USA > Iowa > Hancock County > History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 4
USA > Iowa > Winnebago County > History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 4
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The family are members of the Congregational church and do all in their power to promote its growth and extend its influence. In politics Mr. Howard has ever been a republican, giving loyal aid to the party because of his firm belief in its principles. In his fraternal relations he is a Mason, belonging to Truth Lodge, No. 213, F. & A. M., of which he is a past master, and to Bethel Chapter, No. 116, R. A. M., at Garner. His life exemplifies the beneficent spirit of the craft and he has given many tangible evidences of his belief in the brotherhood of man. While his interests are many, the activities of his life have been well balanced. His is a symmetrical character, one that has never been developed along certain lines to the dwarfing of his possibilities in other connections, and while he has carefully managed his business interests for the purpose of attaining legitimate success, he has at the same time utilized his powers and energies for the benefit of the community and has contributed much to public progress.
JOHN H. TERIIUFEN.
John H. Terhufen, who is engaged in general farming on section 19, German township, Hancock county, owns and cultivates one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he has brought to a high state of development. He follows progressive methods in all his farm work, his land being devoted to the cultivation of the cereals best adapted to soil and climate. Wisconsin numbers him among her native sons, his birth having occurred in Dodge county on the 9th of June, 1869, his parents being Henry and Minnie (Sette) Terhufen, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father is deceased and the mother is living in Klemme, Iowa.
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John II. Terhufen acquired a common school education while spending his youthful days under the parental roof and was early trained to the work of the farm, his vacation periods being largely spent in the fields. After his textbooks were put aside he continued to work on the home farm until he reached the age of twenty-two years, when his father gave him five hundred dollars with which to purchase land, and he became the owner of a tract on section 25, German town- ship, Hancock county, lowa. Ilis next purchase brought him land on section 22, German township and later he acquired one hundred and sixty acres on section 19. German township. This he bought about 1900 and he has since occupied the farm, which was formerly operated as a dairy farm, but which he now devotes to the cultivation of crops, raising corn, wheat and other cereals for which the soil is particularly adapted. His place is divided into fields of convenient size by well kept fences and his methods of tilling the soil are progressive, while he facili- tates the work of the fields by the use of modern machinery.
On the 8th of August, 1894, Mr. Terhufen was united in marriage to Miss Emma Stille, a daughter of Henry and Louisa (Steinke) Stille, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Terhufen have become the parents of two sons, Howard A. and Glenn H., both at home.
The religious faith of the parents is that of the German Methodist Episcopal church and they are highly esteemed because of their sterling worth and many admirable traits of character. Mr. Terhuten is a school director and for four years has filled the office of township assessor. Ile is interested in all that pertains to the material, intellectual, political, social and moral progress of his community and is highly respected as a man of genuine personal worth as well as of good business ability.
EUGENE SECOR.
Called to many positions of public honor and trust, Eugene Secor, of Forest City, has ever manifested his loyalty to the best interests of his community and his state and in everything that he has undertaken he has worked toward high ideals. Gifted by nature with strong mental powers, his career has been one of continued development, reaching out along those lines which make life fuller, richer and better. He was born in May, 1841, on a farm in Peekskill Hollow, New York, a son of Alson and Sarah C. (Knapp) Secor, who were farming people and spent their entire lives in the Empire state. The Secors were descended from French IIugue- nots who came to America in 1689.
