USA > Iowa > Hancock County > History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 48
USA > Iowa > Winnebago County > History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 48
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three hundred and twenty acres on seetions 22 and 23, German township, improved with good and substantial buildings. Besides this property he owns an eighty acre traet on section 19, German township, which he rents, and he is successfully engaged in general farming and in stock raising to some extent.
In 1891 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Stille and Miss Emma Koerner, a daughter of Rev. William Koerner, who is a Methodist minister. To this union have been born two children: Herbert, who is now a resident of Kiowa county, Colorado : and Paul, who is attending school at lowa Falls. The family are iden- tified with the Methodist church and are people of prominence in the community where they reside. Mr. Stille has been called upon to serve as township clerk, trustee and assessor and has recently been elected township supervisor. Ile has capably filled these positions and is regarded as one of the representative citizens of Hancock county.
DANIEL N. JOHNSON.
The united efforts of many men have made lowa a great agricultural state, second to none in its erop production along certain lines. Daniel N. Johnson, who has been actively connected with the farming interests of Winnebago county for many years, is now residing on section 30, Norway township. He was born on the 26th of December, 1846, in Valestrand, Söndhorland, Bergen, Norway, his parents being Njeld and Margareta ( Haavig) Johnson. The father was employed as a farmer and laborer in his native country until 1857, when he took passage on a sailboat bound for the United States and with his wife and three children came to the new world. He did not tarry on the Atlantic coast but made his way at once into the interior of the country, settling in Kendall county, Ilinois, where he remained until the fall of 1859, when he went to Winneshiek county, Iowa, where he resided until 1866. In that year he traveled by ox team to Winnebago county, four families making the trip together in the same manner. This was then a wild western frontier district, in which the work of progress and improvement seemed scarcely begun. There were no settlers between the state line and Forest City west of Lime Creek. Their nearest market was at Austin, Minnesota, thirty miles away, and there was no road to Lake Mills, until 1879. Mr. Johnson purchased land in Center township and engaged in farming there until his death, which occurred June 24, 1881. Ilis widow continued to reside upon the old homestead until she, too, passed away in November, 1902, when her remains were interred by the side of her husband in a cemetery on section 7, Center township. The place has now been abandoned for further burial purposes but has been preserved by the children of those buried there. In his political views Njeld Johnson was a republican, while his religious faith was indicated in his membership in the Synod Lutheran church. He worked diligently to gain a start and used industry, determination and perseverance as a foundation upon which to build his success. While he was practically empty handed when he came to the new world, he had become the possessor of a comfortable competence ere death called him to the home beyond.
Daniel N. Johnson acquired his education in the pioneer schools, which he attended as opportunity offered, for his time was largely devoted to work upon the
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home farm, where he remained until he attained his majority, sharing with the family in all of the hardships and privations incident to pioneer life. In the family were three children, of whom he was the eldest. His sister Martha became the wife of Ole Bendickson, of Center township, Winnebago county, and died some years afterward, leaving a family of twelve children. The other sister, Guri, became the wife of S. G. Smith, formerly of Ridgeway, Winnesheik county, but later of Norway township, Winnebago county, where they resided until about twenty years ago and then removed to Genesee, Washington, and subsequently to Moscow, Wash- ington, where Mrs. Smith still makes her home, but her husband passed away, March 30, 1911.
Leaving home on attaining his majority, Daniel N. Johnson, then secured a homestead of his own in Center township, comprising the west half of the north- west quarter and the west half of the southwest quarter of section ?. He at once began the arduons task of developing a new farm. He cleared the land, plowed under the wild prairie grasses and prepared the fields for planting. Year after year he carefully cultivated the place and remained thereon until 1874, when he sold out. lle then bought the southeast quarter of section 30, Norway township. This, too, he had to elear and all of the work of converting it into the present valuable property has been done by him. He has continuonsly farmed the place and has made all of the improvements thereon. His first house was a dugout and later he built a log house, which in 1900 was replaced by his present fine home. He has also seeured the latest improved farm machinery to facilitate the work of the fields, and good barns and outbuildings have been erected for the shelter of grain and stock. For seven years, Mr. Johnson was secretary of the Scarville Creamery Company, in which he still owns stock, and he is also a shareholder in the Farmers Elevator Company of Scarville, the Farmers Elevator Company of Lake Mills and the Lake Mills Lumber Company. All this is the visible evidence of his life of well directed energy and thrift, for he started out empty-handed and has made his success through his own effort.
