USA > Iowa > Allamakee County > History of Winneshiek and Allamakee counties, Iowa > Part 59
USA > Iowa > Winneshiek County > History of Winneshiek and Allamakee counties, Iowa > Part 59
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C. C. Waechter, dealer in books and stationary, Lansing; was was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1824; came to the U. S. in 1852, stopping first at St. Louis, Mo .; came to Lansing in 1853, engaging in the grocery and feed business. In 1854 he purchased a farm in Center township, residing thereon until 1868. In 1853 he mar- ried Catherine Vogler, who died in 1867, leaving one daughter, Anna.
John Ward, Deputy P. M. of Hanover postoffice, and farmer: son of James and Catherine Sweeney Ward; was born in County Fermanagh, Ireland, Aug. 15, 1820; received a liberal education in his native country, and with his parents came to the U. S. in 1842, they locating at Somerville, near Boston, Mass. In 1846 he enlisted in Co. I., 2d U. S. artillery, serving in Gen. Wool's division during the Mexican war, participating in several battles, including the capture of the City of Mexico. In 1852 he enlisted on board the U. S. sloop of war, Marion, engaged in the preven-
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tion of the slave traffic from Africa to the U. S., their cruise be- ing mostly on the western coast of Africa, serving a portion of the time as ship's clerk. In 1855 they returned to Norfolk, Va., he coming on to Washington, where he was discharged and then came home. In 1856 he came to Iowa, stopping in Glenwood tp., Winneshiek Co., until 1858, when he came to Hanover tp., where he now owns a farm of 360 acres, valued at $20 per acre. Mr. Ward was married to Miss Bridget Ward in Ireland, in 1839. She died in the spring of 1849, and the following fall he was married to Miss Mary Ward, a cousin of his first wife. His children by his first wife are Wm. F., John and Alice, and by the second marriage, William, Ellen, Thomas, Mary, Patrick, Catherine and Anna. He has lost by death one son, James. Mr. Ward is at present justice of the peace of his tp., which office he has filled for twenty-two years. He has also served as clerk for eighteen years, and is the present deputy postmaster of Hanover postoffice.
WINNESHIEK COUNTY.
B. Anundsen, proprietor and publisher of the Decorah Posten, is a native of Norway, was born in 1844; he learned the printer's trade, and in 1864 emigrated to the United States, and soon settled in the city of LaCrosse, Wis. Here he continued his trade, and in the summer of 1867 established the Ved Arnen- signifying, "By the Fireside"-a semi-monthly sheet, and the first literary Norwegian paper in America. In 1868 he removed to Decorah, continued the publication of said sheet, and in 1869 es- tablished the first book-bindery in Decorah. In 1870 he started the Fra Fjae-ent 'og Naer, a weekly newspaper. In 1871 he dis- continued his two papers and book-bindery, reduced his force of employes from thirteen to two, and for three years simply did the printing for the Norwegian College. In September, 1874, he started the Decorah Posten, of which an account is given within the pages of this book, and is now publishing the same. Mr. Anundsen is a conscientious, reliable man, who believes in free thought on all subjects. He was married in 1865 to Miss Matilda Hoffstrom. They have had five children, two of whom are now living, Arthur and Fredrick.
John Amy (deceased), was born in Bath, N. H., in 178S, but while yet a small child removed with his parents into Vermont. His father was a soldier in the revolutionary war. John Amy was a soldier in the war of 1812, and his only son, Dr. C. W. Amy, a soldier in the late rebellion. John Amy was married in
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1828 to Cynthia Smalley. In 1838 he removed to Ohio, and in 1857 to Iowa and settled at Fort Atkinson. His death took place June 27th, 1864, leaving a wife and five children, all of whom are residents of Decorah. Ellen S. is the wife of J. M. Williams, cashier of the Winnesliek County Bank. Jane C. is the wife of J. P. Mckinney, an employe in the U. S. railway postal service; Aba C. is the wife of J. C. Strong, president of the above named bank, and Louise A. is the wife of the late H. S. Weiser, found- er of said bank. The only son is Dr. C. W. Amy.
