USA > Iowa > Hancock County > History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 12
USA > Iowa > Winnebago County > History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 12
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55
Mr. and Mrs. Myre became the parents of seven children, of whom all are yet living namely: C. C .; John C .: Bertha, the wife of A. Dahl; Julia, the wife of Andrew Jacobson; Gena, the wife of Roy Thomas, of Mason City; Helmer C .; and Clarence, who is living on the old homestead. On the 5th of January, 1914, Mr. Myre departed this life, being then about sixty-five years of age, and he
MR. AND MRS. C. C. MYRE
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was laid to rest in the West Prairie cemetery. He held membership in the Lutheran church and lived the life of an earnest Christian gentleman, being straightforward in all of his business dealings and honorable in all life's relations. Those who knew him entertained for him the warmest regard, and not only his immediate family but many friends mourned his passing. Mrs. Myre is also a member of the Lutheran church and she is widely and favorably known in her part of the county. She still owns the old homestead property of two hundred acres, situated on section 23 Linden township. It is well improved and returns to her a gratifying annual income as the result of the care and labor bestowed upon the place.
LUDVIG E. LUDVIG.
Ludvig E. Ludvig, president and general manager of the Lake Mills Imple- ment and Hardware Company, is a business man of more than the usual initiative and ability as is evidenced by the importance of the company of which he is the head. He was born in Norway township, Winnebago county, February 11, 1879, and his parents, John A. and Brunhilde (Sanden) Ludvig, were natives respect- ively of Söndfjord, Norway, and of Wisconsin. In early life the father crossed the Atlantic to the United States and located in Winnebago county, Iowa, where he followed the carpenter's trade for a number of years. He then purchased land in Norway township, to the operation of which he devoted the remainder of his life. Ile died in January, 1910, and the mother's death occurred in February, 1881.
Ludvig E. Ludvig was reared in Winnebago county and received his early education in its public schools. Later he attended the Luther Academy at Albert Lea, Minnesota, from which he was graduated in 1899, and the succeeding year was spent upon the home farm. At the end of that time he became bookkeeper for Eckert & Williams of Lake Mills, so continuing until 1905, when he bought out the T. S. Tweed implement business, which he operated under the name of L. E. Ludvig & Company for five years. In 1910 he consolidated his interests with the business of Eckert & Williams, the new company being known as the Lake Mills Implement and Hardware Company, with Mr. Ludvig as secretary. He has ever since had the direction of the affairs of the company and in 1915 bought out the interest of Mr. Eckert, at that time becoming president of the company. He still holds that office and he is likewise treasurer and manager. The company deals in plumbing and heating supplies, buggies, wagons, harness, windmills, farm ma- chinery of all kinds, automobiles and hardware and its stock is much larger than that usually found in a city the size of Lake Mills. Its annual volume of trade has reached a highly satisfying figure and its patronage is still showing a steady growth.
Mr. Ludvig was married June 27, 1901, to Miss Bertina Honsey, a daughter of T. G. and Turi (Waugness) IIonsey, of Norway township, Winnebago county. Mr. and Mrs. Ludvig have two children, namely: Bennett J., twelve years of age ; and Homer T., aged seven. He casts his ballot in support of the candidates and measures of the republican party but has never had time to take an active
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part in political affairs. He holds membership in the Lutheran church and gives his heartiest support to the promotion of its work. His successful management of his important business interests has brought him financial prosperity and has also made him a factor in the general commercial development of the city.
OLE K. JUVLAND.
Ole K. Juvland, who carries on general agricultural pursuits on seetion 23, Center township, and is also actively identified with commercial interests in near-by towns, displays in his business career a spirit of marked enterprise and progressive- ness combined with indefatigable energy. He was born in Norway, February 1, 1851, a son of Knute and Asave (Evenson) Olson, who were natives of the same country and there spent their entire lives.
