USA > Iowa > Allamakee County > History of Winneshiek and Allamakee counties, Iowa > Part 80
USA > Iowa > Winneshiek County > History of Winneshiek and Allamakee counties, Iowa > Part 80
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Theron R: Bengham, farmer, residing on 160 acres in Sec. 29, belong ing to Mrs. Sarah Bengham, his mother. He was born near Waukegan, Ill., in 1850, and in 1853 his parents came to Iowa. His father, James Bengham, pre-empted land and settled and improved it. He died Aug. 1st, 1881, and since that the farm
732
WINNESHIEK COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES.
has been operated by his son, the subject of this sketch. There are two good residences on the farm, one occupied by himself and the other by his mother. The farm is well stocked with cattle, hogs, etc., and the land is valued at $30 per acre. He married, in 1870, at Decorah, Miss Hattie Near, and they have two children, Freddie and Myrtie.
Geo. O. Brunsvold, farmer, Sec. 32, P. O. Highlandville; owns 418 acres of land, valued at $25 per acre; was born in Norway in 1824; is the third son of Ole O. and Betsy Brunsvold; left Norway in 1849, came to America and located in Wis .; stayed there one and one-half years, and then came to Winneshiek Co. He was married in 1849 to Miss Julia Arneson, a native of Norway, and has five children, Ole, Belinda, Arne, George and Errick.
John J. Bjerke, farmer, Sec. 15, P. O. Highlandville; owns 45 acres of land valued at $25 per acre; was born in Norway in 1854; is the second son of John J. and Christie Bjerke; came to America in 1867 and settled in Winneshiek Co .; was married in 1881 to Miss Maria Larson, a native of Io., and has two children (twins), Julia and Ingebor. He has held the office of school director one term.
Ogden Casterton, farmer, Sec. 30, Highland tp .; P. O. Locust Lane; owns 1,300 acres of land valued at $25 per acre; was born in England in 1830; is the oldest son of Zachariah and Jane Cas- terton; left England in 1852, came to America and located in Ill .; stayed there three years, then came to Winneshiek Co., and has resided here since. He was married in 1852 to Miss Mary Kew, a native of England, and has ten children, William O., Emma J., Ellen, Mary A., Carrie, Clara, Nettie, Bertha, Grace and Charles. Mr. C. has held the office of justice of the peace two years.
· William O. Casterton, farmer, Sec. 17, P. O. Locust Lane; was born in Ill. in 1854; is the oldest son of Ogden and Mary Caster- ton; left Ill. with his parents in 1856, came to Winneshiek Co., and has resided here since. He was married in 1878 to Miss Eliz- abeth Halse, a native of Io., and has one child, Hilda E.
Fanny Darrington, Sec 19, P. O. Hesper; owns 525 acres of land valued at $30 per acre; was born in Eugland in 1831; is the sec- ond daughter of William and Jane Kew; left England in 1855; came to America and located in Ill .; stayed there three years, then came to Winneshiek Co., and has resided here since. She was married in 1856 to Mr. Joseph Darrington, a native of Eng- land, and has ten children, Eliza J., Joseph, John, Anna, Frank, Eddie W., Flora E., Arthur L., Mary A. and Walter J. Mr. Dar- rington died May 13th, 1882.
Jacob Faulk, farmer, owns 160 acres in Sec. 4, and 40 acres in Sec. 9, in Washington tp. He was born in Strasbourg, Germany, in 1824, and was employed at farm work with his father and neighbors until 1851. He then came to America, and settled near Pittsburg, Pa., where he resided six years in the employ of the
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WINNESHIEK COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES.
government, teaming for the penitentiary. In the spring of 1857 he came to this state and settled, having been here two years pre- vious, selected a location and taken a claim. He has thoroughly improved the land, has now one of the best improved farms in the county, and his buildings are superior to anything in the neighborhood, having a magnificent residence, fitted with every comfort and convenience. His large and convenient barns are also fitted in a thorough manner for the comfort of stock and convenience of storage. The 160 acres which constitutes the home farm is all under the plow with the exception of lots neces- sary for buildings, hog pastures, etc., and is well stocked with a good herd of fine grade cattle, flock of sheep, and a fine drove of hogs. He has six head of horses and uses two teams on the farm. . He has filled various offices in the township. He was married in Pa. in 1855 to Miss Mary Glass, and their children are, Eliza, Anna, Mary, Caroline and Sallie.