Deidrick Addicken (deceased) was born in the Grand Dukedom of Oldenburg, Germany, November 5, 1824. He came to America in 1855, and made his first home in Clayton Co., Io., where for two years he was a farmer. In 1857, he came to Decorah and built what has since been known as the old brewery, near the stone mill. In this he laid the foundation for the competency he afterwards acquired. About ten years subsequently he purchased the property he owned and occupied at the time of his death. There he gradually surrounded himself with buildings, which in themselves form a small village, and here he spent his remaining years in the double capacity of brewer and miller. His death took place in July, 1875, being caused by injuries received by a fall while in the act of getting out of his buggy. He left an in- valid wife, three daughters and one son.
C. W. Amy, M. D., was born in Ohio in 1842. His parents were John Amy and Cyntha G. Smalley. He came with the family to Winneshiek county in 1857, but in 1860, although a mere boy, he concluded that he wanted to see some of the western plains and mountains. He therefore went to Colorado, and in Dec., 1861, enlisted in Co. B, 2d Col. Vol. Inf., and was afterwards transferred to the cavalry service. Dr. Amy served his country faithfully as a soldier, participating in eight battles, besides nu- merous skirmishes, until he was mustered out of service in Decem- ber, 1864. He then returned to Winneshiek Co., and at different intervals taught school, and was also for several years traveling agent, at the same time gradually turning his attention to the study of medicine. In 1876 he came to Decorah and devoted his entire attention to study, with Dr. J. W. Curtis as preceptor. In 1877 he entered the Rush Medical College, where he took two regular and two adjunet courses, and graduated in February, 1879. He then located at Decorah as a practicing physician. In 1881 he took a practitioner's course at the above named college. March 28, 1881, Dr. Amy was united in marriage to Harriet A. Bottsford, M. D. She is a native of Vermont, born August 10, 1845, her parents being Martin and Charlotte Bottsford, both na- tives of the Green Mountain State, who settled in Canoe tp., Win- neshiek Co., in 1855. Harriet A. Bottsford was an uncommonly bright child, and at fourteen we find her in charge of a school as teacher. In 1864 she entered the normal department of the Iowa
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State University, from which she graduated in 1867. She then became a teacher in the higher department of the public schools of Decorah, and continued until 1873. While a teacher she also commenced the study of medicine, with Dr. H. C. Bulis as pre- ceptor. Soon after leaving the school-room as teacher, she en- tered the Woman's Medical College, of Pa., and graduated in the spring of 1875. She then spent one year at the Women's and Chil- dren's Hospital at Philadelphia, after which she was located at Chicago until 1879, and since then at Decorah. During her stay in Chicago she occupied the chair of materia medica and thera- peutics in the Women' Hospital Medical College, was visiting phy- sician at two dispensaries, and assistant of Prof. T. Davis Fitch in his synecological clinic in the above named college. She has one daughter.
W. E. Akers, attorney. This promising young men is a son of J. M. and Harriet E. Akers, the former a native of Putnam Co., Ind .; and the latter of St. Lawrence Co., N. Y. They were married at Woodstock, Ill., in 1853. J. M. Akers, is a black- smith by trade, and located at Decorah in 1855. Here he followed his trade for several years; subsequently had the mail contract be- tween Decorah and Austin, Minn. This was before the railroads were built, and the trip required four days. Mr. Akers afterwards purchased a farm near Plymouth Rock, Minn., and lived on the same about four years. He then resumed his trade, and followed the same at Bluffton until 1876, when he again returned to Decorah, since which time his business has been collecting and insuring. W. E. Akers, the oldest of the three children, was born in Cook Co., Ill., in 1855. He was educated in the public schools of Decorah, and at the age of 16 commenced teaching. At the age of 19 he commenced the study of law, with Judge E. E. Cooley as precep- tor, and at the age of.21 was admitted to the bar, since which time he has been in constant practice, and is meeting with marked success. In 1876 Mr. Akers enlisted as a private in the Decorah Light Guards, now Co. G, 4th Iowa; March 5, 1879, he was elected 1st Lieut., and April 27, 1SSO, was promoted to the rank of Cap- tain. W. E. Akers is honest, ambitious and industrious, and among the young men of Winneskiek none has brighter pros- pects than le. In March, 1879, W. E. Akers married Miss Em- ma Draper, and they now have two children, Charles W. and an infant.
