USA > Iowa > Hancock County > History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 35
USA > Iowa > Winnebago County > History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 35
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
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
Sam Thronson obtained his education in the common schools of Norway town- ship, which he attended until eighteen years of age, after which he worked for his father until the latter's death. He is now farming the old homestead and he also rents and cultivates the southwest quarter of section 30, so that he is giving his time and energies to the cultivation of four hundred acres of land. Ile is leading a busy, useful and active life and his energy and thrift are evidenced in the
359
WINNEBAGO AND HANCOCK COUNTIES
splendid appearance of his place. The fences and buildings are kept in a state of good repair and there are fine improvements upon the farm, while in the culti- vation of his fields he utilizes the best machinery. He also raises quite a number of cattle and hogs. In a word, he is a progressive agriculturist and his labors are being attended by gratifying results. IIc is a stockholder in the Scarville elevator and in the creamery. His political allegiance is given to the republican party but he has never sought nor desired office. His religious faith is manifest in his membership in the Synod Lutheran church.
LEWIS G. AVERY.
No history of Hancock county would be complete without mention of the Avery family and one cannot carry his investigations far without learning what an important part they have played in the development and upbuilding of this section of the state. Lewis G. Avery, who is now engaged in general farming on section 25, Avery township, was born November 12, 1867, his parents being Anson and Lovina (Philo) Avery, who were the first settlers of Hancock county, where the father took up the occupation of farming when all this district was a wild and unbroken prairie in which as yet the hand of civilization had wrought no changes. It was in his honor that Avery township was so named.
A lifelong resident of Hancock county, Lewis G. Avery entered the public schools at the usual age, but attended only through the winter seasons when his labors were not needed in the work of the farmn. Through the summer months he took his place in the fields, but he continued to attend school as opportunity offered until he reached the age of seventeen. Afterward his entire time was devoted to farm work on the old homestead until he reached the age of twenty- four years, when his father gave him seventy-seven acres of land on section 20, Avery township, and he afterward purchased sixty acres on section 21 of the same township and another tract of five acres on section 20. This farm he still owns and he has made it one of the valuable and desirable properties of his part of the county. Stock raising has become a prominent feature of his place and he special- izes in Chester White hogs, shorthorn Durham cattle and fine Belgian horses. He also thoroughly understands scientific methods of crop production and so utilizes his fields that through the rotation of crops they are kept at a high state of productiveness and splendid harvests are annually gathered.
On the 26th of November, 1891, Mr. Avery was united in marriage to Miss Mary Hughes, a daughter of Edward and Lucy (Melius) Hughes. The father, who was born in Ireland in 1839, came to America when a youth of seventeen years and during the period of the Civil war he rendered three years of active service to his country in behalf of the Union. His wife was born in 1857 and both have now passed away. Mr. and Mrs. Avery have become the parents of two daughters: Mardel L. A .; and Clara A. who is the wife of Irvin F. Bier, a son of Conrad Bier, of Meservey, Iowa, and has one child, Avery I. Bier.
Mr. and Mrs. Avery attend the United Brethren church. His political endorse- ment is given to republican principles and upon the party ticket he has been elected township trustee. He has also served as school director and he is much
360
WINNEBAGO AND HANCOCK COUNTIES
interested in community affairs, giving his aid and cooperation to plans and movements for the general good. His has been a well spent life. The work insti- tuted by his father in pioneer times has been carried on by him and thus the name of Avery is closely associated with the agricultural development of this section. His memory forms a connecting link between the primitive past and the progressive present and he has done much to further public progress not only along agricultural lines, but in all those branches of activity which touch the general interests of society.
CARL O. THOMPSON.
Carl O. Thompson is a well known and prominent resident of Norway township, Winnebago county, where he has been called upon to fill various public offices by his fellow townsmen, who recognize his worth and ability. His attention is given to general agricultural pursuits and he is now the owner of two hundred and twenty acres of rich and productive land in Norway township, his home being on section 27.