Ole K. Juvland pursued his education in the schools of Norway and a year after attaining his majority bade adieu to friends and native country in order to try his fortune in America. Crossing the Atlantie in 1873, he made his way to Worth county, Iowa, where he worked as a farm hand for ten years. On the expira- tion of that period he came to Winnebago county and invested his savings in eighty acres of land on section 23, Center township. It was then all covered with timber, but he cleared away the trees and brush and has since improved the tract, converting it into a fine farm. Later he bought another eighty acres and is now owner of one hundred and sixty acres of rich and productive land which he has brought to a high state of cultivation, golden harvests annually rewarding him for the care he bestows upon his fields. He has ever been actuated by a progressive spirit in his business and has become financially interested in several commercial concerns, being a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company and in the Lake Mills Creamery Company of Lake Mills, also in the Lake Mills Lumber Company and in the Farmers Elevator Company of Joice, Iowa.
In November, 1887, Mr. Juvland was married to Miss Gunhild Aslakson and they have become parents of four children : Alfred, Carl, Sophia and Signe, all yet at home. The religious faith of the parents is that of the United Lutheran church and to its teachings they loyally adhere. Mr. Juvland has given his support to the republican party since becoming a naturalized American citizen and he is loyal to the interests of his adopted country. Having elected to make this land his home, he has ever felt it to be his duty to protect its interests and he has always stood for those forces which are most worth while in matters of progressive citizenship.
B. G. GUNHUS.
B. G. Gunhus, who is devoting his time and energies to farming and stock raising in Forest township, Winnebago connty, was born in Dane county, Wis- consin, on the 22d of June, 1876, a son of Gould G. and Julia (Kolve) Gunhus, both of whom were natives of Norway. There they resided until about 1848, when
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they came to America and settled in Racine, Wisconsin. The father there se- cured a tract of land and his remaining days were devoted to general agricultural pursuits in that state. To Mr. and Mrs. Gunhus were born a daughter and a son, the former being Clara T., now the wife of K. B. Skuldt, of Wisconsin.
The son, B. G. Gunhus, was reared and educated in Wisconsin, where he supplemented his public school education by study in college. Through the period of his boyhood and youth he remained at home and afterward took charge of the old homestead. In 1907 he came to Winnebago county, where he purchased the farm upon which he now resides on section 34, Forest township, securing one hundred and sixty acres of rich and arable land, which he has since carefully developed and cultivated until it is now a splendidly improved property. He likewise owns about eighty acres in Newton township and is justly accounted one of the representative agriculturists of his part of the state. Ile is also one of the directors of the Farmers Elevator Company and its treasurer and is a stock- holder in the First National Bank.
In 1898 Mr. Gunhns was married to Miss Anna Ilolland, a native of Wis- consin and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edmond Holland, who were natives of Norway but in childhood came to America. Both are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Gunhus have two children: Irene Gwendolyn, who is attending high school; and Gool Amound. The parents are members of the United Lutheran church and Mrs. Gunhus is an active temperance worker, holding membership in the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. In his political views Mr. Gunhus is a republican but is not an office seeker. Ile is loyal in the discharge of all of his duties of citizenship, however, and co-operates in those plans and movements which seek to promote the best interests of his county. He is leading a life of activity in the furtherance of his farming interests, knowing that honorable suc- cess is based upon individual effort and ability.
E. F. KLUCKHOHN.
E. F. Kluckhohn, who since 1904 has been owner and publisher of the Garner Signal, was born in Watertown, Wisconsin, March 24, 1864, a son of Charles and Sophie (Friday) Kluckhohn, both of whom were natives of Germany, whence they came to the United States in 1848. The father was a minister of the German Methodist church and in 1877 removed with his family to Garner. He had pur- chased a farm near the town and resided thereon for three years. He then estab- lished his home in Garner, where he engaged in dealing in hay and made a substan- tial place in business circles of the city. He continued to make his home in Garner until called to his final rest in 1900.