On the 4th of February, 1867, Mr. Johnson was married to Miss Sarah Davidson, a daughter of Lars and Guri Davidson, natives of Norway, who in 1864 crossed the Atlantie to the new world and established their home in Freeborn county, Minnesota, where they remained until called to the home beyond. Mrs. Johnson was born May 23, 1847, and by her marriage became the mother of fifteen children: Nels J., whose home is in Burke county, North Dakota; Margaret Marie, the wife of T. J. Cleven, of Logan township; Lars D., who died at the age of twenty-four years; Peter J., living at Lake Park, Minnesota ; Dina G., now the wife of A. M. Elvebak, of Eden township, Winnebago county ; two children who were named Syvert O., and died in infancy ; Syvert O., third, now living in Burke county, North Dakota ; Hans Gilbert, who is in business with his brother at Lake Park, Minnesota; Martha B., a resident of Plentywood, Montana ; Anna S., who died at the age of seven years; Guri O., the wife of Andrew Hole, who is assisting in the work of the home farm ; Selmer N. M., now located at Plentywood, Montana ; Frederick Oscar E., living in Emmons, Minnesota ; and Anna Sophia, also a resident of Plentywood. The wife and mother passed away March 13, 1911, and was laid to rest in the Lime Creek United Lutheran church cemetery. She was a member of the United Lutheran church, of which Mr. Johnson also is a member.
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llis political endorsement is given to the republican party and he has been called to fill some local offices, serving for fourteen years as justice of the peace of his township, in which he rendered decisions that were strictly fair and impartial and won golden opinions from all sorts of people. In 1915 he was president of the school board, of which he became a member two years before, and he is interested in all those forces which work for the upbuilding and progress of the community in which he lives, his influence ever being on the side of right and improvement. Moreover, his life record should serve to inspire and encourage others, showing what may be accomplished by determination, energy and ability.
CHARLES PRULL.
Charles Prull, living on section 3, Amsterdam township, Hancock county, has two hundred and twenty-one acres of rich and productive land devoted to general farming. He was born on the 30th of January, 1875, in Germany, a son of Gerhard and Marie (Arnholz) Prull, both of whom were natives of that country. The common schools afforded him his educational privileges and he pursued his studies until he reached the age of eighteen years, spending the summer months at work upon the home farm. fle afterward rented land for twelve years and in this way gained his start in life. At length he purchased land and is today the owner of two hundred and twenty-one acres on sections 2 and 3, Amsterdam town- ship, Hancock county. Ile devotes his place to general farming and is a wide-awake, alert and enterprising in all that he undertakes in a business way. He is systematic in his work and his methods are the expression of sound judgment and long experience. In addition to cultivating his home place he has extended his business connections by becoming a stockhokler in the creamery, elevator and telephone companis of Kanawha and thus cooperates in movements which are indicative of the progressive spirit of the farming community of Hancock county.
On the 28th of February, 1898, Mr. Prull was united in marriage to Miss Fannie Eenhuis, her parents being John and Grace Eenhuis, natives of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Prull have four children : Gerhard, Grace L., John A., and Fritz M. The family attend the German Lutheran church, in which the parents hold membership. Mr. Prull votes with the republican party, to which he has given his support since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. Ile does not seek nor desire office, however, preferring to concentrate his efforts and attention upon his farming interests, and his elose application has been one of the chief features of his growing success.
RODERICK L. McCARTNEY.
