USA > Iowa > Hancock County > History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 39
USA > Iowa > Winnebago County > History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 39
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farming interests he buys and sells stock to some extent and is a director of the Farmers Savings Bank at Corwith. From 1904 until 1912 he was managing director of the Corwith Rural Telephone Company and made an excellent record in that connection, keeping the service up to a high standard and also making the concern pay financially.
Mr. Gaskill was married on the 5th of November, 1903, at Livermore, Iowa, to Miss Winnifred Bravender, who engaged in teaching before her marriage. She taught in Livermore for some time and was following her profession in Corwith when she met Mr. Gaskill. She is a daughter of A. E. and Lucy ( Lyons) Braven- der, the former born in Canada and the latter in lowa. The father engaged in farming in Humboldt county, lowa, near Livermore, for a long period, but is now living retired at Marshall, Minnesota. The mother also survives. Mr. and Mrs. Gaskill have three children, William Albert, Marjorie and George, all born on the homestead.
Mr. Gaskill supports the republican party at the polls and is now serving as trustee of Magor township and as treasurer of the school board. In the discharge of his official duties he manifests the same grasp of situations and the same almost unerring judgment that have characterized him in the management of his business interests. Ile belongs to Paradise Lodge, No. 553, A. F. & A. M., of Corwith, and exemplifies in his life the beneficent spirit of the craft. He is a trustee of the Methodist Episcopal church, is very active in its work and contributes liberally to its support. His wife is also a prominent church worker and is now teaching a Sunday school class. The name of Gaskill has been associated in Hancock county with progressive spirit, unquestionable integrity and ability for more than three decades, and Mr. Gaskill of this review is accorded the same honor and esteem given his father before him.
ANDREW OLSON.
Thronghont an active, useful and well spent life Andrew Olson followed the occupation of farming, taking up his abode in Twin Lake township, Hancock county, in 1871, at which time he secured four hundred and twenty acres of land on sections 30 and 31. For many years he carefully tilled the soil and developed the place, but his life's labors were ended in death in 1909. He was born on the 13th of December, 1839, in Norway, a son of Ole Olson, who was a native of Norway but became a resident of Wisconsin, where he engaged in farming and where both he and his wife died.
The youthful days of Andrew Olson were passed in the usual manner of the farm bred boy, who divides his time between the acquirement of an education, the work of the fields and the pleasure of the playground. After attaining his major- ity he was married in Norway to Miss Lena Holberg, a native of that country and a daughter of John Ilolberg. To them were born six children, Ole, Minnie, John, Edwin, Anton and Benton, all of whom were born in Twin Lake township, Hancock county, Iowa. The first two and the last two are now married. The other sons still remain upon the old homestead, which they are now carefully and profitably cultivating.
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In his political views Mr. Olson was a republican and his fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, called him to several local offices. He served as township trustee and town supervisor and school director. His religious faith was that of the Norwegian Lutheran church, and he guided his life according to its teachings, attempting always to do unto others as he would have them do unto hin. He was found thoroughly reliable in his business transactions, and his friends and neighbors came to esteem him as an upright, honorable man. In business affairs he displayed sound judgment, and whatever success he achieved was the direct reward of his own labors.
HANS FREDRICKSON.
Hans Fredrickson is one of the prosperous farmers and representative citizens of Hancock county whose home is in ('rystal township, where he owns and operates a valuable tract of two hundred and forty acres of land. Like many of the lead- ing men of the county, he is of Scandinavian birth, being born in Denmark on the 4th of July, 1857, a son of Lars and Caroline ( Hanson) Fredrickson. Ile was a child of only four years when his father died and his mother subsequently married Nels Larson, with whom she came to the United States in the spring of 1872. The family located in Freeborn county, Minnesota, Mr. Larson purchasing a farm eight miles east of Albert Lea, but later he sold that place to a brother of our subject and bought another farm two miles west of the same city, where he resided up to the time of his death, which ocenrred September 21, 1912. Mrs. Larson had passed away in January, 1910.
