Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 169

Author:
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1360

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able. In 1876 there were 2,000 subscribers, and the list gradually grew until 1884, when it jumped to 12,000. The sworn circulation of the paper in February, 1895, was over 37,000, showing an average increase of about 2, 500 new subscribers per annum, and the in- crease is still going on at this rate. Of this immense issue about 900 copies are sent to the old country, and the remainder circulate in America. In explanation of the wonderful popularity of this paper, it may be said that at its inception it met a long felt want, -that of a first-class newspaper, clean and handsomely printed, published in the Norwegian language, and entirely independent in its make-up from a religious and political standpoint. The inatter that appears in its columns is carefully and conscientiously edited, and on no account is any subject allowed to displace the news fea- ture of the paper. The founder of the paper started out on this line and has rigidly adhered to it; he has published a progressive paper, in- creasing its value to the subscriber as his means increased, and to these two features may be attributed the wonderful success of the enter- prise. Some idea of its importance as a medium of circulation may be obtained when we re- member that it has nearly reached 40,000, while the London Times has but little over 25,000 circulation!

Mr. Anundsen was married at La Crosse, Wisconsin, October 26, 1865, to Miss Matilda Hoffstrom, a daughter of Nels and Sophia (Hadorph) Hoffstrom. Mrs. Anundsen was born in Ostergotland, Sweden, May 28, 1837. Her mother was born in Sweden, November 26, 1812, and is at present living with the sub- ject of this sketch. Mrs. Anundsen lost her father when about fifteen years of age, and shortly after, in 1854, she and her mother emni- grated to America and located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, where she lived till her marriage.

Mr. and Mrs. Anundsen are the parents of five children, only two of whom are living,- Arthur F. and Frederick Hadorph,-both of whom are in business in Decorah.

Mr. Anundsen is one of the soundest men

in the county, financially. In addition to his valuable newspaper property, he is a stock- holder in the Decorah Windmill Company, of which he is president, and also has a fine resi- dence property. Politically he affiliates with the Republican party, and is a member of the United Norwegian Lutheran Church.

The father of our subject was born June 30, 1817, and resides with his son. His inother was born April 1, 1812, and died in Decorah, Iowa, October 14, 1881. Possibly no act of our subject's life ever gave him so much pleas- ure as the bringing of these old people from Norway, more than twenty years ago, for the purpose of reuniting the family in this country. Our subject has two brothers, -Amund, who lives in Minnesota; and Johan, of Decorah, both of whom are younger than he.

The son and grandson of a stone-mason, coming of humble, honest parentage, inured to hardship from youth to middle life, practi- cally self-educated, our subject stands before us to-day an example of what the man with a definite idea and sufficient perseverance can accomplish in this country. From the time the first copy of Ved Arnen appeared to the successful issue of the Posten, Mr. Anundsen's one idea was to establish a Norwegian-Ameri- can publication of general circulation. Has he succeeded ? The Decorah Posten stands in answer to the question, and is a living monu- ment to the memory of its founder. As we glance back over the past of the publisher of the Decorah Posten we can see standing prom- inently forth the central idea that nature chooses her servants when she has work to do, and impels them to action. We cannot con- ceive why this uneducated, ignorant foreigner, without experience, money or friends should not have been content to work for the wages which insured for his family and himself a comfortable living; and were it not for the outcome which confuses our shallow conserva- tism, we would be justified in calling him an impracticable dreamer. Advice, suggestions and expostulation were alike unheeded by this unreasoning printer, who in spite of fail-

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ures, ridicule and poverty so extreme that its details are almost incredible, offered his pro- ducts to the world.