Eugene Secor attended school in his native county and in 1862 removed west- ward to Iowa, settling in Forest City, his elder brother, David Seeor, being at that time treasurer and recorder of Winnebago county and also postmaster of Forest City. After working for a time he resumed his studies, entering Cornell College at Mount Vernon, Iowa. He had been there not quite a year when his elder brother enlisted for service in the Civil War, so that Eugene Secor was called back to take charge of his brother's office and the postoffice, as deputy, discharging the duties of those positions until the close of the war. After removing to the west he had learned the mason's trade but for many years was active in public office. At the first election for mayor in Forest City he was chosen to that office and his adminis-
EUGENE SECOR
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tration was so satisfactory to his constituents that he was three time reelected, serving for four consecutive terms. He carefully administered the affairs of the new municipality and his administration was fraught with excellent results. After- wards he was a member of the town council for many years. In 1869 he was elected clerk of the courts, having previously served as deputy, and filled that position acceptably for six years, being elected for the third term of two years without opposition. Ile was not a candidate for the fourth term. In 1876 he was called to the office of county auditor and served for four years, after which he refused to be again a candidate. He was also county coroner for two years and still higher honors awaited him in his election as a member of the twenty-ninth general assembly of Iowa, in which he served on several important committees and was chairman of the Horticultural committee. He was not a candidate for reëlec- tion. For many years Mr. Secor by appointment of the governor served as a delegate from Iowa to the Farmers National Congress. For six years he was a trustee of the Iowa Agricultural College and filled that position when it was an elective one by the state legislature. He was also a member of the board of trustees and of the executive committee of Cornell College at Mount Vernon, Iowa, for twenty years, and holds an honorary degree of M. A. from that institution. For fifteen consecutive years he served as a member of the board of education at Forest City and with the exception of one year was throughout that entire period president of the board. His public service has been of the greatest benefit. Thoroughly understanding the various duties that have devolved upon him, he has ever been prompt and faithful in their execution and at all times has been guided by the ntmost spirit of devotion to the general good. He was for twelve years president of the Winnebago County Farmers Institute and then declined reelection. He organ- ized the Winnebago County Agricultural Society and was its first president, and it was in his administration that the property was bought and the first building erected. In 1907 he was appointed by President Roosevelt to the position of post- master of Forest City and occupied that office for five and one-half years. He was a charter member of the Iowa Society, Sons of the American Revolution, and was at one time president thereof.
All during the time that Mr. Secor served in these various positions of public honor and trust he also conducted a real estate and loan business in Forest City, and for the past forty years he has been widely known as a bee culturist, winning a world-wide reputation in this connection. He now has, however, only about twenty colonies of fine, pure Italian bees. Such is his standing along this line that in 1893 he was appointed the expert apiarian judge for the World's Columbian Exposi- tion at Chicago, a fact indicative of his wide study and knowledge of the subject. He is a member of the North American Bee-Keepers Society, of which he was at one time president, while for seven years he was its general manager and treasurer. He is a regular contributor to varions agricultural and technical journals on subjects relating to bee culture and other phases of country life, and his opinions have become accepted as authority. He was editor of the bee keeper's department of the Northwestern Agriculturist of Minneapolis for many years and at one time held a similar position on the staff of a farm paper published at Cedar Rapids. He possesses considerable literary taste and talent, and his writings on varions subjects appear frequently in the city papers as well as in the local press. From
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his pen have also come various poems of worth, and many of his songs have been set to music. Another phase of his activity has been in the field of horticulture, and that he has attained prominence and success in that direction is indicated in the fact that he has been honored with the viee presidency and presidency of the Iowa Horticultural Society, of which he is now a director. Ile has been on the program at the conventions of the society for twenty years or more and articles from his pen appear in every volume of the published proceedings of the society. At the present time he is devoting his attention most largely to horticulture, making a specialty of ornamental trees and plants, particularly peonies. Ile owns a fine traet of land adjoining Forest City and calls his place The Shelter. His home is a beautiful residence, in front of which is a miniature park, and it indicates his artistic perception and taste in the field of landscape gardening. He is now a director of the Farm Property Mutual Insurance Association of Iowa, having its headquarters at Des Moines. He is engaged to some extent in breeding registered shorthorn cattle and for many years he was a director of a private bank, which was organized by himself and others in 1882 under the name of Secor, Law & Plummer, and which was later nationalized as the First National Bank.