E. F. Kluckhohn acquired a public school education and afterward pursued a post graduate course in the Northwestern University and is also a graduate of the Central Wesleyan College at Warrenton, Missouri, from which he received the B. A. degree and which later conferred upon him the M. A. degree. He, too, devoted a number of years to the work of the ministry, preaching in the Congre- gational church for four years. On the expiration of that period he entered the journalistic field, purchasing the Graettinger Times at Graettinger, Iowa. He
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owned and edited that paper for five years and afterward spent three or four years in connection with a paper in Garner. Later he became the owner of the Luverne News, which he published for a year, and then purchased the Whittemore Champion. In 1904 he became owner of the Garner Signal, which he has sinee published, making it one of the progressive newspapers of this part of the state. The Signal is the oldest paper in llancoek county and maintains a position of leadership not only in age but in all that speaks for modern progress in journalism. He has recently installed a new linotype machine and he has splendid equipment for doing all kinds of newspaper and job printing.
In 1894 Mr. Kluckhohn was united in marriage to Miss Emma Haas, of Grand- view, Iowa, and they became the parents of three children, Grace, Paul and one who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Kluckhohn hold membership in the Congre- gational church and are active supporters of many forces looking to the moral development of the community. Fraternally Mr. Kluckhohn is connected with various organizations. He belongs to the lodge, chapter and council in Masonry and also to the Eastern Star. He likewise has membership with the Modern Woodmen of America, the Mystic Workers, the Yeomen and the Royal Neighbors. His political endorsement is given to the republican party, which he supports through the columns of his paper and through individual effort, but he is not an office seeker. preferring to concentrate his attention upon his individual inter- ests. The Garner Signal, of which he is now owner and editor, was first estab- lished as the Hancock County Signal in 1871 by George R. Lanning as a weekly. It was afterward owned by W. C. Ilayward and later by the firm of Hayward & Maben. The paper afterward became the property and was published by the firm of Bush & Knadler, from 1883 until 1904, when Mr. Kluckhohn became proprietor. It is an eight-page paper, mueh of it being home print, and it is devoted to the interests of the republican party and to the local welfare, being ever found as the champion of progressive party movements.
LOUIS A. JENSEN.
Norway has made valuable contribution to the citizenship of Iowa, for many of the valued and substantial residents of the state have had their nativity or trace their ancestry back to the land of the midnight sun. Among this number is Louis A. Jensen, of Forest City, whose parents, Jens and Mary Jensen, were both natives of Norway. The former came to the United States in 1846 and the latter in 1845 and they were married in Illinois. Later they came to Iowa, easting in their lot among the pioneer settlers of Mitchell county, where Mr. Jensen took up the oeeupation of farming. In 1871 he removed with his family to Winnebago county, where both he and his wife spent their remaining days.
Louis A. Jensen was born in Mitchell county, Iowa, May 21, 1869, obtained a public school education and later made up his deficiency by a post-graduate course in the high school in Forest City. In 1896 he was elected to the office of elerk of the court and served in that position for eight years. While thus engaged he took up the study of law and was admitted to the bar in 1904. Since 1910 he has filled the office of county attorney for Winnebago
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LOUIS A. JJENSEN
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county and has made a most excellent record in that position, carefully safe- guarding the legal interests of this district. Ile is well versed in the princi- ples of law and displays the utmost accuracy in the application of legal prin- ciples to the points in litigation. Mr. Jensen also has farming interests, being the owner of a tract of land south of Lake Mills which his father entered from the government upon removing to Winnebago county. Their nearest market at that time was at McGregor and they experienced all the hardships and privations of pioneer life, while as the years went on they contributed to the work of general development, and Mr. Jensen has lived to see remarkable changes in the county and the conditions here existing.
On the 17th of July, 1891, Mr. Jensen was united in marriage to Miss Mary Sheldon, of Webster county, Iowa, a daughter of Ole Sheldon. Their children are: Marcellus, Christine, Lydia, Rachel and Constance. The son, a graduate of the law department of Drake University with the class of 1914, is now practicing with his father, at Forest City, Iowa, under the firm name of Jensen & Jensen. He wedded Mabel West, of State Center. The eldest daughter is a graduate of St. Olaf's College.
Mr. Jensen has always been deeply interested in the cause of education and has provided his children with excellent opportunities in that direction. He is now secretary of the Waldorf College Association, which position he has filled since the college was established, and of the school he was one of the organizers. He has also been a member of the school board of Forest City and does all in his power to advance educational standards. His political allegiance has ever been given to the republican party and his son is also an active worker in its ranks, being now chairman of the county central committee. The religious faith of the family is that of the United Lutheran church, to which Mr. Jensen loyally adheres, guiding his life by its principles. Ilis activities are many and are manifest along those lines which touch the general interests of society and work for public progress and improvement.
