USA > Iowa > Hancock County > History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 23
USA > Iowa > Winnebago County > History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 23
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farm of one hundred and twenty acres five miles east of Forest City and gives per- sonal supervision to its cultivation and improvement.
In 1900 Mr. Denzel was united in marriage to Miss Etta Steinhoff, of Newman Grove, Nebraska. Hle is a member of the American Yeomen, of the Mystic Toilers and of Albert Lea Lodge, No. 813, B. P. O. E. Ilis political allegiance is given to the democratic party and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Ile is esteemed as a progressive and thoroughly reliable business man, as a public-spirited citizen and one who in social relations has ever commanded and won the confidence and good will of all with whom he has been brought in contact.
THOMAS II. THOMPSON.
Thomas H. Thompson, residing in Garner and filling the office of county treasurer, to which he has been re-elected, is of Norwegian birth, his natal day being March 4, 1843. His parents, Holstein and Bertha ( Molstere) Thompson. came to the United States with their family in 1883 and established their home in Hamilton county, Iowa, where the father purchased land and engaged in farm- ing for about nine years. In 1891 he removed to Hancock county and invested in farm land in Twin Lake township. Later he removed to Erin township, where he carried on general agricultural pursuits until his death in 1913. ITis widow still survives and is now making her home with her son, A. O. Thompson, in Britt. Iowa.
Thomas H. Thompson was a little lad of but ten years at the time of the emigration of the family to the new world. Since then he has been a resident of Iowa and is indebted to its public school system for the educational privileges which he enjoyed. He was reared to the occupation of farming, early becoming familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. When twenty-seven years of age he began farming on his own account and his previous experience brought to him success in that undertaking. He was thus engaged until 1909, when he was appointed postmaster of Kanawha and occupied that position for about four and a half years, or until September, 1913, when he was elected county treasurer of Hancock county. Hle proved a faithful enstodian of the public funds, prompt and accurate in the discharge of his duties, and in 1916 he was re-elected. He has held various township offices and fidelity to duty is recog- nized as one of his marked characteristics in positions of public trust. His political allegiance has always been given to the republican party, for he is a firm believer in its principles.
On the 3d of July, 1900, Mr. Thompson was united in marriage to Miss Sadie Stonerson, who was born in Hamilton county, Iowa, a daughter of Frank and Gertie Stonerson. They removed to Emmet county, where they engaged in farm- ing for years. The father is now deceased but the mother still survives. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson became the parents of six children, but lost their second son, Sidney, who died at the age of two years. The other children are Franklin, Bertha, Thelma. Edward and Leona.
Mr. Thompson is identified with various fraternal orders, being a Woodman,
ii-12
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a Yeoman, an Odd Fellow and a Mason, having taken the degrees of both lodge and chapter. Ile is also a member of the Lutheran church and those who know him esteem him as a man of sterling worth, his life having ever been guided by high and honorable principles.
ENOCII R. HILL.
Enoch R. Hill, who is carrying on general agricultural pursuits on section 3. Forest township, Winnebago county, being the owner of the Plain View Farm, was born December 20, 1890, in the county where he still resides, his parents being R. J. and Inger ( Sampson) Ilill. His boyhood days were passed in the usual manner of the farm bred boy, his time being divided between the duties of the schoolroom, the pleasures of the playground and the work of the fields. He supplemented his public school training by a year's study in college. He lived with his grandparents from the time that he was two weeks old, and after they had been called to their final rest he inherited the old homestead property on section 3, Forest township, comprising one hundred and tifteen acres of well improved and highly cultivated land. He is one of the enterprising and pro- gressive farmers of his township and carefully, wisely and systematically culti- vates his fields and manages his farm property.
In his political views Mr. Hill is a republican and keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day but has never been an office seeker. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Lutheran church.
ANDREW INGEBRETSON.
Among the prosperous farmers and highly esteemed citizens of Center town- ship, Winnebago county, is numbered Andrew Ingebretson, whose home is on section 32. He was born on the 24th of June, 1844, in Norway, of which country his parents, Ingebret and Gudve Ingebretson, were life long residents. The father, who was a farmer by occupation, died in July, 1844, and the mother's death occurred in 1853.