On September 17, 1866, Mr. Secor was united in marriage to Miss Millie M. Spencer, who was born in Milan, Ohio, January 29, 1848, and died April 29, 1912. They became the parents of ten children but only four survived the mother : Willard, who succeeded his father in the Secor Company of Forest City, and whose death occurred in May, 1915; Alson, who is the editor of the paper called Successful Farming, published in Des Moines ; Nina, at home ; and Manly, who is engaged as a horticulturist at Tama. Iowa.
In his political views Mr. Secor has always been a republican and his efforts have been an effective force in promoting party successes. He was a delegate to the republican national convention in 1892. The belongs to the Methodist church, in which he has served for a long time as an officer. In May, 1892, he was a dele- gate from Northwest Towa conference to the quadrennial general conference of the Methodist church at Omaha, Nebraska. In fact, his ability has called him to leadership in many lines in which his activities have been put forth. Thorough- ness is characteristie of all that he does and the spirit of advancement and progress has guided him in every stage of his career, bringing him at last to a place where he stands as a recognized authority upon many questions that have to do with the material resources and development of the state. He has now passed the age of three seore years and ten and is enjoying a well earned rest from business cares and responsibilities. Indolence and idleness are utterly foreign to his nature, however, and he keeps busy with his horticultural investigations and literary work.
HON. FRANK W. RUSSELL.
Hon. Frank W. Russell is a leading and influential citizen of Winnebago county. He represented his distriet in the thirty-fourth general assembly and has long been an active factor in guiding the political interests of this section. He is now actively engaged in farming, although he makes his home in Forest City, and in business as well as in polities his position is one of prominence. He was born in
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Cook county, Illinois, January 4, 1859, a son of William and Ann (Barnes) Russell. The father was a native of Wakefield, New Hampshire, and represented one of the old colonial families that was represented in the Revolutionary war. The mother was the first white child born in Elk Grove, Cook county, Illinois, to which district her parents removed from Montpelier, Vermont, making the journey in a wagon drawn by a yoke of oxen. This was about 1832, at which time the present site of Chicago was nothing but a swamp. It seemed very undesirable as a location, so the family went out twenty miles to secure what appeared to be more valuable land. Mr. and Mrs. Russell continued residents of Cook county throughout their remaining days. In the early years he was a railroad man and became a conductor on the Chicago & Northwestern, serving in that capacity on the first train to run over the Wisconsin division of the road. In later years his attention was given to farming.
Frank W. Russell was educated in the common schools of Cook county and in the high school of Arlington Heights, Illinois. He was reared to farm life and had the usual experiences of the farm bred boy who early becomes familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. After attaining his majority he continued on the old homestead and cooperated with his father in its further development and improvement until he reached his twenty-ninth year. It was on the 22d of February, 1888, that he was united in marriage to Miss Annie Fernald of Arlington Heights, Illinois, a daughter of John and Olive (Lord) Fernald, both natives of Maine. After the father's death in 1867 the mother married again and removed to Illinois. Still later she came to Forest City and In 1900 she passed away. The spring following his marriage Mr. Russell came to Iowa, taking up his abode on a farm in Newton township four and a half miles west of Leland. There he purchased two hundred and forty acres, on which he resided for twenty-two years. In the meantime, however, he had purchased an adjoining eighty acre tract, making his home farm one of three hundred and twenty acres. Upon this place he engaged in the cultivation of the cereals best adapted to soil and climate and also made a specialty of the buying and feeding of stock. Ile fed all of the grain which he raised on his farm and became one of the best known live stock dealers in this section of the state. His business affairs were always carefully and wisely managed and conducted and in all of his undertakings he displayed sound judgment and keen sagacity. In 1910 he left the farm and removed to Forest City but continued to cultivate his land and is still numhered among the active agrieulturists of this part of the state. He is also a stockholder in the Farmers Cooperative Creamery at Thompson and for the past eighteen years he has served as the president of the Farmers Mutual Fire & Lightning Association of Winnebago county. Ilis judgment is sound and his discrimination keen and what he undertakes he carries forward to successful completion.