In the land of his nativity Hans Fredrickson passed the first fifteen years of his life and his education was mainly acquired in the common schools of that country? for he only attended school four months after coming to America with the family in 1872. When in his sixteenth year he began earning his own livelihood, working by the month as a farm hand for some time. At length he was able to purchase property and, coming to Hancock county in 1882, he bought one hundred and twenty acres of land on section 28, Crystal township, which he at once began to cultivate and improve. In 1889 he sold that farm and purchased eighty aeres of his present farm on section 19, Crystal township, to which he added eighty aeres in 1901 and another eighty acre tract in 1916, so that he now has an excel- lent farm of two hundred and forty acres. This he has tiled and otherwise improved and the fields are made to yield abundant harvests.
On the 1st of May, 1885, occurred the marriage of Mr. Fredrickson and Miss Anna Jensen, also a native of Denmark, who came to the United States only a short time previous to her marriage. To them have been born eight children, all living, namely : Hilda, now the wife of Hans Larson, a farmer of Rusk county, Wisconsin ; C'lara and Arthur, both at home ; Eleanor, the wife of Martin Madson, a farmer of Crystal township, Hancock county, Iowa; Emma, who lives at home and is teaching in the district schools; Neva, who is attending the Britt high school ; and William and Clifford, both at home.
Having little opportunity during his youth to gain an education, Mr. Fred- rickson has come to realize what an education means in these days of progress,
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and has endeavored to give his children good advantages along that line. For ten years he efficiently served as school director and the cause of education has always found in him a hearty supporter. In politics he is a democrat, and he is an earnest and consistent member of the Danish Lutheran church, to which his wife and family also belong. He is a stockholder of the Farmers Cooperative Creamery Company of Crystal Lake and is a man of good business ability and sound judgment whose success in life is due entirely to his own well directed efforts and untiring industry.
ALBERT H. PETERSON.
Albert II. Peterson, who carries on general farming on section 18, Norway township, Winnebago county, has a good tract of land which responds readily to the care and labor that he bestows upon it, and by reason of his practical and progressive methods he has come to rank with the substantial farmers of Winne- bago county. Ile was born in Winneshiek county, Iowa, October 1, 1869, a son of Hans and Anna (Twito) Peterson, the former a native of Norway, while the latter was born near Muskego, Wisconsin, which was the first Norwegian settle- ment in the United States. The father was but a young lad when brought by his parents to the new world, the family home being established in Winnebago county, Wisconsin. where his parents followed farming until called to the home beyond. They were laid to rest near Winchester in that county. Hans Peterson acquired his education in the pioneer schools of the Badger state, and after the outbreak of the Civil war joined Company K of the Eleventh Wisconsin Infantry. He saw active service throughout the period of hostilities, and after peace was declared he removed to Fillmore county, Minnesota, where he married Anna Twito, a daughter of Hans Twito, who came from Norway in 1843 and settled in Muskego, Wis- consin, but later removed to Fillmore county, Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson began their domestic life upon a rented farm, upon which they lived for a short time, and later they removed to Emmet county, Iowa, where Mr. Peterson endeav- ored to develop a homestead, but the crops were destroyed by grasshoppers, and in 1876 they removed to Winnebago county. At one time Mr. Peterson served as deputy sheriff of the county. He lived at Lake Mills until a few years ago, but he and his wife are now residents of Perkins county, South Dakota, making their home with their daughter Nettie, who is the wife of Peter Larson. They have a family of five children : Albert II. : Hilda, who is now the widow of Isaac Larson and makes her home in Freeborn county, Minnesota; Mollie, the wife of Martin Dakken, of Lake Mills: Nettie, now Mrs. Peter Larson ; and Amanda, the wife of J. S. Hood, of Perkins county, South Dakota.
Albert H. Peterson attended the common schools until he reached the age of sixteen years and then began earning his living as a farm hand. He was thus employed until he attained his majority, when he began farming on his own account on rented land in Newton township. He spent four years in that way, during which period he carefully saved his earnings until the sum was sufficient to enable him to purchase property. He invested in land in Lyon county, Minne- sota, on which he lived for a year, and when twenty-seven years of age he bought
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eighty acres on section 18, Norway township, which he has since owned and culti- vated save that in the year 1907 he resided upon a quarter section of land in Lyman county, South Dakota, in order to obtain that property under the home- stead act. Ile exercises great care and thought in the management of his farm and annually gathers golden harvests as a reward for the care and labor which he bestows upon the fields.
