USA > Iowa > Story County > History of Story County, Iowa; a record of organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 44
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(). S. Boyd has spent his entire life in Story county and supplemented his early education by a four years' course at the State Agricultural Col- lege at Ames, from which he was graduated in 1898, the degree of Bachelor of Science being then conferred upon him. Turning his attention to educa- tional pursuits he served as superintendent of the schools of Roland for two years. He then became connected with mercantile interests, being as- sociated with II. C. Duca and T. C. Jacobson in partnership for three years under the firm name of Duca, Jacobson & Boyd. On the ist of April, 1904. be accepted his present position as assistant cashier of the Farmers Savings Bank of Roland and in 1905 was elected one of its directors. Hle is also interested in a fire insurance company and derives a substantial income
O. S. BOYD
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from his farm of one hundred and forty-three acres which adjoins the corporation limits of Roland on the east. He is a young man of good business ability, displaying special aptitude for successful management, and the progress that he has already made seems to promise further ad- vancement for the future.
On the 7th of December, 1900. Mr. Boyd was united in marriage to Miss Mattie Gaard, a native of Story county and a daughter of R. K. Gaard, of Roland. In 1902, however, Mr. Boyd was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who passed away on the 25th of August, leaving many friends. On the 19th of October, 1905, Mr. Boyd was joined in wedlock to Miss Olive Hegland, a native of this county and a daughter of O. O. Hegland, of Roland. There is one child of this marriage, Paula.
Aside from business affairs Mr. Boyd takes an active part in the pub- lic interests of the community and is accounted one of the popular and progressive citizens. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and while he has never sought nor desired office in political lines he has done official service in various other connections. For five years he served as school treasurer and for the past seven years has been secre- tary and manager of the Roland Lecture Course Association whereby the town has been furnished many delightful entertainments. While at Ames he did special work in vocal music, possessing naturally a fine tenor voice, and he has since been a popular solo singer of his part of the county. He is a member and chorister of the United Lutheran church and was direc- tor of the Fortress Choral Union, which held its song fest in Marshall- town in 1910. His musical talent and ability as a director make him a val- uable factor in all those circles where music is a feature of entertainment, and he has done much to promote musical taste in the city where he resides.
FRANK D. THOMPSON.
Investigation into the history of Story county brings to light the fact that Frank D. Thompson has borne an important part in the work of public progress. There are found many tangible evidences of his publie spirit and enterprise, and moreover he deserves the recognition that should be ac- corded a self-made man whose business principles and actions are based upon the rules that govern unabating energy and strict, unswerving integrity. prompted in life by a laudable ambition. He took up the study of law with- out an instructor and in due time so thoroughly mastered the principles of jurisprudence that he secured admission to the bar. In the practice of law and the conduct of a real-estate business and as an incumbent in offce, he has made a record which is creditable alike to himself and to the city of his adoption.
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HISTORY OF STORY COUNTY
Mr. Thompson was born on a farm in Berlin township. Erie county, Ohio, December 13, 1835. and is a son of Jason K. and Eliza Ann ( Frisby ) Thompson, who were natives of Poultney, Vermont. They reared five chil- dren. James, Emily, Frank D., Frederic and Amos, Frank D. being now the only survivor.
The youthful days of Frank D. Thompson were spent upon the home farm in his native county. He early became familiar with the duties and labors incident to the development of the fields. In 1860, when twenty- five years of age, he left Ohio for Story county, Iowa, where he arrived on the 30th of September. Here he has since made his home. He had been a pupil in the district school and in the high school of Berlin Heights. When seventeen years of age he began teaching. He afterward followed that pro- fession in the winter season and in the summer months continued his own education. Subsequently he attended Oberlin College and later was prin- cipal of the graded school of Milan, Ohio. He began reading law at his paternal home, procuring his books from Judge Taylor, of Milan, Ohio, thereby gaining a knowledge that secured his admission to the bar in 1860. In his first trial before a justice of the peace, in which he was opposed by an old and established attorney, he won his suit.