Mr. and Mrs. Russell worship at the Congregational church. They occupy a very enviable position in social circles and enjoy the good will and confidence of all who know them. In politics Mr. Russell is a republican. He was a member of the school board of Newton township for many years and when he removed to Forest City he was appointed a member of the city school board and in March, 1917, was elected to that office. At the November election of 1910 he was chosen
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to represent his distriet in the state legislature, serving through the thirty-fourth general assembly with distinction and honor, his record being one which was entirely satisfactory to his constituents and reflected credit upon himself, showing him to be a man of progressive spirit and actuated by high civic ideals.
E. J. INDVIK.
E. J. Indvik, who is one of the prominent farmers of Linden township, Winne- bago county, gives particular attention to the raising of high grade stock and has been a factor in the advancement of the interests of the county along that line. He was born in Norway, January 10, 1861, of the marriage of Johannes O. and Ingeborg (Hanson) Indvik. It was in 1872 that the family came to the United States and located in Winneshiek county, Iowa, and three years later removal was made to Winnebago county. The father purchased a farm in Mount Valley town- ship and engaged in its operation until his death, which occurred the following fall. The mother continued upon that farm for about two years and in the spring of 1877 came to Linden township, where she lived until she passed away in 1911 at the advanced age of eighty-nine years.
E. J. Indvik, who was eleven years of age at the time of the emigration of the family to the new world, completed his education in the common schools of Iowa, but following the death of his father when he was fourteen years of age, assumed the burden of operating the home farm, as he was the oldest of the unmarried sons. For several years after the removal of the family to Linden township he, with the assistance of his younger brothers, operated rented land, but in 1881 he bought forty acres on section 23, Linden township, and deeded the traet to his mother. Later eighty acres was acquired and was deeded to Mr. Indvik of this review and his brother, II. J. Indvik. They farmed in partnership for a number of years, but early in 1892 dissolved their business connections. On subject then bought one hundred and sixty aeres on section 14, Linden township, and not long afterward was married. From time to time he has purchased additional land and now holds title to four hundred and eighty acres. The improvements upon the place are up-to-date in every respect and in his methods Mr. Indvik has shown himself practical and progressive. Ile specializes in breeding and raising high grade shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs and finds a ready market for his stock. He also raises some grain to sell and has so wisely managed his atfairs that he has gained financial independence. He is likewise interested in the Farmers Cooperative Creamery of Thompson and in the Farmers Elevator of Thompson and considers the stock which he owns in those concerns to be an excellent investment.
In June, 1892, Mr. Indvik was united in marriage to Miss Martha Bjelland, of Forest township, who, however, was born in Norway. She remained in her native country until young womanhood and then came to the United States. She has become the mother of four children, as follows: Isabelle S., who is a graduate of Waldorf College of Forest City and is a teacher in the district sehools; Sidney J. and Ellen M., both of whom are attending Waldorf College; and Johan H., who is a publie sehool pupil.
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Mr. Indvik is a strong republican in polities and is now serving as a member of the board of township trustees. He is also on the school board and for a number of years was president of that body. Ile and his family are communi- cants of the Lutheran Synod and the work of that church is furthered by their hearty support. In all that he has done has manifested a tendency to advance the general welfare and has been a consistent and effective worker for progress along material, moral and civie lines. He numbers as his friends practically all his acquaintances and the high esteem in which he is universally held is the natural result of his ability and integrity.
IIANS E. EIEL, M. D.
Dr. Hans E. Eiel, an efficient and popular physician and surgeon residing at Buffalo Center, is also now filling the office of postmaster there. He was born in Center township, Winnebago county, February 4, 1876, of the marriage of John and B. Olina (Tvedsund) Eiel. On emigrating to America his parents first located in Mitchell county, Iowa, but two years later, or in 1870, removed to Winnebago county. The father purchased land in Center township and there he engaged in farming for many years but is now living retired with his daughter, Millie, the wife of Dr. J. E. Colby, of Lake Mills, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. The mother's death occurred January 1, 1915.