Andrew Ingebretson was thus left an orphan at the early age of nine years. He grew to manhood in his native land, where he attended school to a limited extent as he found opportunity, and completed his education after coming to this country. It was in June, 1867, that he landed in America and, continuing his journey westward, settled in Dane county, Wisconsin, where he worked as a farm hand for eight years, being in the employ of one man for six years of that time. In 1875 Mr. Ingebretson came to Winnebago county, Iowa, and purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land on section 32. Center township, to which he has since added twenty acres. Upon his place he has erected good and substantial buildings and has converted the tract into a very productive farm. In connection with general farming he is engaged in stock raising, making a specialty of pure
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blooded eattle, and he is a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company of Leland, the Leland Creamery Company and the Lake Mills Lumber Company.
On the 17th of April. 1873, Mr. Ingebretson married Miss Caroline Tollefson, by whom he has had eleven children, namely: Annie; Ida ; Obert; Josie; Nettie, who died October 12, 1913, leaving four children; Palmer; Garfield; Luther ; Emma and Sylvan, twins; and Nellie. In religious faith the family are Lutherans, and by his ballot Mr. Ingebretson supports the men and measures of the republican party. At one time he returned to Norway and spent three delightful months in visiting old friends and the scenes with which he was familiar during his boy- hood.
ED HENDERSON.
A number of the leading business enterprises of Lake Mills and practically all of the projects for the advancement of the civic interests of the community have felt the stimulus of the enthusiasm and initiative of Ed Henderson and his keenness of insight has often excited the admiration of those associated with him. He established himself in business here when Lake Mills was only a village and was for many years actively engaged in merchandising, but has now disposed of his interests along that line, although he is still connected with a number of important concerns. He was born in Norway, June 26, 1850, the third in order of birth in a family of eight children whose parents, Ole and Sarah (Gamkin) Henderson, removed to the United States in 1852. The family located near Argyle, Lafayette county, Wisconsin, and there the father purchased land from the government which he farmed until his death in 1898. The mother passed away a decade later and both are buried at that place.
Ed Henderson was but two years of age when brought to the United States and in the attainment of his education attended the common schools of Wisconsin until he was sixteen years old. During this time he also received training from his father in farm work, but when nineteen years old began following the tinner's trade. At the age of twenty years he established a tin shop and later added a line of hardware, engaging in business in Wisconsin until 1874, when he sold out and removed to Northwood, Worth county, Iowa, becoming associated with his brother, J. M. Henderson, who was a hardware dealer there. In 1880 they started a second store at Lake Mills with Ed Henderson in charge. In 1886 the partnership was dissolved, Mr. Henderson of this review retaining the Lake Mills business. As the years passed his trade continued to grow as the natural result of his progressive and liberal policy. He kept his stock up to date and spared no effort to give his customers the greatest possible satisfaction. In 1912 he retired from the manage- ment of the store but still gives personal supervision to his other important interests. He still owns the Henderson block, which he erected in 1887 and which was the second brick structure built in Lake Mills. He also built two other bloeks but has since sold them. He was one of the organizers of the Crystal Lake State Bank at Crystal Lake, the First National Bank at Lake Mills, the Lake Mills Land & Loan Company, and the Northern Investment Company of Crystal Lake, of all of which he was a director for several years but is not now interested in any of these
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institutions, although he is a stockholder in the Farmers State Bank of Lake Mills. He has invested in real estate, recognizing its great desirability, and owns four hundred and twenty acres of fine land in Worth county, lowa. When he established his store here there was no bank in the town and in order to accom- modate his enstomers he carried on a banking business to some extent, cashing checks in extreme cases and selling exchange. He cashed the check in payment for the first carload of hogs shipped from Lake Mills and his services as a banker were highly appreciated in the community. He has always been one of the first to give his support to plans for the promotion of the commercial advancement of Lake Mills and has had an important part in the development of its business interests.
