published in 1908. There were about one hundred students in his department when Professor Bennett became connected with the school and he had one assistant or laboratory instructor. There are now about eight hundred students, with two associate professors and seven other in- structors. Every graduate of the institution has to take at least one year's work in chemistry.
In 1878 Professor Bennett was married to Amelia E. Chapin, of Ann Arbor, Michigan, and their home is the center of a cultured society circle. They have won many friends during their residence in Ames not only among their fellow citizens but among the pupils who have come under Pro- fessor Bennett's instructions.
OLE J. OLSON.
A substantial element in the citizenship of Roland is that which has been furnished by Norway. From the land of the midnight sun have come many who have proven loyal to American interests in this locality. Their diligence and enterprise has contributed to the development of the wonder- ful resources of the county and to business progress, while in matters of citizenship they manifest a patriotic spirit. To this class belongs Ole J. Ol- son, who is now living retired after many years' identification wth agricul- tural interests in Howard township.
He was born in Norway, January 8, 1843, and is a son of Andrew and Julia Olson. The mother died in her native country when her son was only seven years of age, and the father afterward came to the United States
C
OLE J. OLSON
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with his three sons, making his way to Chicago. Two years later they were joined by two daughters of the family. Andrew Olson spent three years in Chicago and afterward went to Goodhue county, Minnesota, where he se- cured a claim. He was a carpenter by trade and followed that pursuit which brought him immediate returns for his labor. His last days were spent with his children and he died in Story county at the home of his son Jeremiah in 1877. His family numbered five children of whom Ole J. Ol- son is the youngest. The others are: Marcalius, of Story City; Julia, who is the widow of Abel Olson, a resident of Story county, living southeast of Roland; Jeremiah, who is living in Howard township; and Malinda, who became the wife of John Evanson and died in Roland.
Ole J. Olson was a lad of eleven years when he arrived in Chicago and almost immediately he sought employment, which he secured in lathing houses. At fourteen years of age he went to Wisconsin, where he began working by the month as a farm hand, and in 1863 he came to Story county, Iowa, where he invested the money that he had saved from his earnings in a tract of one hundred acres of prairie land a mile west and a mile and a half north of Roland. With characteristic energy he began the develop- ment and improvement of this place, carefully tilled his fields and in time brought the farm under a high state of cultivation. As the years passed he also added to his holdings until he is now the owner of three hundred and twenty acres in the home place on sections 3 and 10, Howard township, while his wife also owns ninety acres elsewhere in the same township. Year by year he carried on the work of the farm and annually gathered good crops, for his methods of cultivating the fields were practical. He secured modern machinery to facilitate his work and introduced modern improvements upon the farm, where he lived until a year ago, when he re- tired from active business life with a substantial competence and is now living in Roland.
On the IIth of July, 1868, Mr. Olson was united in marriage to Miss Helen Hill, who was born in La Salle county, Illinois, on the 18th of De- cember, 1848. She lived for ten years in Kendall county, Illinois, and then came to Story county in 1860. Her parents were Henry and Christina (Erickson) Hill, both natives of Norway. They came to the United States in June, 1848. The father had previously spent five years in this country, after which he returned to Norway, was married and remained a resident of his native land through the succeeding two years. He then took his wife to Illinois in 1848 and his death occurred in that state. A year after his death Mrs. Hill was married, in December. 1850, to Knudt Thompson, and in 1860 they removed to Iowa, their remaining days being passed in Story county.
By the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Olson were born eight children. The first two were named John Henry and both died in infancy. The others of the family are as follows: Julia Ann, who died at the age of five years; Christina Amelia, who became the wife of Martin Johnson and passed Vol. II-24
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away two years later ; Julia Ann, who was the second of the name and died in 1905 at the age of twenty-seven years; Andrew Cornelius, who died when ten years of age; Jane Matilda, the wife of George G. Norbeck, of Aberdeen, South Dakota ; and Henrietta Mabel, the wife of Simon Simon- son, of Newman, Nebraska.