CLARK B. CORE.
A well spent life always brings its reward-if not in material success, in the good will, the confidence and high regard of those among whom the individual's lot is cast. To Clark B. Core, however, has come both the respect of his many friends and the substantial rewards of his intelligently directed labor, and now after long connection with farming and stock raising interests he is living retire ! in Forest City, where his fellow townsmen, appreciative of his worth and ability, have called him to the office of city councilman. ITe was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, April 22, 1865, a son of Elias and Mary J (Kauffman) Core, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, where they resided until 1869. In that year they removed to La Salle county, Illinois, where they purchased a farm between Ottawa and Streator, upon which they continued to reside until called to their final rest.
Clark B. Core was reared under the parental roof and in his boyhood days attended the public schools near his father's home. When twenty-one years of age
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he started out to earn his own living but did not leave the old homestead, his father employing him as a farm hand for three years. During that period, in the fall of 1887, he and his brother Skiles invested in Iowa land, purchasing three hundred acres in Hancock county, a half mile south of Forest City, and in the spring of 1888 the two brothers made their way to their newly acquired possession. Clark B. Core remained for a month and then returned to the old home in Illinois and operated the farm through the summer of 1888. In the spring of 1889, however, he took up his abode in Hancock county, Iowa, but as he was not married at that time, he spent the three succeeding winter seasons at the old homestead in Illinois.
It was on the 18th of February, 1892, that Mr. Core wedded Miss Dorothy Robison, then a resident of La Salle county, Illinois, but a native of England. They began their domestie life upon the Iowa farm and have since been residents of this state. IIis brother Skiles has never married and has always made his home with Mr. and Mrs. C. B. Core. They called their place the Fairview Stock Farm and while residing thereon made a specialty of handling live stock. They bred thoroughbred Percheron horses and in that business were very successful, raising some of the finest stock to be found in the state. To their three hundred acres of land was added an adjoining traet of one hundred and ninety aeres, making theirs a farm of four hundred and ninety acres, and later they pur- chased still another tract of one hundred and sixty aeres. In 1912 Mr. Core and his brother retired from active farming and removed to Forest City, where they have since lived. They had long been recognized as prominent representatives of agricultural and stoek raising interests, and the careful management which they displayed in the conduct of their business affairs brought to them deserved and well merited success.
In his political views C. B. Core has always been a stalwart republican and for eight years he served as a school director. In the spring of 1916 he was elected a member of the city council of Forest City and is proving an able repre- sentative of the aldermanie board, exercising his official prerogatives in support of various plans and measures for the general good.
To Mr. and Mrs. Core have been born two children : Glen M., who is farming one hundred and sixty acres of land in Ilaneock county; and Mary J., who is a sophomore in the high school. The twenty-fifth wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Core was made the occasion of a delightful reception and banquet. One evening a messenger arrived at their home bearing a note which read :
" Tomorrow at eleven, A teamster, true and tried, Will drive up with his bob-sled, To take you for a ride. No questions ask-the driver's steady, So wrap up warm and be all ready."
This of course indicated to them that something was going to happen but they knew not what. At the appointed hour they were taken to the home of Mr. and Mrs. O. K. Maben, where complete arrangements for the celebration had been made, even to preparing the veil and the bouquet for the bride. The occasion was made a most enjoyable one by its informality and good cheer. Pictures were
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placed about the room representing the bridal couple in all phases of life and the guests were asked to write poems concerning them. The following gives an account of their life work and is a fitting memento of a celebration that will never be forgotten by any in attendance :
"As unto the bow the cord is,
So unto the man is woman, Tho she bends him, she obeys him, Tho she draws him, yet she follows, Useless each without the other." Lines from "Iliawatha's Wooing,"
Form the basis of this legend,
Form the meter of this story;
Founded 'tis on facts, not fiction. Far back in the latter eighties
From the country to the eastward,
Far beyond the Mississippi Came a youth, who, with his brother,
Bought a farm of many acres --
Later named it Fairview Stock Farm,
In the fertile Lime Creek Valley
With its stream of sparkling water, Bordered by a mighty forest.