Deciding to come west, Mr. Thompson came to Nevada, lowa, being influenced by an old friend and attorney, George A. Kellogg, with whom he took up the study of lowa law. During the year his fees were scant and he gave his note as part payment for board. Practice being light, he re- turned to teaching in the Nevada school a part of the year to help out his income.
AAfter two years, Mr. Thompson married in November, 1862, Miss Abby N. Price, of Nevada, a native of Muscatine, lowa. They continued resi- dents of Nevada until in February, 1864, when he enlisted in defense of the Union, in Company D, Twelfth Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry. After one month's service in his regiment he was detailed for service at the head- quarters of General A. J. Smith, commander of the Sixteenth Army Corps, and acted as his chief clerk until honorably discharged on the 5th of Sep- tember, 1865, on surgeon's certificate of disability. He joined his wife and baby at his paternal home in Ohio, enjoying needed rest. In November they returned to their home in Nevada.
In the spring of 1866, Mr. Thompson entered into a partnership with Captain T. C. McCall, under the firm name of MeCall & Thompson, for the conduct of a real-estate and law business. This partnership remained mutually pleasant and profitable for seventeen years, during this time, in addition to his extensive court practice, he was employed as pension attorney for about two-thirds of the sobliers of Story county, who sought remunera- tion from the government for back pay, bounty and pensions.
In 1889. Mr. Thompson was appointed postmaster at Nevada by Presi- dent Harrison. He continued postmaster for about five years. At one time he was elected county superintendent of schools but resigned for want of
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time to visit the schools, feeling that he could not discharge all the duties of the office.
In 1876 and 1877, during the time of the erection of the present court- house, when Mr. Thompson was county attorney (appointed by the board of supervisors), there were several important mechanic liens filed and sought to be foreclosed against the county. He was successful in his de- fense, both in the district court and in the supreme court on their appeal. He was subsequently elected prosecuting attorney for the county but during the latter part of the term resigned on account of ill health.
He has always taken a very active and helpful part in matters pertaining to the welfare and upbuilding of the town. He served several terms as a member of the city council and also two terms as mayor, in which connec- tion his businesslike and public-spirited administration brought about a num- ber of valuable reforms and improvements, including its transition from an incorporated town to a city of the second class. He complied the revised ordinances of the city in 1900, was one of the original trustees of the Nc- vada public library, and has ever since been chairman of its finance com- mittee, and vice president of the board, the legal adviser and an active mem- ber of the board during the erection of the present library building. While serving as a member of the city council he took an active part in developing the water-works system for fire protections and to be owned and controlled by the city. He has acted as attorney for the incorporated town and solicitor for the city.
Mr. Thompson was instrumental in the grading and widening of Lynn street, now the main business street of the city, also in procuring the re- moval of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad depot to the head of Lynn street. His interest in the county and its welfare is indicated further by his accepting the presidency of the County Agricultural Society for two years. Through his long residence in Nevada he has been active in politics and in the public life of the community. He cast his first presidential bal- lot for Abraham Lincoln. Always a firm believer in republican principles, he has served as a delegate to many party conventions, especially the judicial. and has frequently taken the stump in support of its principles and candidates.
Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have reared to manhood and womanhood six children : Kate E., Frank L., Sylvia L., Clayton A. and Cora A. (twins) and Olive E.
Mr. Thompson was reared in the Congregational church and was Sunday school superintendent, taking an active interest in training the youth in the moral responsibilities of life. Fraternally, he is connected with the Jason D. Ferguson Post, No. 31, G. A. R., of Nevada, was its first adjutant and has been its commander. He organized a camp of Sons of Veterans, which complimented him by naming it "F. D. Thompson Camp." He is the second oldest member of the Odd Fellows society in Nevada, having been allied
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with that order for nearly fifty years. Ile has now passed his seventy-fifth milestone on life's journey.
Mr. Thompson has retired from active practice of the law. However, he maintained an office as an advisory attorney. His has been a most use- ful, active and honorable life. the community in which he has lived profiting greatly by his labors, his beneficent purpose and his public spirit. He has ever been fearless in defense of his honest convictions and his has been an unblemished character. and throughout Story county no man is held in higher esteem than Frank D. Thompson, after half a century's residence within its borders.