Mr. Thompson was born January 13, 1861, in the country of Norway, and is the only living child of Ole and Ingeborg Thompson, although two other children passed away in infancy. The father was a blacksmith by trade. He was twice married and by his first union had a daughter, Julia, who is now Mrs. John Severson of Norway township. In the year 1866 Ole Thompson brought his family to the United States and, making his way across the continent, established his home in Norway township. Winnebago county, purchasing one hundred and forty acres of land on section 27 that is now in possession of his son Carl. He endured the hardships and privations of pioneer life during the period of early development here, but he resolutely faced conditions and bent his energies to the development and improvement of a farm with the result that in course of time his land became a valuable and productive property. He devoted his attention to its cultivation until his life's labors were ended in death August 22, 1891. His widow survived him for a considerable period and passed away Angust 1, 1905, when she was laid to rest by his side in Lime Creek cemetery. He was a republican in his political views and his religious faith was indicated by his membership in the Synod Lutheran church.
In his youthful days C'arl O. Thompson attended the early schools of the county, which were then of a somewhat primitive character, as the work of organization and development in the school system had scarcely been begun. After reaching the age of sixteen years he did not go to school any longer but concentrated his entire attention upon the farm work and was in his father's employ up to the time of his marriage. He had reached the age of twenty-three years when in 1884 he wedded Anna Holstad, a daughter of Ole and Anna Holstad, who resided near Northwood in Worth county, lowa, but have now passed away. their remains being interred in Somber cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson became the parents of nine children, of whom one has departed this life, Hilma, who was the sixth born and who died at the age of eighteen years. The others are : Ole, who is married and lives, near Lake Park, Minnesota; Ida B., the wife of Burton Johnson, a farmer of Bristol township, Worth county ; Oscar, who is married
361
WINNEBAGO AND HANCOCK COUNTIES
and makes his home now in St. Paul, Minnesota, but expects soon to be ordained as a Lutheran minister and will locate at Chinook, Washington; Albert T., at home; Clara, the wife of Alfred Larson, living near Grantsburg, Wisconsin; John B., Amanda and Alice, all at home.
Following his marriage Mr. Thompson began farming on his own account and the success which has come to him is the direct reward of his earnest and persistent labors. Ile is now the owner of the old homestead of one hundred and forty acres, which has been in the possession of the family for more than a half century, and he also owns the west half of the northwest quarter of section 33, Norway township, and a quarter section of land in Becker county, Minnesota. Ho has led a life of thrift and industry, and that his farm work is diligently prosecuted is manifest in the excellent appearance of the place with its growing crops, its modern machinery and fine improvements in the way of buildings. Mr. Thompson is now president of the Farmers Elevator Company of Lake Mills and of the Norway Farmers Union Telephone Company and is secretary of the Lake Mills Creamery Company.
Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are well known in Winnebago county and have a large circle of warm friends. They hold membership with the Synod Lutheran church and Mr. Thompson gives his political allegiance to the democratic party. He has filled all of the township offices save that of justice of the peace and for six years he was a member of the county board of supervisors. Ile is now serving as school treasurer, and in public office he has made a creditable record by reason of his promptness and fidelity in the discharge of duty. Those who know him esteem him as a man of sterling worth and one who has contributed in no small measure to the upbuilding of this section.
FRED KATTER.
Progressive agriculture in Hancock county finds a worthy representative in Fred Katter, the owner of the Maple Ash Lawn stock farm, situated on section 27, Madison township. He was born, in Ohio, November 28. 1866, and is a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Paterjohn) Katter, both of whom were natives of Germany. Coming to America in 1860 they settled in Ohio and in 1875 came to Iowa, establishing their home on a farm in Hancock county, where they spent their remaining days. They had a family of twelve children, of whom eight are now living.
Fred Katter was reared and educated in Hancock county, for he was only about eight or nine years of age at the time of the removal of the family west of the Mississippi. After attending high school he entered the business college at Garner and was graduated from that institution. For a year thereafter he devoted his attention to farming and then engaged in merchandising at Garner for a decade. He next sold that place and turned his attention to the real estate and insurance business in which he continued for seven years. In 1907 he removed to his present farm whereon he engages in stock raising and breeding, handling Aberdeen Angus cattle and Chester White hogs, keeping only registered stock. He is recognized as one of the leading stock raisers of this section of the state and his
11-18
362
WINNEBAGO AND HANCOCK COUNTIES
annual sales reach a very gratifying figure. Throughout his business career he has displayed unfaltering determination and energy and he carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes.