Asa W. Adams, oldest resident photographer in Winneshiek Co. The subject of this sketch was born in Ohio in 1842. He was left motherless when but a small boy, and in 1853 he came with his father to Io., and lived with him in Allamakee Co., until he was 21 years of age. He then learned the art of photography at Mc- Gregor, and in 1865 located at Decorah, and has since been the leading photographer. In 1866 he married Miss Emma J. Fuller; they have three children, Leila A .. Jennie and Willie.
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WINNESHIEK COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES.
George M. Anderson, farmer, owns 200 acres, 160 in Frankville tp. and 40 acres of timber in Glenwood tp. He was born in Drammen, Norway, in 1836, and came to this county with his parents in 1852. They settled in Frankville tp. His father pur- chased the government claim that Geo. M. now owns. George M. enlisted in 1862 at Decorah, in Co. E, 38th Io. Inf., and served 3 years during the rebellion. In the fall of 1865 the 38th was con- solidated with the 34th. Previous to the consolidation he was promoted to corporal. He was in engagements at Vicksburg, Yazoo City, Fort Morgan and Mobile. At the termination of the war he returned to the farm, which he has owned and resided on ever since. It is fine prairie land, well improved and stocked, good residences and comfortable barns, etc. He was married in 1865 in Glenwood tp., to Miss Hanna Jacobsen, and they have six children. He has filled various offices of public trust in the tp., and is one of its leading citizens. His brother, Andrew M. An- derson, also enlisted during the war, in the 12th Io. Inf., Co. G; served a little over a year, and was killed by the explosion of a shell at the battle of Corinth, Miss., Oct. 1862.
Joseph A. Adams, farmer, was born in Iowa Co., Wis., in 1854; came to this county with his parents in 1856. His father, Jos. Adams, first settled in the village of Frankville, was a Presbyterian preacher, and for several years preached there. He afterwards went into the mercantile business there, and in the spring of 1860 sold out the store and bought the farm, then only partly improved. It contains 280 acres in a solid body, except 40 acres of timber in Bloomfield tp. Joseph Adams, Sr., died March 6, 1871, since which time Joseph A., has controlled the farm and supported his widowed mother and sister. He has the farm well stocked and all improved, good residence and buildings; 12 head of horses on the farm, 5 head of cattle, and a large drove of hogs of good breeds.
John G. Ackerson, farmer, and an old settler in Burr Oak tp., was born in Compton, Bergen tp., N. Y., in 1816; and in 1833 went to Steuben Co., N. Y., and in 1844 to Ogle Co., Ill., and from there in 1853 to Io., locating in this place. He bought 320 acres where he now resides at the government price, and has sold 80 acres, leaving him 240 acres, 200 acres being in Secs. 15 and 22, where he resides, being good farm land, well improved, and 40 acres of timber in Sec. 34. There were not over a dozen settlers in the tp. when he first located here. He has filled vari- ous offices in the tp., and was a member of the county board of supervisors one term, having been elected in 1860. He married in 1853, MeHenry Co., Ill., Miss Ann Dickerson, and they have three children, John, Elizabeth and Maria.