JAMES M. HALL.
The success that has been attained by James M. Hall, a general mer- chant of Collins, is proof of his ability in a line in which he has met with close competition and which has called for rare discrimination and wise management. His store is pronounced by competent judges one of the most complete of the kind, outside of the larger cities, in this part of the state.
He was born in Wayne county, Indiana, August 15, 1852, a son of Henry and Dinah (McClay) Hall, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. Henry Hall was left an orphan in his boyhood and was reared in the family of Newton Claypool, moving to Indiana with his benefactors. He learned the tanner's trade and, having decided to seek his fortune in the west, came to lowa in 1854 and settled near Mitchellville, where he worked upon a farm. lle was a man of good habits and of energetic purpose, and he soon acquired sufficient capital to purchase a place. upon which he lived until his death, which occurred in the eighty-eighth year of his age. He was a stanch advocate of the republican party and became a prominent factor in the poli- tics of Polk county, holling various township offices and also filling the office of county supervisor.
James M. Hall came with his parents to lowa in his infancy and was educated in the public schools of this state. Ile began his business career in a grocery store which his father owned in Peoria. continuing in that es- tablishment until he reached his twenty-second year, when the business was sold to Lee Donnell. After four years' service under Mr. Donnell, Mr. Hall turned his attention to farming and four years later, having decided that nature had not designed him as an agriculturist, he entered the employ of the mercantile firm of Baldwin & Maxwell, at lowa Center. He made such a good impression upon the firm that at the end of six months he was sent to a branch store at Clyde, Iowa, where he remained for four years, being a portion of the time in charge of the business. He was next called to the Maxwell store and there continued until 1888, when he resigned and came
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to Collins, organizing the firm of Hall & Poorbaugh, which engaged success- fully in general mercantile business. Several years later Mr. Poorbaugh sold his interest to I. H. Pulis and the business so continued until 1897, when Mr. Hall retired, disposing of his interest to his partner. In 1898 he as- sociated with his brother, Tiffin Hall, in organizing the firm of Hall Broth- ers, general merchants, which was successfully launched and attracted a fair share of the public patronage. In 1905 our subject purchased the interest of his brother and has since conducted the business independently. He keeps a large and well selected stock and his store is not only a credit to himself but to the community.
In 1873 Mr. Hall was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Bell, a daughter of Henry Bell, a prominent farmer of Polk county, and of this union seven children have been born, five of whom are now living, namely: Clara, the wife of Henry Denniston, a farmer of Collins township; Charles H., a practicing attorney of Nevada, this state; Grace, now the wife of O. G. Smith, of Nevada; Milo, of Des Moines, Iowa; and Jennie, who is living at home and is attending the Collins high school.
Mr. Hall is an independent republican politically and has served as a member of the town council of Collins and also of the school board. He is identified with Fervent Lodge, No. 513, A. F. & A. M., and the Modern Woodmen of America, and he and his wife are members of the Order of the Eastern Star and the Methodist church. Mr. Hall takes an active in- terest in church and Sunday school work and for twenty-three years past has been superintendent of the Sunday school. He is a leading factor in all movements pertaining to the welfare of Collins and vicinity and is recog- nized as one who has contributed substantially to the progress of the community.
OLE J. TWEDT.
Among the extensive landowners and prosperous farmers of Warren township must be placed the name of Ole J. Twedt, who also has the dis- tinction of being one of the early settlers of Story county. He was born in Norway on the 29th of May, 1857, a son of John J. and Carrie (Olson ) Twedt, who were also natives of Norway, where the mother died. The father subsequently came to America with his seven children in 1866 and located on a farm in Howard township, Story county, Iowa. Here he was later married to Boleta Enes, also a native of Norway, by whom he had two children, both now deceased. The father died May 6, 1899, at the age of eighty-five years, and his second wife passed away about twenty-three years ago.