Mr. Peterson was united in marriage to Miss Gertie Kvale, a daughter of Engebret and Berit ( Kvale) Kvale, who came to this country from Norway, and after residing in Winneshiek county, lowa, for four years, removed to Winnebago county about 1875, settling in Norway township. Mrs. Kvale died in 1908, but Mr. Kvale is still living on the home farm. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson have become the parents of eight children, as follows: Alpha B., Hamlet E., IIilda M., Alice G., Melvin Reuben, Isabelle M., Marie G. and Henry T., all at home.
Mr. and Mrs. Peterson hold membership in the Synod Lutheran church and he votes with the republican party. For twelve years or more he served on the school board as a director from the time the school district was organized. He has never sought nor desired office, however, preferring to concentrate his time and energies upon his business affairs. All that he possesses he has made through his own efforts, for he started ont empty handed. Today he is the owner of a splendidly improved farm and is å stockholder of the Farmers Elevator Company and the creamery company of Scarville. He stands as a representative of that type of citizens of whom Towa has reason to be proud-men whose force of char- acter and ability is sufficient to enable them to overcome difficulties and obstacles and steadily work their way upward to success.
JOSEPH E. ERICKSON.
Joseph E. Erickson, actively engaged in general farming on section 26, Amster- dam township, Hancock county, displays the qualities of western enterprise and progress which have been the dominant features in the development of this section of the country. He was born August 29, 1876, his parents being Erick and Ellen (Nelson) Erickson, the former a native of Norway and the latter of Illinois. They came to Iowa by covered wagon before the year 1860 and cast in their lot with the pioneer settlers who were contributing to the early development and upbuilding of the state. The father is still living at the age of sixty-five years and the mother at the age of sixty-six.
Reared upon the home farm, Joseph E. Erickson acquired a district school education, pursuing his studies to the age of seventeen, after which his entire time was concentrated upon farm work until he reached the age of twenty-one. IIe then went to North Dakota, where he carried on farming for seven years, and later he was for a time at Spokane, Washington. On leaving that state he took up his abode in Story county, Iowa, and for two years rented his father's farm. He then bought one hundred and twenty acres of land, which he cultivated for a time, and after selling that property he came to Hancock county, establishing his home on section 26, Amsterdam township, where he became owner of one hundred and sixty acres of land which he has converted into rich and productive fields.
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gathering therefrom good harvests annually. He follows progressive methods in developing his farm and has made it an attractive and valuable property. In addition to tilling the soil he is interested in the Kanawha Creamery.
On the 16th of May, 1896, Mr. Erickson was united in marriage to Miss Char- lotte Quam, her parents being Peter and Yetta Gurina (Vatsoog) Quam, natives of Norway. They have six children, namely: Gaylord E., Ernest P., Bert A., Mabel R., Jordan C. and Viola B., all of whom are still under the parental roof. Mr. and Mrs. Erickson are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and in his political views the former is a republican, but he does not seek nor desire office, preferring to give his undivided attention to his business affairs. He has always followed farming, which more than a century ago George Washington said "is the most useful as well as the most honorable occupation of man." He has worked diligently and persistently and his efforts have been rewarded by a substantial measure of success.
E. P. HANSON.
Hancock county has been signally favored in the class of men who have occupied her publie offices, for on the whole they have been capable and devoted to duty. Such an official is found in E. P. Hanson, who is now serving as county auditor. Hle was born in Hancock county, Iowa, September 14, 1878, a son of Peter and Anna (Sorensen ) Hanson, who are natives of Denmark and a record of whom appears elsewhere in this volume.
E. P. Hanson spent his youthful days under the parental roof and acquired a public school education. He was reared to the work of the home farm, early becoming familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the erops. When his textbooks were put aside he concentrated his efforts upon agricul- tural pursuits and continued to follow farming until January, 1906, when he was elected county recorder, which position he filled for four years. He afterward took up farming again, devoting two years to the work of the fields, and in 1913 he was made assistant cashier in the Crystal Lake Savings Bank, in which institu- tion he was elected to the vice presidency in 1914. In January, 1916, he was again chosen vice president of the bank but from 1914 until 1916 was not actively connected with its management. In the former year he was elected county auditor. entering upon the duties of the position in January, 1915, and on the ith of November, 1916, he was reelected for a second term of two years without opposition -a fact which indicates how faithfully and well he had discharged his duties.