The family are members of the Lutheran church and Mr. Olson is a republican in his political views. He has held school and road offices but has never been a politician in the sense of seeking political preferment. Ilis time and energies were for many years given almost exclusively to the work of the farm, and his close application, perseverance and business in- tegrity constituted forces in the substantial success which he has achieved.
JOIIN M. CHRISTIAN.
John M. Christian was born in Kendall county, Illinois, on the 27th of March, 1871, a son of Ole and Julia (Twedt) Christian, both of whom were natives of Norway, the father being born in that country on the 17th of November, 1842, and the mother on the 24th of that month in the following year. Ole Christian came to the United States with his par- ents when he was five years old and located in Kendall county, Illinois, where he acquired his education and grew to manhood. In 1879 he came to Story county, Iowa, and settled on a farm, remaining a resident of this county during the remainder of his life. He was a very capable and industrious man and his careful regard of details and discretion in the conduct of his business enabled him to acquire fourteen hundred acres of land. He was held in high regard by the business men of the county not alone because of his sagacity but by reason of his personal worth. He married Julia Twedt and unto them were born the following children: Cass, a resident of Minnesota ; Tom, who also lives in Minne- sota; John M., our subject; Albert, living in Roland, lowa: Charlie, residing in MeCallsburg, Story county; Henry, a resident of Milford township, Story county ; Olaf, who also lives in Milford township; Alice, the wife of Ely Morrison; Emma, who married Ed Erickson ; and Jane, the widow of Henry Erickson. The family worshiped with the Lutheran denomination, the parents being communicants of that church. The father passed away on the 19th of March, 1910, at the age of sixty-seven years. but the mother is still living and makes her home in Roland, Iowa.
John M. Christian was a lad of only eight years when his parents settled in Story county, so that the greater part of his life has been spent in the Hawkeye state. He attended school before leaving Illinois but the major portion of his education was obtained in the district schools of Warren township, this county. His early life was as uneventful as that of the average boy living in the country. When he had acquired sufficient
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education to enable him to undertake his life work, which he had already decided should be farming, the task of the schoolroom gave way to the work of the field and from that time until he reached his majority he assisted his father on the old homestead. In 1892 he began working for himself and cultivated a farm which he had rented. He continues to lease land and now has one hundred and sixty acres which he operates.
Mr. Christian selected for his wife Miss Helen Jondahl, a daughter of Hans Jondahl, who is a native of Norway and came to Story county more than forty years ago. Here Mrs. Christian was born. Mr. Jondahl became a resident of this county on the 26th of June, 1870, and worked at the carpenter's trade but later followed farming as well. There were twelve children in his family, of whom the following are still living : Henry ; Sam, living in Howard township; Malenda, the wife of Joe Dewey ; Carrie, who married Ed Joam; Bertha, who became the wife of Cass Christian; Helen, the wife of John M. Christian; and Edward. Mr. and Mrs. Chris- tian have become the parents of six children, June, Hansell, Manon, Cleo, Frank, and Olive.
The family attend the Lutheran church, the parents holding member- ship therein. Mr. Christian is affiliated with the republican party but does not take an active part in politics, never having been an office seeker. He has been a resident of Story county for thirty-one years, during which period he has won many friends whose regard he retains.
MADISON C. ALLEN.
No matter in how much fantastic theorizing one may indulge concern- ing the causation of success, careful reflection will prove that advancement in any field of endeavor comes through earnest purpose and indefatigable energy, intelligently directed. These are the qualities which have made Madison C. Allen one of the prominent real-estate dealers of Nevada, where for many years he has conducted a real-estate and abstract office.