A. F. Gaertner, proprietor of Twin Springs Brewery, was born in Lorain, France, in 1834; came with his parents to America in 1848, and settled in New Orleans. His father was a gardener and florist by trade. They resided in New Orleans eight years, during which time he learned the trade of cooper and brewer. In May, 1856, he came to Io., and located at the Old Mission Indian Agen- cy reserve, in what is now this tp., and took a claim on Sec. 34, being 160 acres, at the government price. He farmed and fol- lowed the trade of cooper there until 1864. He bought the brew- ery that had been established in 1859 by C. S. Centlivre, moved there, extended it and made many great improvements, and in 1866 he sold his farm. Nov. 12th, 1879, the brewery was burned down, and he at once rebuilt sufficient to carry on his business, with a capacity of 5,000 barrels a year. Mr. Gaertner was one of the first actual settlers. He served as constable in 1857. and was also clerk of this tp. for seven years before it was divided. He resided in Ossian from 1869 to 1875; was in the saloon business, and was also justice of the peace. He has also officiated for several years as justice of the peace; in this tp .; and is a notary public, commissioned in 1877, and in this capacity does a good business, the population surrounding being entirely German, and a large major- ity unacquainted with any language but their own. He is able to converse in as well as write, French, German, Spanish, English and Latin. He was married in New Orleans, to Mrs. Mary Handz.
Josiah Goddard, Jr., owns 320 acres in Sec. 24, in Jackson tp; where he resides, and 80 acres in Washington tp., Sec. 18. He was born in Detroit, Mich., in 1829, and went with his parents in 1847 to Rockford, Ill. In 1849 he went to California, and remained until 1853, and in the spring of that year came to Io, and located here. The following year he bought about 4,000 acres of land at the government price, and sold all but what he now owns. The 320 in this tp, is all improved, and a fine rolling prai-
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WINNESHIEK COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES.
rie, except 50 acres of timber, and is well stocked. His improve- ments are all of the first class, a handsome residence, comfortable and large barns, and all necessary farm buildings. Mr. Goddard was married in 1866, in Wis., to Martha A. Tubbs, and their children are Martha A., Granger and Charles.
F. K. Goddard, farmer, Sec. 19, P. O. New Albia; owns 389 acres of land valued at $20 per acre; was born in 1833 in Mich .; is the fourth son of Josiah and Hannah Goddard; settled in Win- bago Co., Ill., in 1847, but in 1848 went to Greene Co., Wis., and in 1849 finally settled in Winneshiek Co., Io., where he has lived since. He was married in 1856 to Miss Mandy Perry, a native of N. Y., and has six children, Georgeanna, May D., Lida B., Bernice B., Gertrude and John L. He has been collector and tp. trustee.
A. L. Goddard, Seedsman, and proprietor of the Pride of the North seed farm, 80 acres, in Sec. 18, Washington tp. He was born in Battle Creek, Mich., in 1838. In 1847 his parents moved to Greene Co., Ill., and in the following year to Wis., and two years later they came to Iowa and settled at the old Fort, which was then just evacuated. The county was not organized at that time, and there was no settlement between here and McGregor, except at Monona. On the land he now resides was located the Winnebago trading post. The land was transferred to the school fund, and his father bought it at $1.25 per acre; in all, 320 acres; which he broke up and improved. In Aug., 1862, the subject of his sketch, enlisted in the 38th Ia. Inf., Co. D., under Capt. Kirkuf, served 22 years, and was discharged on account of disability. He returned home and resumed farming with his father. He established the Seed farm in 1879; was formerly in connection with Hiram Sibley & Co., and still supplies them with seed corn, etc., and has established the reputation of being the best expert in seed corn in the United States. His father, Josiah Goddard, Sr., is a pensioner of 1812, and is now 92 years old. He was, in the early days, school fund commissioner, and had charge of the mission and Fort for some time. His wife, Mrs. Hannah Goddard is still living, and is 85 years old. They are the oldest couple in the tp., and reside with their son, who is the subject of this sketch. He was married in McGregor in 1867 to Minnie Schanck, and their children are Henry, Kittie, Horace and Lucretia.