Erick Anderson, P. O. Decorah, farmer, Springfield tp .. Sec. 1, was born in Norway Jan. 20, 1827, and emigrated to the U. S. in 1839. They first landed at Boston, Mass., and came via rail and
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water to N. Y .; thence up the Hudson river to Albany, and by the Erie canal to Buffalo, where they embarked on board a steamer and came to Chicago, Ill., which was then a small town. Here they located, remaining until 1845, when they moved to Mc- Henry Co., Ills. The subject of this sketch was engaged as er- rand boy for the first four years; also served as cabin boy one season on board a steamer plying between Chicago and St. Joseph, Mich., and afterwards engaged in a newspaper office for two years, the same being the office of an abolition paper. He also spent one year at a seminary in Beloit, Wis. In 1847 he went to Mus- kego, Wis., where was he engaged as compositor in the office of the Nordlyset (Northern Light), it being the first Norwegian paper published in the northwest, Mr. Anderson setting the type for the first number. In 1848 he went to Madison, Dane Co., and en- gaged at clerking in a general store. In 1850 he came to this county and entered some land in the south part of this tp., but engaged at clerking in a general store at Frankville, continuing two years, after which he moved to Ossian and engaged in general merchandise for about four years; then came on to his land re- maining till in the winter of 1860, and in 1861 he moved to De- corah, having been elected sheriff of the county the fall before. He was re-elected to the office in 1862, and at the expiration of this term he moved to his present farm, which now contains 265 acres, well improved and with good buildings. His farm is especially adapted to the raising of stock, with which he is well supplied. He is at present putting up a late improved mill for the manufacture of sorghum syrup; its capacity is 150 gallons per day. Mr. Anderson was married to Miss Anna Halvorson, Nov. 6, 1851; she died April 15, 1852. He was again married to Miss Louisa Hanson, July 15, 1856. She died May 16, 1876, and he was again married Oct. 8, 1877, to Mrs. Mary Thompson, nee Opdahl. He had one daughter by the first marriage, Elizabeth A .; by the second marriage, Edgar, Albert, Henry, Lorenzo, William, Oscar and Louisa; and one son, Charles, by the last marriage. He is a member of the M. E. church.
Anon Anderson, farmer, Seç. 36, P. O. Ridgeway; owns 1,080 acres of land valued at $25 per acre; was born in Norway in 1839; is the son of Ole and Carrie Anderson; emigrated from there to Boone Co .. Ill .; lived there until he was 18 years old, when he settled in Winneshiek Co., Ia .; was married in 1861 to Carrie In- gebritson, a native of Norway, by whom he had six children, El- len, John, Albert, Ole, Anna and Anon. He was married to his second wife in 1874, Miss Sarah Tuck, a native of Buffalo, N. Y., and they have had four children: Mabel, who died at the age of three; Ethel, Freeman and Ray.
Hon. Samuel Aiken, dealer in Holstein cattle and Hambleton- ian horses, was born in Barrett, Vermont, in 1834. When he' was ten years old he went to Illinois; thence to Wisconsin, and
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in 1854 he removed to Minnesota, locating near Spring Grove, Houston County, where he engaged in farming. He was elected to represent the county in the legislative assembly of 1861-2, and in 1866 he was appointed enrolling clerk of the senate, which position he filled one term. In 1869 Mr. A. was again called upon to serve the people, and at this time was elected county treasurer of Houston county. At the expiration of his second term of office he came to Winneshiek County and settled on a farm near Trout Run. In 1880 he removed to his present resi- dence in the east and southern portion of Decorah, and engaged in business as before mentioned. He is a son of Samuel and Nancy Farewell Aiken, who were born in Vermont, but who are of Scotch descent. He was married to Elizabeth Burt, a native of Ohio; they have four children, Effie E., now Mrs. E. W. Holway; Wm. E., Ida A. and Grace A.
E. T. Allen, justice of the peace and farmer, was born in Mont- gomery County, N. Y., in 1832, and is a son of Robert B. and Lydia Thayer Allen. In 1855 he came to Rock Co., Wisconsin, where he remained four years; he then went to California, re- maining a short time, and returned east as far as Virginia City, Nevada; from there he went to Idaho and Oregon, and followed teaming and mining until 1867, when he returned to N.Y. He soon after again moved to Wisconsin and engaged in the lumber business; thence to Dubuque in the same business, and in 1868 came to this county and located at Ridgeway. He married Mary E. Griffith, also a native of N. Y., and they have three children, Nellie E., Robt. E. and Cora A. Mr. Allen was elected justice of the peace in 1868, and has held the position ever since.