He was born in Midway, Madison county, Ohio, June 22, 1843, a son of Vincent and Eleanor (Chappell) Allen, who were likewise natives of Mad- ison county, the former born March 27, 1818, and the latter June 18 of the same year, and during their entire lives they resided in the county of their nativity, where the mother passed away at London in March, 1893. At the time of the Civil war Vincent Allen responded to the country's call for aid in July, 1862, and was commissioned as first lieutenant in Company K, Ninety-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He participated in the siege of Vicksburg and after its surrender went with the army under General Sher- man which was sent to look after the Confederate forces near Jackson, Mississippi, under General Johnson, that had been giving General Grant some trouble during that siege. During the march Mr. Allen was taken ill
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with malarial fever and died July 19, 1863. being buried near Black River Bridge. During his entire business life he had followed merchandising as the proprietor of a general store in the village of Midway and was also a local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal church. lle also engaged occa- sionally in land surveying as a recreation and pastime.
Unto Vincent and Eleanor Allen were born seven children: Josephine E .. now deceased, married James S. Core, who was a member of the same company as Vincent Allen and who died in less than two months after the death of his father-in-law. Madison C. is the second of the family. Creigh- ton was killed at Lookout Mountain. November 24. 1863. when but eigh- teen years of age, while defending the Union as a member of Company D), Fortieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Lucretia P. married George R. Ilill and is now deceased. Samuel W. passed away after having reached his majority. Sarah M. is the widow of Cornelius Tway and now resides near Dudley, Wapello county, Iowa. Frances A .. now deceased. married Charles E. Holt.
To the public school system of his native village of Midway. Madison C. Allen is indebted for the educational privileges which he enjoyed and which qualified him for life's practical and responsible duties. He was but eighteen years of age when, on the 20th of September, 1861, he offered his services to the government and became a member of Company D, Fortieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, at Camp Chase, Ohio, his younger brother Creigh- ton enlisting with him. The company was commanded by Captain James Watson. Mr. Allen served for eight and one half months, when he was honorably discharged for physical disability June 3. 1862. He then took up the study of law with ex-Congressman R. A. Harrison of London and was admitted to the bar at Delaware, Ohio, June 21, 1864. During the fall and winter of 1864-65 he taught a five months term of school in the first district north of Midway and in the spring and summer of 1865 he taught a four months term in Midway.
On April 6, 1865. he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Ann Beers, of London, who was born November 7, 1845. in Fippecanoe county, Indiana, and went to Ohio when but two years of age with her parents, James G. and Hannah D. (Littleton ) Beers. They made their home in Midway until the 19th of October, 1865, when they left London, Ohio, for Nevada, Iowa, and arrived there on the 21st, where they have since continuously resided. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Allen five children were born: Jessie M., the wife of Harry A. Stutson, of Dayton, Ohio: Fred B., who died at the age of two years : Mamie L., the wife of B. F. Ambrose of Nevada, Jowa ; Arthur C., also of Nevada ; and Mattie Louise, a graduate in the class of 1908 of Cornell Col- lege at Mount Vernon, Iowa, and now teaching school.
For the first two years in Story county Mr. Allen filled the position of deputy surveyor under his uncle W. G. Allen, who had been elected to the office of county surveyor. For the next two terms Madison C. Allen was elected to that office and later, by appointment and election, he filled the
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same office several times. He has been engaged in the real-estate business since 1868 and for the past ten years has given considerable attention to the business of abstracter of land titles and thinks he has the best set of abstract books in Story county. During the forty-two years connection with real- estate operations here he has handled much valuable property. He is re- garded as authority upon real-estate investments, valuations and titles.
On the 12th of June, 1889, Mr. Allen lost his right arm at the shoulder joint as the result of having been kicked by his horse eighteen months or two years previously. In politics he has been a lifelong republican and voted for Abraham Lincoln at his second election. He has served in several official positions, the duties of which he has discharged with promptness and fidelity. He served as justice of the peace for more than sixteen years and has held the offices of city recorder, councilman and mayor and has united in mar- riage more than one hundred couples. Over the record of his official career there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil. He has ever regarded a public office as a public trust and no trust reposed in Madison C. Allen has ever been betrayed in the slightest degree. He exercises his official pre- rogatives in support of many progressive measures and as Nevada's chief executive gave to the city a businesslike administration. He is now the president of the Story County Independent Telephone Company. He be- longs to the order of the Knights of Pythias and has a record such as few men possess, being a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, the Sons of Veterans and the Sons of the American Revolution, his great-grand- father, Ananias Allen, having been a captain in the Second Regiment of Sussex county, New Jersey, militia in the Revolutionary war. The same spirit of patriotism which prompted his enlistment in his youthful days in defense of the Union has been manifest throughout his entire life in his loyalty to his country.