Ole J. Twedt was a lad of nine years when his father settled in Story county so that the greater part of his life has been spent here. He at-
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tended the district schools of Howard township and remained a member of his father's household until 1885, when he bought one hundred and forty- four acres of land in Warren township, which he began cultivating. His thrift. tireless energy and close application enabled him to add to his hold- ings another forty acres on section 36, and later he bought one hundred and fifty-four acres on section 13. Warren township, and six acres of tim- ber in Milford township, making his acreage aggregate three hundred and forty-four. In addition to his real estate he is a stockholder and trustee in the McCallsburg State Bank and a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company of McCallsburg.
Mr. Twedt married Miss Augusta Lein, a daughter of Oscar A. and Elizabeth ( Handerland) Lein, both of whom were natives of Norway, where they were married. On coming to the United States they located near Lisbon, Illinois, where they spent three years, and then removed to Story county, Iowa, making their home in Howard township throughout the remainder of their lives. The father was a farmer by occupation. Unto him and his wife were born eleven children, including three pairs of twins, and they also adopted one child. Mrs. Twedt was the third in order of birth. Mr. and Mrs. Twedt have become the parents of four children. three of whom are living, one having died in infancy. The others are as follows: Joseph O., Oscar Eli and Lizzie Adelia, all of whom are at home. and they adopted one child, Knutie A. Lein.
The family attend the services of the Lutheran church, with which the parents are connected by membership. Ever since age has conferred upon him the full rights of citizenship Mr. Twedt has cast his vote with the republican party. He has always taken an active interest in local political issues and has served in many of the township offices. He is now and has been for six years township trustee. He is one of the well known and highly esteemed men in his community, his integrity being above question and his opinion on all public questions worthy of consideration.
JACOB GUNDER.
Jacob Gunder is a retired farmer of Franklin township and a veteran of the Civil war. In every relation of life his record has commended him to the confidence and good-will of his fellowmen and his life in many re- spects furnishes an example that is well worthy of emulation. He was born in Blair county, Pennsylvania, July 5. 1844, and resided upon a farm there until twelve years of age, when he removed to Whiteside county. Illi- nois, with his father. Casper Gunder. The mother died when her son was but four years of age and the father married twice afterward. Jacob Gun- der was the seventh of eight children born of the first marriage.
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At the time of the removal to Whiteside county, Illinois, the family home was established in Genesee township and Jacob Gunder there at- tended school and aided in the work of the farm until eighteen years of age. when he offered his services to the government. enlisting on the 4tli of October. 1862, as a member of Company E, Thirty-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He served with the Army of the Cumberland for nearly three years or until the close of the war and in the fall of 1863 veteranized with his regiment. He participated in the two days' battle of Shiloh, in the hotly contested engagement of Lookout Mountain and in the battles of Missionary Ridge, Buzzard's Roost, Resaca, Peach Tree Creek and Atlanta. In fact he went all through the Atlanta campaign, was with Sherman on the march to the sea, proceeded northward through the Carolinas and Virginia and in Washington, following Lee's surrender at Appomattox, participated in the grand review, when the victorious Union troops marched down Pennsylvania avenue amid the cheering thousands who welcomed their return. On the 12th of July, 1865, he received an honorable discharge and returned home with a most creditable military record.
Mr. Gunder joined his father's family in Whiteside county, Illinois, and came with them in October, 1865, to Iowa, the family home being established in Boone county. He remained a resident of that county until 1893, since which time he has lived in Story county. He always followed farming in this state until 1902, when he retired and took up his abode in Gilbert. He raised ten thousand bushels of corn and an equal amount of oats in 1895. He both owned and rented land and has been interested in Minnesota lands until a recent date when he sold. As an Iowa farmer he carefully cultivated his fields and his practical and progressive methods brought him success, which numbered him among the substantial farmers of the western part of the state.