Rolling prairies west and southward Near the town of Forest City.
Not much wealth this youth brought with him Measured in the terms of money,
But a wealth of brawn and musele,
Common sense, grit and ambition.
On this farm to meet the payments
Toiled he with strong hands and steady,
Boarded with the wife and husband,
Who had come to share his dwelling.
Sometimes when the snows of winter
Lay upon the peaceful valley,
On the fertile Lime Creek Valley ;
When the crops had all been gathered,
Housed from cold the swine and cattle,
Horses resting from their labors, East he journeyed to his people,
Father, mother, sister, brothers,
Stayed with them throughout the winter, Making glad his aged parents.
In the country of his boyhood
At the home of John, his brother, Dwelt a jolly English maiden Young and fair, with figure graceful. As he fondly gazed upon her To himself he thought and pondered She is not an idle maiden, She is not a useless woman, Hands are skillful, fingers nimble.
Heart and hands they work together,
She, to me, is queen of women. And before the winter ended, Ere he for his home departed,
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She had listened to his pleading Promised ever to be faithful.
Until he could come to claim her,
Come back during the next winter, Take her to his home and fireside Near the town of Forest City. Then, there came the time of planting, Long, but happy days of springtime.
Even the wild bird's song seemed' sweeter,
As he listened to its singing,
Listened to its warbling love songs.
In his soul a transformation
Proved that life was well worth living
Proved the truth of the old adage
"Absence makes the heart grow fonder."
Thru the long, hot days of summer
Still he toiled, tho often weary.
For he found by keeping busy Shorter seemed the time of waiting.
Autumn passed ; the yellow cornfields
Yielded him a golden harvest,
Which in time was stored for feeding,
Everything for winter ready,
For he was a thrifty farmer. Quickly now, he started eastward, Crossed again the Mississippi
Reached the old home of his boyhood,
Found the maiden for him waiting,
Found that she had grown more lovely With the days of anxious , waiting.
So on February eighteenth,
Five and twenty years today 'tis,
They were joined in holy wedlock,
Pledged their lives for worse or better,
Took the vows to love and honor, Always to obey each other.
In a fortnight they departed.
Braved the later days of winter,
To their home arrived in safety,
To their home near Forest City. IFumble tho it was, she changed it
To a place of joy and comfort ;
Welcome gave to gnest or stranger,
Hospitality unbounded.
Well-cooked food and plenty of it, Always filled the spacious tahle.
Tho she missed friends of her girlhood,
Oft was lonely, she complained not, Always cheerful, always busy, She ere long made lasting friendships. Much she found to keep her busy,
Washing, mending, scrubbing, baking. Many hungry mouths to cook for, Often with no girl to help her ; Burdens bearing without mimber,
Burdens that at times seemed heavy,
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And along with all the others, Took to board the distriet schoolma'am. Then for rest and recreation
Calmly did the family sewing. Many a siek-room has been brightened By her gifts of flowers or dainties.
Flowers, she saves not for the casket, But gives them also to the living. In all publie enterprises They always took an active interest,
Always have been generous givers,
But for themselves few luxuries getting Until they could well afford it.
As the years kept coming, going, Soon the farm had all been paid for ; Other aeres have been added, Other buildings been erected, Prosperity has blessed their efforts.
For twenty years they toiled together,
Twenty years on Fairview Stock Farm,
Then they rented it and left it, Bought a home in Forest City,
Where they live in peace and quiet,
Enjoying fruits of honest labor. Two happy-hearted children
('ame to bless this worthy couple,
Early learned from both their parents
Honest work is not degrading, Work well done is not disgraceful. Glen is now a prosperous farmer,
On the prairie to the southward,
Where another home he founded
With a neat and tidy helpmate. Mary, now a high school maiden, Is the skillful chauffeur
Guides the Paige with steady museles,
Drives it smoothly without friction,
Saves her mother countless footsteps.
The result of careful training.
Cheers her many wintry evenings As they work with hook or shuttle,
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