A. C. ALLEN.
A. C. Allen needs no introduction to the readers of this volume, for he has been a lifelong resident of Nevada, where his birth occurred on the 30tl of July, 1876. At the usual age he was sent to the public schools and passing through consecutive grades was graduated from the high school with the class of 1895. Later he did special work for three years in Cornell College of Iowa and since 1897 he has worked on abstract books and since the 7th of April, 1909, has engaged in the abstract business on his own account. He has proven his worth in the business world and enjoys the confidence and high regard of all with whom he has been brought in contact through the conduct of his business affairs.
In 1899 Mr. Allen was united in marriage to Miss Alice M. White, who was born in Nevada, lowa, June 28, 1877, and is a daughter of John W. and
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Eliza ( Hayman) White. The father is now deceased but the mother is still living at Fort Morgan, Colorado. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Allen has been born an interesting little daughter. Jessie May, now nine years of age.
In his political views Mr. Allen is an earnest republican and keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day. He belongs to the Com- mercial Club, formed to promote the interests of the city, and he is well known in fraternal circles, holding membership with the Sons of Veterans, the Masonic lodge and chapter of Nevada, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. The name of Allen has long been closely and prominently interwoven with the history of Nevada, and he whose name introduces this record is carrying on the good work instituted by his father, who remains today as one of the leading and valued citizens of Story county.
MILTON WALLACE TEMPLETON.
The agricultural interests of Franklin township are well represented by Milton Wallace Templeton, who carries on general farming and stock-rais- ing on section 12, Franklin township, where he has lived for twenty-one years. He has a good farm, on which are found all modern improvements, and the place presents a neat and thrifty appearance.
A native of Ohio, Mr. Templeton was born in Greenfield. March 29. 1852, his parents being William and Jane (McElroy) Templeton. His father was born in Pennsylvania. September 9. 1809, and the mother in Ohio. March 6, 1817. They were married in the latter state and there resided until the fall of 1855, when they removed westward to Peoria, Illinois, where they spent the winter. In the spring of 1856 they resumed their journey to Story county, Iowa, arriving here in the month of June. After a brief period they took up their abode in Palestine township, six miles south of Ames, and their remaining days were passed in Palestine and Washington townships. The father in 1855 entered one hundred and sixty acres of land from the government, constituting the southwest quarter of section 26, Washington township. He worked diligently and persistently in the culti- vation of his fields and his labors wrought for success, so that in time he became the owner of a valuable property. He likewise proved a worthy citizen through his capable and faithful discharge of the duties of office. He served at different times as justice of the peace, as assessor, trustee and school officer. His early political support was given to the whig party, and later he joined the republican party, voting that ticket when there was only one other republican in the township. He died in November. 1885. while his wife passed away April 27. 1806. Thus the county lost two of its worthy pioncer people, who had not only been witnesses of the growth and develop- ment of this part of the state but had taken an active part in its progress and improvement. Their family numbered seven children : Elizabeth New-
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ell, the deceased wife of J. J. Wiltse; Dr. H. MI., of Ames ; Ella A., also of Ames ; Milton W. ; Henrietta F., who became the wife of O. T. Hill and died May 21, 1889; P. J., of Washington township; and W. F., who is living in the same township.