Knud L. Grindeland, farmer, Sec. 17., P. O. Highlandville, owns 167 acres of land valued at $25 per acre; was born in Norway in 1846; is the oldest son of Louis and Cecilia Grindeland; left Nor- way with his mother in 1851, came to America and settled in Ill .; stayed there two years, and then came to Winneshiek Co. He was married in 1867 to Miss Isabella Olson, a native of Io., and has five children, Julia, Louis, Emma, Ollaf and Albert. He en- listed in 1862 in Co. F, 9th Io. Cav., and served three years.
John Heley, farmer, Sec. 29, P. O. Spillville; owns 120 acres of land valued at $20 per acre; was born in Bohemia in 1849; is the
·
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WINNESHIEK COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES.
oldest son of Peter and Anna Heley. When he was five years old his parents left Norway, came to America, and lived in Hamilton, Canada West, two years; then came to Io., and settled in Winne- shiek Co. He was married in 1875 to Miss Anna Komas, a native of Bohemia, and has three children, Peter, Albert and Mary.
J. W. Holmes, farmer, Sec. 20, P. O. New Albia; owns 352 acres of land valued at $25 per acre; was born in N. Y. in 1830; is the second son of Elias and Susan Holmes; lived in N. Y. till he was thirty years old, then came west and settled in Wis., where he remained eight years. He then moved to Winneshiek Co., where he has since resided. He was married in 1866 to Mrs. Har- riet L. Blair, a native of N. Y., and has an adopted daughter, Hat- tie E.
Lewis Johnson, farmer, Sec. 3, P. O. Ridgeway; owns 80 acres of land valued at $20 per acre; was born in Norway in 1833; is the second son of Jolin Johnson. When he was 22 years of age he came to America and settled in Winnesheik Co. He was mar- ried in 1857 to Miss Jennie Oleson a native of Norway, and has five children, John, Giles, Berthana L. Janie and Julia.
Peter Jacobs, farmer, Sec. 23, P. O. Fort Atkinson; owns 80 acres of land, valued at $25 per acre; was born in Penn. in 1846; is the fourth son of Paul and Clara Jacobs. When he was twen- ty-six years old he left Penn and settled in Winneshiek Co., Io., in 1872, and has lived there since. He was married in 1872 to Miss Hattie Slater, a native of Wis., and has four children, Wilson P., Alice E., Curtis E., and Paul HI. Mr. Jacobs has held the office of assessor and is at present justice of the peace.
Gunlek Kittelson, farmer, Sec. 29, P. O. Locust Lane; owns 165 acres of land valued at $20 per acre; was born in Norway in 1845; is the fourth son of Kittle and Guneld Olson; left Norway in 1862, came to America, and settled in Wis .; stayed there three years, then came to Minn., where he lived one year, and then came to Winneshiek Co. He was married in 1879 to Miss Isabella Gu- lickson, a native of Norway, and has two children, Guneld J. and Charley.
James Kodelka, farmer, Sec. 20, P. O. Spillville; owns SO acres of land valued at $20 per acre; was born in Bohemia in 1849; is the oldest son of John and Anna Kodelka. When he was seven- teen years of age he came to America, and settled in Winneshiek Co., Io., where still resides. He was married in 1873 to Miss Mary Voika, a native of Bohemia and has three children, Mary, Albert and Frank. He enlisted in 1868 in the Ist regt. U. S. Inft., at Detroit, served three years, and was honorably discharged in 1871.
Joseph Krischke, architect, carpenter, cabinet maker, and con- tractor, Fort Atkinson; was born in Vienna, Austria, in 1838. learned his trade and profession there, and in 1865 went to Mexi- co, and lived in Yucatan two years. He then went to Cuba, and worked two years in Havana, and then he went to New York and
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WINNESHIEK COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES.
worked two months, coming thence to Io., locating in this place, and establishing business. Mr. K. is the only contractor here, and furnishes plans and specifications for all kinds of buildings, churches, schools, farm and town residences, barns, etc. He is a first class mechanic. Mr. K. resides in town, and owns good pro- perty, residence and lots. He was married in the old country to his first wife, now deceased, by whom he has two children, Joseph, and Mary Ellen, and was married in the spring of 1871, to Miss Mary Ann Hoefeld. Their children are Katie, Frank, Matilda and Amelia.