On the 23d of January, 1868, Mr. Gunder was married to Miss Mar- garet E. Linerode, who was born in Ohio, January 6, 1849, and came to Illinois in childhood with her parents, I. D. and Nancy (Thomas) Line- rode. Mr. and Mrs. Gunder have become the parents of nine children : Ida, the wife of Ralph Zwickey, of Minnesota; Alice, who died at the age of twenty-five years; Arthur, who died in infancy; Elmer, who married Jean McDonald, of Forest City, Iowa; Roy, deceased ; Clarence, who mar- ried Lena Thompson, also of Forest City, Iowa; Dora, the wife of Her- bert Smalley, of Boone county ; Mabel, the wife of Fred Watts, of Minne- sota; and Tillie, also of Minnesota.
Mr. Gunder has always given his political allegiance to the republican party but has never sought nor desired office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs, in which he has won notable and honorable success. In fact he deserves great credit for what he has accom- plished. He lost his mother when four years of age and the following year was bound out to a man who ill treated him so that he had no oppor-
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tunities for an education or of other kind. When his father found that he was ill treated he sent for him at once, but he had borne ill usage for seven years. Afterward working with his father he at length started out in life on his own account and by persistent energy and determination he has steadily progressed, reaching the goal of success. The prosperity which he attained enables him now to live retired and to enjoy all of the comforts and many of the luxuries of life.
MARION LEE OLINGER.
Of the native sons of Story county none is better known or more highly regarded by the community at large than Marion Lee Olinger, who is living on what is known as the old Olinger homestead. being the third generation of the family to occupy this place. He was born on this farm, August 11. 1876. His parents, James M. and Rebecca J. (John) Olinger, were na- tives of the state of Indiana but came to Iowa at an early day with their respective families. The paternal grandfather, John Olinger, came to Iowa in pioneer days and purchased two hundred acres of land. Return- ing to Indiana for his family, he then removed to Story county, locating on the farm where he continued to live the remainder of his life. He is buried in the cemetery at Maxwell. When he had attained manhood James M. Olinger bought that portion of the old homestead which contained the house and other improvements and resided here for a number of years. Later he sold the place and purchased another farm in Indian Creek town- ship two and one-half miles farther north, where he continued to live until 1897. when he rented it to his son Marion, removing to Maxwell, where he lived retired until his death in 1907. He was a member of the Odd Fellows lodge and of the Presbyterian church, in which Mrs. Olinger is still a communicant. She was a daughter of John Bowen John, one of the old well known pioneers of Story county, and makes her home in Maxwell.
Marion Lee Olinger lived at home until he had reached the age of twenty years, acquiring an education, assisting in the work of the farm and occupying his leisure time in the manner of most young people. Ile was a very ambitious young man. however, and before he was old enough to cast a vote assumed the responsibilities of manhood by renting a farm, which he operated for six years. In 1903 he bought eighty acres of land on section 23, Indian Creek township, located two and one-half miles north of his present home, belonging to his father and here he continued to live for three years. 'At the end of that time he sold this place and bought another eighty acres two miles south, on section 35. but he sold this at the end of a year and bought the farm known as the Bill Veneman farm, which he sold the following year. Ile then migrated to Colorado and bought a
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twenty-acre fruit farm in the Uncompahgre valley. He remained here but a short time, however, and then purchased a forty-acre grain ranch, which he very soon sold, and, returning to Story county, he bought the original Olinger homestead.
On the' 30th of December, 1896, Mr. Olinger was united in marriage to Miss Edna Amelia Ellis, a daughter of Dr. G. H. Ellis, a prominent dentist of Maxwell, Iowa. Two children have been born of this marriage: Georgena May and Ila Lee.
The family attend the Presbyterian church of which the parents are members. Although he does not take an active part in politics, Mr. Olinger meets the requirements of good citizenship by casting a ballot at each elec- tion. his vote being given in support of the candidates of the prohibition party. That he has ever been thrifty, enterprising and ambitious is evi- denced by the fact that he has retired from active business at an age when most men are just beginning to obtain a foothold. What he has achieved can be very largely attributed to his sagacity, keen perception and sound judgment. He is ranked as one of the most substantial and progressive citizens of his community and is a highly esteemed and respected member of a family which for half a century has occupied a prominent position in Story county.
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