Mr. Henderson was married February 21. 1883, to Miss Eliza Lee, a daughter of Ole and Tone (Grover) Lee, natives of Norway, who, however, accompanied their respective parents to the United States in childhood. The two families were early settlers, first in Mitchell county and later in Worth county. Both Mr. and Mrs. Lee have passed away and are buried in Concordia cemetery in Worth county. To Mr. and Mrs. Henderson have been born six children, who are giving an excel- lent account of themselves and are a great credit to their parents. Estella Theresa, who is a graduate of Cornell College at Mount Vernon, lowa, and of the Cedar Rapids Business College, and has taken a course in the Art Institute at Chicago, has been a teacher of penmanship in the West high school at Des Moines and has been elected director of penmanship in Des Moines. She will have the supervision of the work in that branch in about fifty grade schools. Clara Olivia is a graduate of the Cedar Falls State Teachers' College and taught school at Lake Mills for four years. She is also a graduate nurse and is practicing at Minneapolis, Minne- sota. Elmer Alexander graduated from the Luther Seminary at St. Paul with the class of 1915, spent the year 1916 in post graduate study at the Princeton Theo- logical Seminary and expects to enter the ministry of the English branch of the Lutheran church soon. Lillian Sophia is a graduate of the Northwestern Con- servatory of Music at Minneapolis and is at present with the Minnesota Public Health Association, visiting rural schools as school nurse. Arthur J. G. is a gradu- ate of St. Olaf's College of Northfield, Minnesota, and is now a medical student in the University of Illinois. Ruth Elizabeth, who completes the family, is a member of the class of 1917 of the Lake Mills high school.
Mr. Henderson's home life has been an ideal one. What success he has achieved in business and otherwise is greatly due to the cooperation of his wife, who as a true Christian woman has entered heartily into all his work, helped, encouraged and supported him in the many years of strenuous work, in business, church and home, having, in short, always done her share of the work and planning. She was educated in the public schools of Bristol and Northwood and learned the dress- making trade in Northwood. She has taken an active part in church work, organ- ized the first Ladies' Aid Society of the Synod church of Lake Mills, was for many years a member of the church choir and organized the Ladies' Home Club, of which she is still a member. In short, she has faken an active part in church and social affairs for the betterment of the town. However, she is preeminently a home woman and has ever delighted in making the home an ideal place. Their fine new home was planned and built according to her suggestions and the work
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in the minutest details was done according to her ideas, and so perfect has it proven that although five years have now elapsed since it was completed not a single change has been made.
Mr. Henderson gives his political allegiance to the republican party, served as a member of the school board for several terms, during part of which time he was president of that body, was town clerk for one term and councilman for three terms. Ilis religious faith is that of the Synod Lutheran church. He is a fine example of a self-made man, for he has worked his way upward from a humble beginning to a position among the capitalists of his city. His dominant character- istics are determination, independence of judgment and enterprise- qualities which invariably command admiration and which are an excellent foundation for success in any line of endeavor. The past three winters he has spent in California, but he still considers Lake Mills his home.
ANTHONY O. TOBIASSEN.
Anthony O. Tobiassen, who at different times has been connected with a variety of business interests in an important capacity but is now largely concen- trating his energies upon the real estate business and upon selling silos, was born in Norway, May 22, 1853. He is the eldest of five children, whose parents, Abra- ham and Torie (Anderson) Tobiassen, came to the United States in 1864 and settled in Legrand, Marshall county, lowa. The father had farmed in Norway but followed the stone mason's trade in lowa. In 1885 he removed to the state of Washington, locating near Lynden, and there he engaged in farming until his death in 1913 at the age of eighty-nine years. He is buried there but his wife is interred in the North cemetery at Lake Mills, as she passed away in 1902 when visiting her son Anthony. The rest of the children all live in Lynden, Washington.