Mathia Lesch, farmer, Sec. 28, P. O. Spillville; owns 160 acres of land valued at $20 per acre: was born in Germany in 1830; is the oldest son of John and Theresa Lesch. When he was 20 years old he came with his parents to America and settled in Winnesheik Co., and has lived there since. He was married in 1854 to Miss Eva Coon a native of Germany, by which marriage he had three children, Theresa, John and Caroline. His wife died in 1872, and he was married in 1875 to Miss Anna Bonnova, a native of Germany, by whom he had four children, Joseph, Fred, Lany and Philip.
Martin Lukesh, farmer, Sec. 19, owns 160 acres of land valued at $25 per acre; was born in Bohemia in 1813; is the oldest son of Frank and Rosalia Lukesh. In 1854 Mr. Lukesh left Bohemia and came to America, settled in Winnesheik Co., Io., and has been a resident of that Co. since. He was married in 1841 to Miss Anna Kodelka, a native of Bohemia, and has seven children, Frank, Wenzel, Joseph, Ferdinand, Ignatious, Rosie and Mary. He has been a member of the Board of Supervisors for some years.
J. E. McCarthey, farmer, Sec. 21, P. O. New Albia; owns 300 acres of land, valued at $25 per acre; was born in 1839 in Otsego Co., N. Y .; is the sixth son of Patrick and Catharan McCarthey. When he was fiteen years of age he moved with his father to Winneshiek Co., and has been a resident here since. He was mar- ried in 1866 to Miss Elizabeth Smith, a native of N. Y., and has two children, Hattie O. and Grant E. He has been township trustee several terms. Mr. McCarthey enlisted in 1864, and served in Co. C, 13th Io. Inft .; participated in the battle of Kingston, N. C., in the spring of 1865, and was discharged in June, 1865, at Washington, D. C.
J. B. Munro, wool manufacturer and proprietor of Bear Creek woolen mills, Highland tp., Winneshiek Co .; P. O. Highlandville; was born in Canada in 1850; is the oldest son of John and Anna Munro; left Canada in 1863, went to N. Y., remained there one year and then went to Penn., where he lived one and one-half years; then went to Mich. and stayed two and one-half years, when he came to Io. He lived in different parts of the state until 1879, when he came to Winneshiek Co., and has resided there since.
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WINNESHIEK COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES.
Nels Nelson, farmer, Sec. 16, P. O. Highlandville; owns 200 acres of land valued at $25 per acre; was born in Norway in 1836; is the oldest son of Nels and Margaret Nelson; left Norway in 1853, came to America and settled in Winneshiek Co .; was married in 1859 to Miss Johanna Nelson, a native of Norway, by whom he had one child, Andrew. His wife died in 1868, and he was mar- ried in 1869 to Mary Johnson, a native of Norway; they have two children, Gustave and Johanna. Mr. N. has held the office of Co. supervisor two terms, and tp. clerk ten years.
Moses Oren, farmer, Sec. 17, P. O. Hesper; owns 213 acres of land valued at $25 per acre; was born in Ohio in 1840; is the fifth son of Alexander and Lydia Oren; left Ohio in 1854, and came to Minn .; stayed there ten years, then came to Winneshiek Co., where he has resided since. He was marrid in 1867 to Miss Emily J. Wilson, a native of N, Y., and has two children, Clarence H. and Glen W. He has held the office of tp. trustee five years.
Ole Olson, farmer, Sec. 13. Pleasant tp., P. O. Highlandville; owns 305 acres of land valued at $25 per acre; was born in Norway in 1820; is the second son of Ole and Torber Semonsen; left Nor- way in 1849, came to America and located in Wis; stayed there ten years, then came to Winnesheik Co. and has resided here since. He was married in 1860 to Miss Jane Munson, a native of Norway.