Ilans E. Eiel spent his boyhood and youth upon the home farm and after com- pleting the work in the common schools attended a business college at Garner, Iowa. Later he began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. P. A. Helgeson, of Lake Mills, and in 1895 matriculated in the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Keokuk, lowa. He studied there for two years and for a similar length of time was a student in the Keokuk Medical College, from which he was graduated March 20, 1899, with the M. D. degree. After passing the state board examination he began practice in 1898 in Norman, Iowa, but remained there only a short time and in July, 1899, opened an office in Buffalo Center, where he has since remained. It was not long before his ability won recognition and his practice has grown steadily until it is now extensive and representative. He has served as health officer of Buffalo Center for a number of years and his work in that connection has been very effective in bringing about improved sanitary conditions. Ile owns three good farms, an eighty aere traet near Lake Mills, a farm of two hundred and thirty-two acres west of Buffalo Center and a quarter section of land seven and a half miles northwest of Buffalo Center. All of these places are well improved and he derives therefrom a good financial return.
Dr. Eiel was married in May, 1899, to Miss Sarah Skutle. Her parents, O. (). and Martha (Lee) Skutle, were born in Norway but came to America in the '50s and located in Wisconsin. After farming for several years the father removed with his family to Mitchell county, Iowa, where he followed agricultural pursuits until he retired in 1897 and took up his residence in Lake Mills, where he still lives. To the Doctor and his wife have been born three children: John Olaf. whose birth occurred in February, 1900; Merrill Orion, born in January, 1903; and Sylvia Helen, born in January, 1913.
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Dr. Eiel is a democrat in politics and in 1915 was appointed postmaster of Buffalo Center, an office which he has filled with entire satifaction to the com- munity. Ile belongs to the Masonic order, the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America and along professional lines is connected with the Winnebago County and Iowa State Medical Societies and the American Medical Association. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the United Lutheran church. Ile is held in high esteem as a physician and as a man, and his personal friends are many.
ERASMUS DARWIN HINMAN.
For many years Erasmus Darwin ITinman engaged in farming and stock rais- ing in Winnebago county and so ably managed his business affairs that he gained financial independence. During the later years of his life he spent considerable time in California, but passed away in Lake Mills. He was born in Holland, Vermont, April 15, 1834, of the marriage of Ezra and Betsy (Sweatland) Hin- man, also natives of the Green Mountain state. In 1862 the family removed to Worth county, lowa, and subsequently to Winnebago county. The father was a farmer by occupation, but spent the last years of his life in retirement at the home of a daughter in Northwood, Iowa, dying there in 1868. The mother sur- vived him for four years.
Erasmus Darwin Hinman was reared in Vermont and received his education in the schools of Holland and Derby, that state. IIe remained with his parents until 1856, when at the age of twenty-two years. he removed to Worth county, lowa, where he took up a homestead, which in the course of time became one of the best improved farms of the locality. When he had resided in that county for only a short time he was honored by election as county treasurer, which position he filled for two years. At the end of that time he took up his residence in Lake Mills, Winnebago county, and not long afterward was elected county clerk and recorder, so serving for six years. He then left the county seat and returned to Lake Mills, and a short time later began farming in Center township, where in April, 1862, he had purchased a half section of land. As the years passed he steadily prospered and became the owner of most of the land in the north and west parts of Lake Mills. Ile made stoek raising his principal business and on his place were to be found high grade horses, cattle and sheep. After many years of active labor Mr. Hinman retired in 1892 and later traveled to a consid- erable extent. He owned two orange groves in California and for thirteen years made his home in Pomona, that state, but a short time before his death returned to Lake Mills, where he passed away in August, 1907, when in his seventy-fourth year.
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