Roderick L. McCartney, living on section 18, Boone township, has been a resident of Hancock county since 1885 and throughout this period has witnessed the greater part of its development and progress. He has been active among those who have done so much to promote the upbuilding of this section of the state, especially along the line of its agricultural development. At the time of
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his arrival here there were practically no roads in this section, no ditehing had been done to drain the land and, as he expresses it, "there was nothing but water." He came as a young man to the new world to try his fortune on this side the Atlantic, his birth having occurred in Scotland, April 22, 1865. He was born of the marriage of Hugh and Elizabeth (Murray). McCartney, who never came to the United States,
Having attended the publie schools of his native country to the age of twelve years, Roderick L. McCartney then began to earn his own living by taking care of horses and was employed as a groom until he reached the age of eighteen, when he determined to test the truth of the reports which he had heard concerning the favorable business opportunities to be found in the United States. He arrived in Iowa in June, 1885, and for four or five years was employed by the month as a farm hand. He afterward rented land in Hancock county for two years and at the end of that time his savings were sufficient to enable him to purchase one hundred and twenty aeres on seetion 18, Boone township. To this he added forty acres in 1910. He bought land at from fifteen to thirty dollars per acre, for it was wet and apparently uneultivable, but ditching and tiling persistently and systematically done, soon wrought a marked transformation in the appearance of his place and the planting was followed by the gathering of large crops. He is now successfully engaged in general farming and is the owner of a valuable quarter section.
On the 1st of January, 1895, Mr. MeCartney was married to Miss Clara Bellot, a daughter of Joseph and Albertina (Jako) Bellot, who were natives of France and in early life came to America, settling in Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. McCartney have three children. Clara Ann, Kinnie and Donald. The first named is now the wife of ('arl Beery and resides at Knox, Indiana.
Mr. McCartney and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and he is a valued representative of the Masonic fraternity and the Inde- dependent Order of Odd Fellows. In politics he is a republican and has served as town trustee and as school director. While still retaining a love for the land of hills and heather, he feels that his first duty is toward his adopted country and Haneoek county numbers him among its substantial and public-spirited citizens.
WILLIAM D. SCHROEDER.
The home farm of William D. Schroeder is on section 1, Amsterdam township, IFaneock county, and comprises one hundred and sixty acres of land but does not constitute his entire possessions, for he also has property on seetions 3 and 11 of the same township. He was born in Germany on the 4th of April, 1854, a son of Jacob and Margaret (Davis) Schroeder, who were also natives of the fatherland. The son began his edueation in the schools of that country and con- tinued his studies in the district schools of Clinton county, Iowa, after coming with his parents to the new world in 1865. ITis textbooks were put aside when he reached the age of fourteen years, at which time he began earning his living as a farm hand, and he was thus employed until he reached the age of twenty- two. He felt that his experience was then sufficient to enable him to engage in
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farming on his own account and for sixteen years he cultivated rented land in Tama and Hancock counties, lowa. llis earnings were carefully saved during that period and at length his capital was enough to enable him to purchase property. Hle invested in one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 1, Amsterdam township, Hancock county, and since that time he has added to his holdings by further purchase, securing eighty acres on section 11 and one hundred and sixty aeres on section 3 of the same township. Today this is a splendidly developed region peopled by a prosperous and contented class of citizens, but when he made his first purchase the work of development and progress seemed scarcely begun in his locality. The land was low and wet and he made his first purchase for twenty-seven dollars per acre. Great changes have since been wrought and his fields are now rich and most productive. In addition to cultivating the cereals best adapted to soil and climate he is also engaged in the raising of Duroc Jersey hogs. In addi- tion to his farming and stock raising interests Mr. Schroeder is a stoekholder in the Kanawha Creamery and Elevator Companies and is the vice president and a director of the Farmers State Bank of Kanawha.
Mr. Schroeder has been twice married. In 1876 he wedded Miss Lena Jepp, by whom he had eight children, namely: Augusta C .; Henry D., who is married ; Fred E .; Herman M., who is married ; Otto L .; Emil C .; Martha M. ; and Alfred G. For his second wife Mr. Schroeder chose Mrs. Martha Tenney, a daughter of John and Martha ( Bethel) Maguire, the former of Ireland and the latter of Scotland. By her first marriage Mrs. Schroeder has one daughter, Maude G.
Politically Mr. Schroeder is a republican and keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day but is not an office seeker. He belongs to the German Lutheran church, while his wife holds membership with the English Methodist Episcopal church. The cause of education finds in him a stalwart champion and he is now serving as president of the school board. llis influence is always on the side of progress and improvement and he has done much to further the welfare of the district in which he resides. Moreover, he is one of the most progressive of its business men. His activities have been well planned, his investments carefully made and his unflagging industry has enabled him to overcome all difficulties and obstacles and advance steadily toward the goal of prosperity.