Milton W. Templeton was but four years of age when his parents ar- rived in Story county and since that time he has lived in the western tier of townships and has been closely associated with the development of that sec- tion. He continued with his parents until his marriage in 1878 and then be- gan farming on his own account. That he has prospered as the years have gone by is indicated in the fact that he is now the owner of three hundred and two acres of rich land in two adjoining farms in Franklin and Milford townships, having one hundred and forty-two acres in the latter and one hundred and sixty acres in the former. He has lived upon his present farm for twenty-one years, devoting his energies toward the cultivation of the fields and to stock-raising. He is a breeder of Percheron horses and regis- tered, high grade stock, including shorthorn cattle. All of the modern im- provements upon his farm have been placed there by him and two years ago he erected a pleasant residence of attractive style of architecture and sup- plied with all of the conveniences and comforts of the present day. In ad- dition to his farming interests he is a director of the Farmers Fire and Lightning Mutual Insurance Company and a director of the Gilbert Grain Company. He is also president of the West Milford Telephone Company, of which he was one of the organizers, and is vice president of the Story County Insurance Company, being acting president at the present time.
On the 31st of October, 1878, Mr. Templeton was married to Miss Helen N. Lewis, who was born in Cattaraugus county, New York, July 6, 1855, and the following year was taken to Buchanan county, Iowa, by her parents, Henry T. and Sarah A. (Johnson) Lewis, who removed thence to Story county in 1876. Her father was a soldier of the Civil war, serving in Com- pany G, Twenty-first Iowa Volunteer Infantry. Mrs. Templeton engaged in teaching school for a number of terms prior to her marriage. She pursued a normal course at Cornell College and was the first teacher at Kelley. Iowa. To Mr. and Mrs. Templeton were born three children, but Charles H., who was born July 25, 1879, died July 21. 1880. Milton Elroy was mar- ried June 7. 1905, to Mabel Sawyer and they have one child, Le Roy, born July 31, 1907. William Bennett is at home with his parents.
In politics Mr. Templeton has always been an earnest republican. His father took an active part in conducting the underground railroad in Ohio in ante-bellum days and when the republican party was organized to pre- vent the further extension of slavery joined its ranks, so that Milton W. Templeton was reared in that faith. His mature judgment has sanctioned its policy and its purposes and he has remained a strict adherent of its prin- ciples. His fellow townsmen, appreciating his public spirit and personal worth, have elected him to the positions of trustee and assessor, and he has also served as justice of the peace. Fraternally he is connected with the
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Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Gilbert and the Yeomen at Ames, and he also belongs to the Congregational church at Gilbert. For about fifty-five years he has been a witness of the development and progress of this county, as its wild lands have been converted into fine farms, as towns and cities have been builded and as the work of progress has been carried forward along many lines. He is in entire sympathy with the onward movement and his cooperation has been given to various measures for the general good.
O. S. BOYD.
O. S. Boyd is identified with the financial interests of Story county as assistant cashier of the Farmers Savings Bank of Roland and with the agricultural interests of the community as the owner of one hundred and forty-three acres of valuable land adjoining the town on the east. Hle also has other business interests and is regarded as an enterprising man who is ready to meet the demands of the hour in every relation, proving his worth in citizenship as well as in business circles.
Ile is one of the native sons of the county, his birth having occurre.l on a farm two and a half miles northeast of Roland, on the 29th of Decem- ber, 1873. He was the eldest of four children of J. 11. and Julia ( Duea ) Boyd, both of whom were natives of Grundy county, Illinois, born near Lisbon. They were of Norwegian lineage and the mother came to Story county with her parents when but three years of age. The father was a young man when he arrived in this locality and they were married here in 1871. His death occurred in October, 1884, when he was but thirty- seven years of age. His widow afterward became the wife of Chris Lo- gan and now resides about four miles northwest of Roland. The children of the first marriage are: O. S., of this review: Martha, the wife of the Rev. John M. Mason, pastor of the United Lutheran church of America. now located at Watrous, Saskatchewan, Canada; Rachel, who died at the age of seven years ; and Josie, the wife of O. P. Teig. a farmer living a mile south of Roland.
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