On the 28th of March, 1900. Mr. Hanson was married to Miss Margaret Schroeder, who was born in Grundy county, Iowa, a daughter of Andrew Schroeder. Their children are Maurice, Leon, Lorraine, Naomi and Elwood Peter. The family is widely and favorably known in Garner and throughout Hancock county. In his political views Mr. Hanson has always been a republican and has done splendid work for the party, contributing in large measure to its successes. Fraternally he is connected with the Red Men, with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and with the Masons, having taken the degrees of lodge, chapter and council, while in his life he exemplifies the beneficent spirit upon which the eraft
E. P. HANSON
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rests. His has been an active and useful career and his life record stands in contradistinction to the old adage that a prophet is not without honor save in his own country, for Mr. Hanson is a native son of the county in which he still resides and in which he has spent his entire life, his course being such as to win for him the confidence and high regard of all with whom he as been brought in contact.
ERIK REIENES.
Erik Reienes, an enterprising and progressive farmer of Mount Valley town- ship, Winnebago county, living on section 10, was born in Norway on the 6th of April, 1882, a son of Knute and Christina Reienes. The mother died in Norway, October 30, 1916, and the father still makes his home in that land.
Erik Reienes pursued a common school education and on attaining his majority came to the United States, crossing the Atlantic in 1903. Hle made his way direct to Winnebago county, Iowa, where he has since lived. Here he went to work for Gottorm Honsey and has since remained in his employ. In later years he has operated the llonsey farm in connection with his brother-in-law, Samuel Honsey. He is an energetie and enterprising business man who in the conduct of the farm displays most practical and progressive methods. Ile is also a stockholder in the Farmers Cooperative Creamery Company of Lake Mills and in the Farmers Elevator Company of that place.
In 1908 Mr. Reienes was united in marriage to Miss Lena A. Honsey, daugh- ter of Gottorm Honsey, a sketch of whom appears on another page of this work. To Mr. and Mrs. Reienes have been born four children, namely: Conrad G., Melvin C., Geneva M. and Esther O. The family are members of the United Lutheran church and in the social circles of Mount Valley township they occupy an enviable position. Mr. Reienes has lived a life of activity and usefulness, and the diligence and determination which he has displayed have brought to him the measure of success which he now enjoys.
JACOB SWEERS.
Jacob Sweers, a general farmer living on seetion 12. Boone township, Hancock county, was born in Germany on the 6th of March, 1857, and is a son of Herman and Ilannah (Gerder) Sweers. In accordance with the laws of his native land, he attended school there until he reached the age of fourteen years, after which he began to earn his living by working as a farm hand. He was thus employed until he reached the age of twenty, after which he spent two years as a member of the German army. He then resumed farm work, in which he continued actively until 1890, when he crossed the Atlantic to the new world and became a resident of Butler county, Iowa. For two years he was employed on a stock farm and then removed to Hancock county, where he rented land which he cultivated for thirteen years. He practiced economy as well as industry and at the end of that time was able to purchase the farm which he had rented, comprising one hundred and
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sixty acres on section 12, Boone township. Six years later he extended the bounda- ries of his farm by an additional purchase and is now the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of rich and productive land which he devotes to general agri- cultural pursuits, raising the cereals best adapted to soil and climate. Everything about his place is kept in good condition. The buildings and fences are always well repaired and the latest improved machinery facilitates the work of the fields. Efficiency is his watchword and his success has come from his thoroughness and close application.
In May, 1882, Mr. Sweers was married to Miss Cornelia Weiland, a native of Germany and a daughter of John and Tina ( Krull ) Weiland, who were also born in that country. Mr. and Mrs. Sweers have become parents of twelve children, but only six are now living: Tina and Herman, both of whom are married ; John, at home; Hannah and Anna, who are married; and Benjamin, who is yet on the home farm.
The parents are members of the German Reformed church and in his political views Mr. Sweers is a republican, having supported the party since becoming a naturalized American citizen. He has never regretted his determination to seek his fortune on this side of the Atlantic, for here he found the business opportunities which he sought and in their utilization he has worked his way upward to success.
PETER HATTERSCHIED.