Peter Olson, miller and proprietor of Highlandville Mills, was born in Norway in 1825; is the oldest son of Ole and Anna Sem- monson; left Norway in 1854, came to America and located in Winnesheik Co .. where he has resided ever since. He was mar- ried in 1852 to Miss Anna Anderson, a native of Norway, and had two children, Lydia and Laura. His wife died in 1854, and he married again in 1857, to Miss Jane Gjermundson, a native of Norway; they have five children, Henry, Sarah, Simon, Charley and Julia.
George P. Painter, farmer, Sec. 26, Pleasant tp .; P. O. Decorab; was born in Winneshiek Co. in 1850; is the second son of Wil- liam and Elizabeth Painter; was married in 1871 to Miss Annie Russell, a native of Io., and has one child, Herbert.
Philip Pfister, Jr., farmer, Sec. 4, P. O. Locust Lane; owns 280 acres of land valued at $25 per acre; was born in Germany in 1846; is the second son of Philip and Margaret Pfister; left Ger- many with his parents in 1854, came to America and settled in Winneshiek Co., where he has resided ever since. He was mar- ried in 1874 to Miss Eliza Falk, a native of Penn; and has four children, Lena, Charley, Margaret and Eliza.
Amund A. Rosvold, farmer, Sec. 10, P. O. Thoten; Glenwood tp .; owns 140 acres of land valued at $20 per acre; was born in Norway in 1839; is the oldest son of Amund and Ingebor Rosvold; left Norway in 1860, came to America and settled in Winneshiek Co .; was married in 1860 to Miss Anna Anderson, a native of
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WINNESHIEK COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES.
Norway, and has two children, Isabella M. and Betsey A. Mr. Rosvold served one year in Co. I, 13th Io. Inft., and was discharged at Louisville, Ky., in 1865.
John J. Teiska, farmer, Sec. 35, P. O. Spillville; owns 120 acres of land valued at $25 per acre; was born in Ohio in 1854; is the oldest son of Joseph and Mary Teiska. When he was two years old his parents moved to Winneshiek Co., Io., and he has been a resident of that Co. since. He was married in 1876 to Miss Mary Suchana, a native of Bohemia, and has three children, Mary, Vic- toria and James.
Benjamin Vaughn, farmer, Jackson tp; owns 680 acres in Secs. 11 and 14, and 80 acres near Fort Atkinson. He was born in Lower Canada, near Montreal, in 1801, and was engaged in farm- ing and the real estate and loan business there until 1858, when he sold out and came to Io., settled here, bought 1,200 acres, and commenced improving the land, assisted by his sons. He has disposed of all except the above mentioned land, which, save the 80 acres of timber, is fine farming land, rolling enough for drainage, and without any waste land, it being all under plow or in pasture. The family reside on Sec. 11, have a fine residence, extensive barns and a large amount of stock. Mr. Vaughn served in the British ranks during the Canadian rebellion, and took an active part. His father held a commission in the British ranks during the revolution. He had come to the colonies in an early day, and at the outbreak of the revolution, entered the British ranks, and afterwards went to Canada where Benj. Vaughn, the subject of this sketch, was born.
INDEX TO ADDITIONAL BIOGRAPHIES.
Amundson, A. T.
Anderson, T. G. 731
Albertson, Henry .731
Berge, Nels E. 731
Bengham, Theron R. 731
Brunsvold; Geo. R. 732
Bjerke, John J. 732
Casterton, Ogden 732
Casterton, William O. 732
Darrington, Fanny
732
Faulk. Jacob. 732
Oren, Moses 737
Olson, Ole. 737
Olson, Peter. 737
Painter, Geo. P 737
Pfister, Philip. 737
Grindeland, Knud.L. 734
Heley, John. 734
Holmes, J. W 735
731 | Johnson, Lewis. 735
Jacobs, Peter. 735
Kittelson, Genlek. .735
Kodelka, James 735
Krischke, Joseph. 735
Lesch, Mathia. 736
Lukesh, Martin. 736
McCarthey, J. E. 736
Munro, J. B. 736
Nelson, Nels 737
Gaertner, A. F 733
Goddard, Josiah. 733
Goddard, F. K 734
Goddard, A. L .. 734
Rosvold, Amund A. 737
Teiska, John J. 738
Vaughn, Benjamin 738
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