Hon. D. O. Aaker, dealer in general merchandise grain and stock; also proprietor of Ridgeway Creamery; was born in Nor- way in 1839, and is a son of Ole Aaker. In 1848 he came with his parents to America, and located in Waukesha County, Wis., remaining there until 1854, when they removed to this county, locating near Burr Oak Springs. In 1868 the subject of this sketch came to Ridgeway, and entered the lumber and grain trade. He subsequently sold his lumber yard, and has since in- creased his business to its present dimensions. In 1881 he was elected member of the legislative assembly, which position he still holds. He married Christena Ellefson, also a native of Norway, and their children are Lena, John, Theo., and Adolph Oscar. In 1862 Mr. A. enlisted in Company G, 12th Iowa Infantry, and served until 1866.
Hon. Theodore W. Burdick, cashier First National bank, is a native of Penn., and was born at Evansburg, Crawford county, on the 7th day of Oct., 1836, his parents being Nelson and Almira Mason Burdick. His grandfather was Sheffield Burdick, of Wyoming Co., N. Y. and his great-grandfather was Adam Burdick, third son of Nathan Burdick, of Rhode Island, whose two sons
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bore a conspicuous part in the struggle for our national independ- ence. Nelson Burdick was born in the State of New York; re- moved from his native State to Crawford Co., Penn., and in 1852 immigrated to Iowa, and located at Freeport, on the site now occupied by the paper mill. but did not bring his family west until 1853. At that time the journey was made by railroad to Rock- ford, Ill., thence by stage to Dubuque; thence by river to Lansing, and again by wagons to Freeport. Burdick soon became a popu- lar citizen, and in the spring of 1854 was appointed to fill a va- cancy in the Treasurer's and Recorder's office, caused by the death of Thomas J. Hazlett, and was twice re-elected to the same. When the civil war broke out, he had five sons who were elligible to serve their country, all of whom enlisted, but only two returned from service, as three filled soldier's graves. Theodore W. is the oldest of the three living children. He early applied himself to his studies, so that at the age of 17 he was prepared to enter Oberlin College, Ohio, but came with his parents to Freeport in the spring of 1853. During the summer of that year a school house was completed at Decorah, and the following winter the subject of this sketch became the first teacher. In the spring of 1854 he entered the Treasurer's and Recorder's office as deputy, under his father, having charge of the books as such until 1857, when he became of age, and as his father's term of office expired, the son, in compliance with the votes of the people, succeeded him, holding it until he resigned to enter the military service. In 1862 Mr. Burdick recruited Co. D, 6th Io. Cav., and in October was commissioned Captain of the same. Its field of operation was on the western frontier, and he participated in three battles with the Indians: White Stone Hills, Dakota, Tah-kah-o-kuta, near the line of Dakota and Montana; and Bad Lands, on the Little Missouri river. He served three years, when the regiment was mustered out. In the official reports Captain Burdict is hon- orably mentioned for gallant services on the field, and was recom- mended for promotion. In February, 1865, Mr. Burdick pur- chased an interest in the First National Bank of Decorah, and has since been its cashier. He is also an extensive dealer in real es- tate, in which business he has been quite successful. On the 6th of September, 1876, he received at the hands of the Republi- can party its unanimous and unsolicited nomination for Congress to represent the third district, and was elected by more than thir- teen hundred majority in a district which two years before had elected the Democratic nominee, and in 1875 had given a larger majority!for the Democratic candidate for Governor than the Demo- cratic Congressman had received. His opponent was Hon. J. M. Griffith, of Dubuque. Mr. Burdick's services in Congress were entirely acceptable to the people who elected him, and he again received assurance of the nomination, which, however, he declined, as his private business required all his care and attention. Mr.