In 1893 Mr. Katter was united in marriage to Miss Louise Holtkamp who was born in Shelby county, Iowa, a daughter of William and Mary (Neimeyer) Holtkamp, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Ohio. They have become parents of six children of whom five are living, their first born, Ruth, having died at the age of a year and a half. The next two, Reuben and Calvin, are twins. The others are Lincoln, Wilson and Emily. The parents are members of the Reformed church of Garner and loyally adhere to its teachings, doing all in their power to promote the moral progress of the community. Mr. Katter is a supporter of the republican party and has been called upon to fill several of the township offices, the duties of which he has discharged with promptness and fidelity. Ile was the organizer of the Farmers Club in his township and was the promoter of the consolidated school system. He is constantly studying questions relative to the improvement of farm life, not only in regard to material welfare but also to social intercourse and moral progress. He feels that one of the needs of the present hour is a greater social spirit which will hold the young people to the farms, and is also an advocate of improved school conditions which will give to the young advantages equal to those to be obtained in the city. In a word, he is actuated by a most progressive spirit and his labors have brought good results.
JOHN OLSON.
John Olson has since 1911 been cashier of the First National Bank of Forest City but for a much longer period has been identified with financial interests in Winnebago county and has been a close student of the grave and important finan- cial problems of the day. He is actuated in all that he does by a spirit of enter- prise and public opinion accords him place with the representative citizens of this part of the state. He was born in Iowa county, Wisconsin, June 8, 1873, a son of O. B. and Gunhild (Anderson) Olson, both of whom were natives of Norway but became residents of Wisconsin during their childhood days. At the time of the Civil war the father responded to the country's call for troops, going to the front with a Wisconsin regiment and thus aiding in defense of the Union. In 1880 he removed to Worth county, Iowa, where he purchased a farm, devoting the greater part of his life to general agricultural pursuits. He has now passed away, while his wife resides at Lake Mills, Iowa.
John Olson supplemented his public school education by three years' study in the Valder Business College at Decorah, Iowa, and on the 20th of July, 1896, arrived in Forest City, then a young man of twenty-three years. He became official stenographer with Judge C. H. Kelley, with whom he remained for a year, after which he spent a year as deputy county treasurer. Since then he has been closely identified with banking interests. He first entered the Winnebago County State Bank as cashier, in which capacity he served for a decade, after which he filled the office of state bank examiner for two years. On retiring from that position he entered the First National Bank of Forest City as cashier in 1911 and
JOHN OLSON
365
WINNEBAGO AND HANCOCK COUNTIES
is the present incumbent in that office, contributing in large measure to the success of the institution by reason of his fidelity and thorough understanding of banking in all its various phases.
On the 16th of December, 1896, Mr. Olson was married to Miss Maude Cole, a daughter of A. T. and Phoebe Cole, who were pioneers of Winnebago County. They have four children, Vance, Ruth, Eunice and Mark. The son Vance, a senior in the Forest City high school, enlisted in the United States army in the signal corps May 7, 1917, at the age of nineteen.
Mr. Olson is very prominent in fraternal circles, holding membership in Truth Lodge, No. 213, A. F. & A. M., in Bethel Chapter, No. 116, R. A. M., of Garner; in Forest City Lodge, No. 440, I. O. O. F .; in Linwood Camp, No. 717, M. W. A .; in Forest City llomestead, No. 498, B. A. Y., and with the lodge of the Mystic Toilers, No. 132, of Forest City. He was national delegate to the Modern Wood- men Ilead Camps, held in Milwaukee, Wis., in 1905, in Peoria, Illinois, in 1908, in Buffalo, New York, in 1911, in Chicago, Illinois, in 1912 (special session) and in Chicago Illinois in 1917. He was also a delegate to the national convention of the Brotherhood of American Yeomen in Colorado Springs in 1905, in Minneapolis in 1909, in Oklahoma City in 1913 and in Detroit, Michigan, in 1917, and he is in thorough sympathy with the spirit of fraternity that underlies these organiza- tions. Mr. Olson is also recognized as a prominent factor in political circles. A stalwart republican, he has been a member of the city council and also a member of the school board and he has done much to further the interests of his party as chairman and as secretary of the republican county central committee, while on four different occasions he has been a delegate to the republican state conven- tion. His position is never an equivocal one. He stands loyally for what he believes to be the best interests of the community and his progressive spirit has carried him into important public relations.