JOHN O. RUSLEY.
John (). Rusley, now successfully operating the farm belonging to the Old Peoples Home on section 27, Center township, Winnebago county, was born in that township, August 20, 1879, and is a son of Ole and Hannah (Christopherson) Rusley, natives of Norway. It was during his childhood that the father came to America with his mother, reaching this country during the Civil war, about 1863, and locating in Wisconsin, where the family resided for three years. At the end of that time the family removed to Freeborn county. Minnesota, where Ole Rusley grew to manhood, but after living there for five years came to Winnebago county, Iowa, and purchased land in Center township, which he farmed until 1880. He then sold that place and bought a tract of land in
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Grant township, which he operated for ten years. On disposing of that farm he purchased another in Mount Valley township, where he continued to reside until his death, which occurred on the 11th of May, 1894, when he was forty-two years of age. Ilis wife survived him several years, passing away in January, 1910, at the age of seventy-three years.
John O. Rusley was reared and educated in Grant and Mount Valley townships and remained under the parental roof until he attained his majority, in the mean- time becoming thoroughly familiar with agricultural pursuits. On leaving home he became interested in the creamery business, to which he devoted his attention for ten years, and then resumed farming, having for the past seven years had charge of the farm belonging to the Old Peoples Home on section 27, Center township. This tract was donated by Ole J. Cleven for the purpose for which it is now used and consists of two hundred and forty aeres of valuable land, which Mr. Rusley has placed under excellent cultivation. He makes a specialty of raising thoroughbred Duroe-Jersey hogs and keeps thirty head of eows for dairy purposes. He is not only a progressive and up-to-date farmer but is a man of good business ability and is now a stoekholder in the Farmers Elevator Company and the Lake Mills Creamery at Lake Mills.
In 1905, Mr. Rusley married Miss Andrena Honsey, a daughter of Peter and Anna (Wikeren ) Honsey, who came to the United States from Norway at an early day and located in Worth county, Iowa, where Mr. Honsey farmed for many years, but in 1915 retired from active labor and removed to Lake Mills, where he died on the 13th of April, 1917. at the age of eighty-five years. His widow is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Rusley have three children, namely: Agnes, born March 12, 1906; Glen, born November 6, 1911; and Opal, born February 14, 1914. The parents hold membership in the United Lutheran church, and in politics Mr. Rusley is a republican.
C. B. CURLEY.
C. B. Curley, now living on section 28, King township, Winnebago county, is one of Iowa's native sons, his birth occurring in Buchanan county on the 16th of July, 1855. ITis parents, Leonard and Elizabeth (Place) Curley, were born in Pennsylvania and at a very early day came to Iowa, locating in Buchanan county when this state was still on the frontier. The family endured all of the hardships and privations incident to pioneer life and the father helped to pick out the townsite for Independence. He purchased a traet of railroad land, which was wild and unimproved, and converted it into a good farm, making his home thereon throughout the remainder of his life. He died in 1904 and his wife passed away the following year.
Amid pioneer seenes C. B. Curley grew to manhood upon the home farm in Buchanan eounty and he is indebted to the distriet sehools for the early educational advantages he enjoyed. He remained under the parental roof until he attained his majority, although he worked for others several years previous to that time. He then purchased ten acres of land, on which he located, but his buildings were afterward destroyed by fire and he sold the place and operated rented land for
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several years. Subsequently Mr. Curley took up a homestead in Nebraska, on which he lived for two years but the grasshoppers destroyed his crops and his buildings were struck by lightning. He then returned to lowa and engaged in farming on rented land for four years. Later he followed farming in Chickasaw county, this state, for a time, and subsequently conducted a butcher shop at Sumner. On leaving there he came to Winnebago county and purchased eighty aeres of land on section 28, King township, which he improved and cultivated for a few years. He was next engaged in the butcher business in Thompson for two years and later conducted a general store at that place for ten years, but on the 1st of March, 1916, he sold out and returned to his farm, though he still owns his store building in Thompson. He has a well improved farm and thoroughly understands the occupation which he follows.