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WINNESHIEK COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES.
Burdick was one of the incorporators of the Savings Bank of Decorah, and is now, and has been since its organization, its cashier and the custodian of its funds. He is a partner in the banking firm of Graves, Burdick & Co., of Estherville, Emmet Co., Io. In December, 1858, he married Miss Nancy Graves, youngest daughter of Hon. Gaylord Graves, of Whitewater, Wis. She has had six children, five of whom are now living, Mary A., Emma, Harriet. Nelson A., and Weld T. Mr. Burdick is a con- scientious, reliable man, agreeable in manner, and does every- thing,well that he undertakes. He is a member of the Congrega- tional church.
Henry C. Bulis, M. D., the oldest practicing physician of De- corah, was born at Chazy, Clinton County, N. Y., November 14, 1830. In Oct., 1854, Dr. Bulis immigrated to Decorah, and has practiced here since, except when discharging official duties out- side of his profession. When the law creating the office of coun- ty superintendent of public schools went into force, Dr. Bulis was the first man to assume its duties, and served three years. He subsequently was a member of the county board of supervisors, serving as the first president of the board, under what was then termed the new system. In 1865 he was elected state senator, and by re-elections served six years, resigning in the middle of his second term to take the office of lieutenant-governor, to which the people had called him. While in the upper branch of the general assembly he was at one time chairman of the committee on claims, and at another, of the committee on state university. He did especially good work on the latter committee; a warm friend of education, and being generous and broad in his views on the subject, he earnestly advocated the appropriation bills, and every measure calculated to advance the interests of the universi- ty. Part of the time, while in the senate, he served as president pro tem., and was in that position when placed in the chair of lieu-
tenant-governor. He has been a trustee and regent of the university; he was examining surgeon for pensions from 1865 to 1876, and subsequently president of the Iowa State Medical So- ciety. Dr. Bulis has always been a republican, and as can be seen by this sketch much of the time since he has been in Iowa. he has been a favorite of the party. He has been very service- able, not to his party or state alone. On the 25th of August, 1876, he was appointed a member of the Sioux Indian Commis- sion, and aided essentially in forming, a few weeks later, the treaty with them by which they ceded the Black Hills, and granted the right of way to the same of three different routes. The ser- vices which the doctor rendered in securing this treaty can hardly be over-estimated, and is regarded as the crowning act of his life. On the 11th of September, 1854, he married Miss Laura A. Adams, of Champlain, New York. She died in 1861, leaving two children, Frank H. and Ada A. On the 17th of June, 1863,
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he married Miss Harriet S. Adams, a sister of his first wife. The services which Dr. Bulis has rendered to the county, the state and the country will long keep his name in remembrance. In July, 1878, he was appointed special United States Indian Agent. but resigned the same after nine months.
Chas. P. Brown, attorney, one of Winneshiek Co.'s prominent lawyers, is a native of Lynn, Mass. His father, Dr. W. B. Brown, was a brother of Gould Brown, the grammarian. The subject of this sketch was born in 1833. After completing his education at the Quaker school of Providence, he returned to Lynn, and being surrounded by boot and shoe manufacturers, he learned the shoemaker's trade, but in the fall of 1857 he went to Buffalo, N. Y., and commenced the study of law, with Hon. Eli Cook as preceptor, and in 1860 was admitted to the bar. He then went to Bellevue, Mich., and entered into a law partnership with M. S. Bracket, with whom he remained until 1865, in which year he came to Io., and located at Cedar Falls. In 1869 he came to Deco- rah. Here he was first associated as partner with J. G. Morse, subse- quently with C. Wellington, and since .1881 with R. F. B. Port- man. He was married in 1861 to Miss Vera Bracket, daughter of M. S. Bracket. Mr. Brown is a democrat, but has no political aspirations. The children are Martin W. and Jennie L.
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