Anthony O. Tobiassen received his early education in the common schools and worked for others until he was twenty-one years old, when he went to Chicago and engaged in the nursery business. In 1874, realizing that a better education would be of great value to him, he entered Grinnell College, where he was a student for two terms. In 1876 he came to Lake Mills, which he had visited in 1869, and for five years he taught school in Winnebago county. In 1881 he began working in an implement store in Lake Mills and later turned his attention to cattle raising, taking up his residence on a farm which he owned in Norway township. While living there he also served as deputy sheriff for three terms under Jacob Twito and he made an excellent record in that capacity. In 1888 he became connected with a lumber company in Lake Mills and three years later became president of the local creamery company and also secretary of the Winnebago County Mutual Insurance Company. In 1892 he was one of the incorporators of the Lake Mills Lumber Company, of which he was manager and treasurer until 1903, during which time the business was very ably conducted and yielded a good profit to its stockholders. In 1903 he formed a partnership with A. A. Sanden for the con- duct of a real estate business, but in 1906 went to Lyman county, South Dakota, where he homesteaded land. He became active in the real estate field there, dealing in lands in that state until 1911, when he returned to Lake Mills and again became
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manager and treasurer of the Lake Mills Lumber Company, serving in those capaci- ties until 1915. He has since given his time and attention to selling silos and to his interests as a real estate and insurance agent and for the past thirty-two years he has been a representative of the Fidelity Phoenix Fire Insurance Com- pany. He still owns several valuable tracts of land in South Dakota.
In September, 1879, Mr. Tobiassen was married to Miss Clara Twito, a daugh- ter of llans and Aslang (Jacobson) Twito, who in. 1846 removed from Norway to the United States. Both settled in Muskego, Wisconsin, where they were mar- ried, and later they removed to Spring Grove, Minnesota, where the father died in 1866 and where he was buried. The mother and her children removed to Esther- ville, lowa, and in 1871 came to Lake Mills, where Mrs. Twito's death occurred in 1911. She was buried in the North cemetery here. To Mr. and Mrs. Tobiassen were born four children, one of whom died in infancy, the others being: J. Ben. who is married and is engaged in the hardware business in Draper, South Dakota : A. Ilomer, who is married and is a general merchant of Draper, South Dakota ; and Lottie, the wife of JJoseph Beach, a banker of Draper.
Mr. Tobiassen has been a lifelong republican and has always discharged to the full all the duties devolving upon him as a good citizen. He held the office of township clerk for several years and has also served as township assessor and his official record is highly ereditable to his ability and public spirit. In religious faith he is a Lutheran, and fraternally is a charter member of the Modern Wood- men of America lodge at Lake Mills. His has been a life of intense and well directed industry and although he began his independent career empty handed he is now financially independent. He naturally tinds satisfaction in his material prosperity, but values even more the high place which he has won in the esteem of his fellow citizens through his strict adherence to high moral standards in all relations of life.
GUSTAV GORDON.
Gustav Gordon, cashier of the State Bank of Thompson, claims Wisconsin as his native state, his birth occurring in Primrose township, Dane county. on the 11th of October, 1869, and he is a son of Knute and Bertha ( Gothompson ) Gordon. The father was born in Norway but was only a year old when brought to this country, and the mother was born in Albany, Wisconsin. After reaching manhood Knute Gordon followed farming in Wisconsin until 1881. when he removed to North Dakota, and there purchased land which he operated for seven years. in 1889 he became a resident of Palo Alto county, Iowa, where he also owned land and engaged in farming until his death, which occurred in 1893, when he was only forty-seven years of age. His widow is now a resident of Thompson, lowa, and has attained the age of sixty-eight years. To this worthy couple were born four- teen children, of whom the following are still living: Gustav, of this review ; Mrs. W. C. Sundermeyer, of Rake, lowa; Sever B., engaged in the real estate business in Madelia, Minnesota ; Carl, a farmer of Palo Alto county, Iowa: Mrs. A. E. Helland, of Rake; Anna and Marie, who are living with their mother, the latter a teacher in the Thompson schools; and Henry, who is attending Luther College at Decorah, lowa.
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Gustav Gordon accompanied his parents on their removal to North Dakota and the greater part of his education was acquired in the schools of Mayville, that state. Later he took a business course at the Capital City Commercial College in Des Moines, lowa, and then accepted a position as bookkeeper in the First National Bank of Emmetsburg, lowa. where he remained for five years. For three years he was cashier of their branch bank at Cylinder, Iowa, and in 1911 came to Thompson, Winnebago county, and purchased an interest in the State Bank of Thompson, of which he has since been cashier. The bank is today one of the most solid and pros- perous financial institutions of this section of the state, its deposits now amounting to one hundred and eighty-two thousand dollars. The capital is thirty thousand dollars and there is a surplus of eight thousand dollars. The officers are B. J. Thompson, president : J. O. Osmundson, vice president ; Gustav Gordon, cashier ; and 11. W. Nelson, assistant cashier, all good reliable business men. Besides his interest in the bank Mr. Gordon is a stockholder and director in the Town Mutual Telephone Company and a stockholder and treasurer of the Farmers Cooperative Creamery Company.