For a third of a century Peter Hatterschied has been engaged in the grain business in Corwith, Hancock county, and during that period has constantly held to the highest standards in all his business dealings, gaining an enviable reputa- tion for integrity as well as for enterprise and ability. He was born in Cologne, Germany, January 28, 1850, a son of Arnold and Margaret (Odenbach) Hatter- schied, also natives of the fatherland. The father was engaged in the Inmber business there and also hauled coal and ore from the mines by contract. From 1838 to 1842 he served in the German army. Both parents passed away in Ger- many.
Peter Hatterschied was reared and educated in his native city and in early manhood was associated with his father in the lumber business. In 1868 he entered the German army, becoming identified with the artillery, and he served throughout the Franco-Prussian war. He took part in a great many battles, including the most important engagements of the war, Metz, Sedan and Verdun. On the 4th of October, 1871, he was discharged from service in the first line, but was a member of the reserve corps until 1882. On the 19th of March of the latter year he came to America to study conditions here with the view of emigrating to this country. He traveled over twenty-one states and after carefully comparing the opportunities offered selected the town of Corwith in Hancock county, Iowa, as the place that seemed to afford him the best chances for advancement. He returned to Germany and later with his wife and children came to this country, arriving at Corwith on the 6th of April. 1884. For some time he worked as a section hand for the Minneapolis & St. Louis Railroad and also hunted and trapped in order to add to his income. In 1887 he began buying hay and later in that
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year leased the grain elevator at C'orwith and took charge of the business. In 1889 he purchased the elevator and continued in business there until 1914, when he erected a fine elevator, modern in every particular, and with a much larger storage capacity than the old building. He enjoys the entire confidence of the farmers of this section, as his dealings have always been straightforward, and his annual trade has reached extensive proportions. He was vice president and owned a controlling interest in the old First National Bank of Corwith, of which his son Ilugo was cashier, but at length he disposed of his interest therein and the insti- tution was consolidated with the Farmers Savings Bank of Corwith.
Mr. Hatterschied was married in Cologne, Germany, June 6, 1875, to Miss Charlotte Giesen, also a native of that city and a daughter of Karl and Jennie (Trumpbeter) Giesen. To Mr. and Mrs. Hatterschied have been born ten chil- dren, of whom eight survive, namely: Karl, who was born in Germany, is a graduate of the Chicago Veterinary College and is now deputy state veterinary surgeon of Montana, with residence at Glendive; Hugo, who was born in Germany and is a banker of Cedar Bluffs, Nebraska; Mary, the wife of H. H. Mullin, a grain dealer of Britt, Iowa, by whom she has two children, Charlotte and Kath- erine; Max, who is a native of Germany and is associated with his father in the grain business; Kathryn, who was born in Corwith and is the wife of Dr. Fill- more, of Corwith; Lawrence, who was horn in Corwith and is with his father in business ; Anna, likewise a native of Corwith and now the wife of Harry Chapman, of Fort Dodge, Iowa, a conductor on the Minneapolis & St. Louis Railroad, by whom she has one child, Cheryl; and Charlotte, who was born at Corwith and is at home. All the children have received good educations and all have more than usual musical ability. They have developed into men and women of refinement and force of character and are a credit to their parents.
Mr. Hatterschied is a republican in politics, served as a member of the village board of Corwith for three years and for three terms served on the school board, during which time the new school building was erected. Ile belongs to Lodge No. 306, B. P. O. E., of Fort Dodge, and is a member of the Knights of Colum- bus at Algona, Iowa. He is a communicant of the Roman Catholic church and is generous in his contributions to its work. Ile gave liberally to the erection of the new church edifice at Corwith and has contributed to many worthy movements outside of the activities of the church. His broad-mindedness is indicated in the helpful interest which he takes in the furtherance of all good works, and it is gen- erally recognized that no legitimate appeal is made to him in vain. Throughout his life the beneficial effects of the military training which he received in the German army have been apparent in his self-control, in the system which he has applied to all of his work and in his ability to cooperate with others. To his service in the army he also attributes his erect carriage and fine bearing. A num- ber of years after he had taken up his home in Iowa he received through the German consul at Chicago medals awarded him by the imperial government in recognition of his loyal and gallant service in the Franco-Prussian war. It is needless to say that they are among the most cherished possessions of the family. During the three decades and more of his residence in Hancock county he has been an important factor in the life of his community and whether a private citizen or an office holder has without exception subordinated his private interests to the
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