In April, 1876, occurred the marriage of Mr. Curley and Miss May Condon, and to them were born three children : Leo; Mabel, the wife of J. E. Cunningham, of Lester, Iowa, and Izola, now the wife of D. R. Harrison, Rosedale, Oklahoma. Mr. Curley was again married in November, 1890, his second wife being Miss Sarah Sankey, by whom he has two children: Cora, now Mrs. P. B. Matson, of Webster City, Iowa ; and Ethan, who is attending school.
In religious faith Mr. Curley is a Methodist, and in politics he is an ardent republican, taking a deep and commendable interest in public affairs. Ile is a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company, the Farmers Telephone Company, and the Cooperative Creamery Company of Thompson, and although he has met with reverses in his business career he is now in comfortable circumstances for he has overcome all difficulties and obstacles in his way to success. For forty years he has given considerable attention to thoroughbred horses and he helped to train Axtel and Allerton, two famous racers, at Independence, Iowa. He is a man of recognized ability and is widely and favorably known.
DELL SHERMAN FOWLER
Among the wide-awake and progressive farmers of Forest township, Winne- bago county, is numbered Dell Sherman Fowler, who deserves mnuch credit for what he has accomplished inasmuch as his success has come entirely as the reward of persistent, earnest and indefatigable etfort. He was born near Lafayette, Indiana, June 19, 1870, and is a son of George and Eunice (Strawn) Fowler, who were natives of Michigan and New York respectively. Removing westward, they resided for some time in Indiana and afterward established their home in Kansas, where they lived for eight years. They then returned eastward to Ohio, where the mother passed away, but the father spent his last years in Iowa. In their family were six children, all of whom survive.
Dell Sherman Fowler was largely reared and educated in Ohio, pursuing his studies in the public schools of that state. When his textbooks were put aside he took up the occupation of farming and in 1893 he became a resident of Winnebago county, lowa. For several years he rented the farm upon which he now resides on section 17, Forest township, and during that period carefully saved his earnings until his industry and economy had brought him sufficient capital to enable him
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to purchase the place, comprising one hundred and sixty acres. This he has since improved by the erection of good buildings and he now has a well equipped farm. It is divided into fields of convenient size by well kept fences and he annually gathers good crops, for he displays sound judgment as well as industry in planting and caring for his fields. He also raises and feeds stock and has made that a profitable department of his business.
On January 15, 1893, Mr. Fowler was married to Miss Sarah Bragg, of La Salle county, Illinois, a daughter of William and Bessie (Getchell) Bragg, the former born in England and the latter in Maine and both now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Fowler have four children : Forest A .; Ada May, the wife of Asel Dexter, now of Minnesota ; George W., and Eva J. Mrs. Fowler is a member of the Presbyterian church Mr. Fowler gives his political support to the republican party, and while he has never sought nor desired political office, he has served as school director. Mr. Fowler by reason of the qualities which he has displayed in business, as well as his sterling traits of character manifest in every relation of life, has gained the confidence and high regard of his fellowmen in an unusual degree and is justly accounted one of the most prominent of the farmers of Forest township.
OLE OSMUNDSON.
Among the substantial citizens of Lake Mills, lowa, is numbered Ole Osmundson, who has taken a very active and prominent part in public affairs. He was born in Waupaca county, Wisconsin, on the 30th of August, 1867, and is a son of Erick and Thorvor (Johnson) Osmundson. The parents came to this country from Norway and first located in Wisconsin, near Stevens Point, where the father followed farming for a time. Later they made their home near Mount Horeb and in 1873 came to Winnebago county, Iowa. The father purchased a farm in Linden township and operated the same until his death in 1879. The mother died in 1884 and both were laid to rest in a cemetery in that township. In their family were eight children, six of whom survive, namely: J. O., whose sketch appears on another page of this volume; Ole, of this review; Henry, a resident of Walters, Minnesota ; Mrs. Susan Clark, of Pasadena, California; and Mabel, the wife of Hal Brentner, of San Diego, California.
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