In June, 1905, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Gordon and Miss Clara Kittleson, and to them have been born four children. namely: Verna, born September 21, 1909; Vivian, born in September, 1912: Ruth, born in July, 1914 : and Ruby, who was born March 21, 1917, and died five days later.
Mr. and Mrs. Gordon are members of the Lutheran church and he is an ardent republican in politics, taking an active and commendable interest in public affairs. He has efficiently served as a member of the town council and has also been treas- urer of the independent school district. He occupies an enviable position in busi- ness circles, being a man of good executive ability and thoroughly reliable in all transactions.
HANS C. ENGEBRETSON.
llans C. Engebretson, a representative farmer of Logan township, Winnebago county, living on section 16, has been a lifelong resident of this county and is a representative of one of its old pioneer families. He was born May 20, 1877, in Logan township, on school land on which his father had taken up his abode ere it was placed npon the market for sale. He is a son of Christian Engebretson, mentioned at length on another page of this work. He began his education in the pioneer schools of the county, which he attended to the age of sixteen, after which he spent one term in study in Breckenridge College at Decorah, Iowa. Ile afterward worked for his father until he reached the age of twenty-four years and then began farming his father's land on the shares. Two years later he rented a farm in Faribault county, Minnesota, in connection with his brother Carl and lived thereon for a year. He afterward spent two years on a farm of eighty acres on the southwest quarter of section 16. Logan township, Winnebago county, as a renter, and on the expiration of that period he purchased the property, to which he has since added various modern and attractive improvements. He is still cul- tivating this land, which is now one of the excellent farm properties of the county, and he also owns a third interest in the northeast quarter of section 34, Logan
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township. His activities are directed along lines which ultimately produce sub- stantial results and he has already made for himself a place among the valued and enterprising farmers of Logan township.
On December 16, 1903, Mr. Engebretson was married to Miss Ella H. Peter- son, her parents being Henry and Elsie Peterson, who were early settlers of Free- born county, Minnesota, and now reside in Logan township, Winnebago county. this state. Mr. and Mrs. Engebretson have three children, Clarence Melvin, Gayler Alvin and Harold Ernest. The parents hold membership in the United Lutheran church and Mr. Engebretson exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party, in the faith of which he was reared. Ilis study of political situations and questions of the present day leads him still to the belief that the principles of this party contain the best elements of good government, and at all times he ranks with the public-spirited and pro- gressive men of his district.
HENRY GRIESEMER.
Henry Griesemer is now living retired from active business, making his home in Garner. At various periods he has been identified with commercial and agri- cultural interests in Hancock county, where he has made his home for about forty years. He was born December 10, 1855, in Richfield, Washington county, Wisconsin, a son of John and Kate (Hyer) Griesemer, who were natives of Ger- many, whence they came to America about 1833. Making their way westward they established their home in Washington county, Wisconsin, where John Grie- semer engaged in business as a contractor and builder. Later he took up the occupation of farming, but both he and his wife are now deceased.
Henry Griesemer was a pupil in the public and German schools of his native county until he reached the age of fourteen years, when he went to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and entered the shoe factory of Andrew Oswald. He afterward spent eight years with various manufacturing concerns and in 1877 he arrived in Han- cock county, Iowa, where he was employed for a year. lle then returned to Milwaukee but in 1880 again came to Iowa, settling in Britt, where he conducted a shoe business for two years. On the expiration of that period he turned his attention to farming to which he devoted three years in Concord township. In 1886 he became a resident of Garner where he opened a harness shop and shoe repair shop. He continued in the business for thirty years and then retired, since which time he has enjoyed a well earned rest. His has been an active and useful life, and his close application and industry in business brought him a substantial measure of prosperity. He erected a nice home in Garner, so that he is now comfortably located. Ile is a stockholder in the State Bank of Klemme.
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