J. JOSEPII BONNSTETTER.
J. Joseph Bonnstetter, living on section 32, Boone township, Hancock county, was born in Kossuth county, Iowa, April 30, 1879, a son of Michael and Katherina (Dorweiler) Bonnstetter, who were natives of Germany but became early residents of Iowa. While spending his youthful days under the parental roof J. Joseph Bonnstetter divided his time between the work of the fields and the acquirement of a district school education until he reached the age of eighteen, when he entered the high school at Des Moines, where he studied for six months. He afterward began earning his living as a farm hand and carefully utilized his time so that he was later able to purchase a farm. Ile bought one hundred and sixty-five acres in Kossuth county, upon which he lived for two years, when he disposed of his holdings there and removed to Hancock county, where he invested in two hundred and twenty-three acres on section 32, Boone township. While he has always engaged in general farming, he has also made a specialty of handling Belgian horses, breeding the pure bred stock and having in his herd some of the top strains, and he likewise writes insurance for the Hancock County Mutual Fire Insurance Company and also for the Kossuth County Mutual Fire Insurance Company. His
366
WINNEBAGO AND HANCOCK COUNTIES
has been a busy and useful life as indicated by the substantial improvements which he has placed upon his farm, making it one of the attractive properties of his part of the county.
On the 16th of June, 1900, Mr. Bonnstetter was married to Miss Ada M. Ludwig, a native of Wisconsin and a daughter of Dr. Ilerman and Christina (Till) Ludwig, who were natives of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Bonnstetter have five chil- dren, Gilbert A., Raymond E., Lester M., Ernest J. and Esther R.
The parents are communicants of the Catholic church. Mr. Bonnstetter holds membership in the Masonic order and he gives his political allegiance to the demo- cratie party. IIe has served as school director but has never sought nor held politieal office. Working diligently and persistently since starting out in life on his own account, he has become the owner of an excellent farm and is now numbered among the men of affluence in his community.
F. I. MILLER.
F. L. Miller is well known in financial circles of Hancock county as the cashier of the Bank of Miller, which was organized in 1899. Moreover, he has always been a resident of this section of the state. Ile was born July 1, 1878, in the town in which he still resides, his parents being E. C. and Phoebe W. ( Morey ) Miller, the former a native of Vermont, while the latter was born in Pennsylvania. When but three years of age she was taken to Illinois and in that state she gave her hand in marriage to E. C. Miller. In 1875 they removed to Hancock county, lowa, and settled on the farm where the village of Miller now stands, the father thereafter giving his time and enrgies to general agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred January 14, 1912. His widow is still living on the old homestead. In their family were three children: F. L. : A. L., who remains upon the farm ; and Nellie, the wife of George F. Hanson.
F. L. Miller was reared in his native county and supplemented his early education, acquired in the common schools, by study in the business college at Mason City, Iowa. In 1903 he became cashier of the Bank of Miller and has since acted in that capacity, covering a period of fourteen years, during which his sound business judgment, his executive force and his enterprise have contributed much to the upbuilding of the institution. lle is still owner of an interest in the old homestead.
In 1910 Mr. Miller was married to Mrs. Cora D. Wilcox, who was born in Benton county, Iowa. She is a daughter of Fred and Anna (Jones) Phillips, who are now residents of Kossuth county, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have become parents of a daughter and a son : Mona Maurine, born August 27, 1911; and Edwin Fred, born September 13, 1913. The parents are consistent members of the United Presbyterian church and are prominent socially. Mr. Miller is a republi- can in his political views and for several years has filled the office of township clerk. Fraternally he is connected with Garner Lodge, No. 319, F. & A. M., and also with the Royal Arch Chapter and has held several offices in the lodge. Ile likewise belongs to the Modern Woodmen Camp No. 5862, of which he is clerk. His is a well balanced character and the various interests of life receive from him
367
WINNEBAGO AND HANCOCK COUNTIES
due attention. While an active and energetic business man, he has ever realized his duties of citizenship and his obligations to his fellows and has cooperated in many well defined plans and measures for the publie good.
OLE HOVEY.
Although he started out in life for himself in limited circumstances Ole Hovey, is today one of the substantial citizens of Ellington township, Hancock county, owning and operating a fine farm on section 12. He is of Scandinavian birth, being born in Norway, June 24, 1844, and is a son of Ole and Runde Ilovey, who were lifelong residents of that country. During his boyhood our subject attended the common schools of Norway and he remained in his native land until about twenty-three years of age.
It was in the spring of 1867 that Mr. Hovey crossed the Atlantic to the United States and located in Winneshiek county, Iowa, where he worked as a farm hand for two years. At the end of that time he came to Hancock county and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 14, Ellington township. As money was scarce at that time and hard to get he traded eighty acres of his land for a team of horses and later sold forty acres of the original tract but has since added to his property from time to time until he now owns two hundred acres of very valuable land and his wife owns one hundred and twenty acres. That he thoroughly understands the occupation he has chosen as a life work is demonstrated by the success that he has achieved and he now ranks among the well-to-do farmers of his community.
In 1867 Mr. Hovey was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Rude, also a native of Norway, who came to the United States on the same vessel which brought her husband to this country. Of the six children born to them, three are living, namely : Oscar, now a ranchman of Colorado; K. O., who operates the home farm ; and Emma, the wife of Joseph Harris, of Cerro Gordo county, Iowa.
Mr. Hovey is now practically living retired, leaving his son K. O. to carry on the work of the farm. In the early days he endured many hardships and priva- tions but as time passed he steadily prospered and is now the owner of a fine farm under excellent cultivation. By his ballot he supports the men and measures of the republican party and he takes a commendable interest in public affairs.
WALTER F. THOMPSON.
Since 1896 Walter F. Thompson has been a resident of Hancock county, Iowa, and for several years he has been regarded as one of the leading farmers of Boone township, owning and operating a large and valuable farm on sections 33 and 35. Ile was born in Livingston county, Illinois, on the 16th of May, 1868, and is a son of Robert and Margaret (Jury) Thompson, natives of Scotland and England respectively. On coming to America in 1853 the father settled in Livingston county, Illinois, where he followed farming for some years.
368
WINNEBAGO AND HANCOCK COUNTIES
Upon the old home place Walter F. Thompson grew to manhood with the usual educational advantages of a country boy at that time and he continued to attend the common schools of his native county until about twenty years of age. In the meantime he had also become thoroughly familiar with agricultural pursuits and after putting aside his textbooks assisted his father in the operation of the farm until the spring of 1896. In the fall of 1894, however, he had purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 33, Boone township, Hancock county, Iowa, and on leaving the parental roof located upon this tract. Subsequently he bought two hundred and forty aeres on section 35, the same township, and has since made many valuable and useful improvements upon his place, the neat and thrifty appearance of which plainly indicates his thrift and enterprise as well as his untiring industry. He gives some attention to stoek raising, making a specialty of Duroc Jersey hogs.
On the 4th of December, 1894, Mr. Thompson was united in marriage to Miss Alice N. Wolfe, a daughter of Jacob and Sarah E. (Hawkins) Wolfe, who were born in West Virginia, and are now living in Stilson, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have two children: Mand Mary, who married Marcie Hunsley and lives on section 35, Boone township; and Orin Leo.
By his ballot Mr. Thompson supports the men and measures of the republican party and he has filled the office of school director. He is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church and is also identified with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. IIe is one of the representa- tive men of his community and is held in high regard by all who know him.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.