There are men whose failures are the re- sult of such high endeavor that their disasters discredit our common-place victories; and wlio shall say that printer Anundsen, the debt-rid- den, the failure, the visionary, who worked on the public highway for $1. 50 a day that he might enlarge a paper which was absorbing his utmost endeavors and giving him in return but disappointment, who waved his hand to wor- ry, who was never disconcerted, never at a loss for some other expedient, who greeted defeat with so cheery a smile that for very shame she retreated to give way to a measure of success so full that its tenth part would have sat- isfied, was not every whit as worthy the esteem of the community as is Publisher Anund- sen, whose establishment from foundation to roof is replete with the very best of every ad- junct of the art preservative, who buys ten car- loads of paper at an order, and sends his Pos- ten into every State and Territory of the Union, across the Atlantic to the fjords of Norway, the floes of Iceland, onto the Continent of Europe and into the winter fastnesses of Alaska, the frozen?

a ILLIAM - ALLEN MARK. - The welfare of the community depends upon no class as much as upon the agriculturists, and among the lead- ing representatives of the farming interests of Dallas county is this gentleman, who now re- sides on section 22, Adams township. He comes of a family of German origin, for in the Fatherland his paternal grandparents were born and reared, emigrating thence to the United States. The father of our subject, John Mark, was born on a farm in Pennsylvania, and dur- ing his childhood days accompanied his parents on their removal to Ohio. He married Maria Jones, a native of Ohio, and became a farmer in Allen county, that State. There, on the 5th of April, 1838, occurred the birth of our

subject. Seven years later his parents re- moved to Noble county, Indiana, where the mother died, in 1845. The elder daughters of the family then attended to the household du- ties, while our subject aided in the labors of the fields through the summer months and in the winter seasons attended school until his father's removal to Missouri. In 1846 John Mark was again married, and six years later sold his farm, going to Grundy county, Mis- souri, where he purchased a tract of land, con- tinuing its cultivation until his removal to Mer- cer county, of the same State.

Mr. Mark, whose name heads this review, accompanied his father on these removals, and while in Mercer county formed the acquaint- ance of Miss Mary C. Harper, whom he mar- ried when twenty years of age. The young couple began their domestic life on his father's farm, and a year later Mr. Mark rented a tract of land in Livingston county, Missouri, where he made his home for two years. The time of the Civil war drew near, and it was a period of wild excitement in that section of the coun- try. This led to his removal to Iowa, his father-in-law coming at the same time. Both families located on a farm in Dallas county, only two and a half miles from where Mr. Mark now resides. In 1870 he rented the farm which he subsequently purchased, and which is now his place of abode.

On the 9th of August, 1862, Mr. Mark re- sponded to the country's call for troops, join- ing the Union army as a member of Company. C, Thirty-ninth Iowa Infantry. He served for three years, and fought in many of the most notable battles of the war, including the siege of Altoona. He was mustered out June 5, 1865, at Clinton, Iowa. He had for almost three years followed the old flag on Southern battle-fields, and was ever found at his post of duty, continuing at the front until the preser- vation of the Union was an assured fact. With an honorable war record he then returned to his home to suffer for five months with rheu- matism as a consequence of his arduous service.

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The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Mark, which was celebrated November 1, 1857, has been blessed with a family of seven children. Me- lissa Jane, born September 17, 1858, was mar- ried July 20, 1876, to G. S. Mckibben, an agriculturist of Adams township, Dallas county, and they have nine children; Lillie Ann, born December 26, 1860, was married December 25, 1878, to S. S. Mckibben, and their fam- ily numbers five children; John Leonard, born March 1, 1866, died April 26, 1869; Mari- ette, born December 26, 1867, is the wife of G. W. Stanton, of Des Moines, and their marriage, which was celebrated December 31, 1890, has been blessed with two children; James Sidney, born October 8, 1869, was married August 2, 1893, to Grace G. Cramer, and with their one child they reside in Adams township, Dallas county; William Arthur, born July 11, 1874; and Frank Stewart, born Sep- tember 17, 1877, completes the family.

In 1871 Mr. Mark purchased his farm, then comprising 109 acres of land. Its boundaries he has since extended, however, until it now contains 162 acres. The fields are well tilled, good barns and other outbuildings have been erected, and a new and commodious residence stands as a mnonument to the thrift and enter- prise of the owner, who is justly numbered among the most progressive and prominent agriculturists of Dallas county.

He has always been a stanch supporter of the Republican party and takes a deep interest in its growth and success. He and his family are members of the Methodist Church.

3 AMES H. SMITH, a prominent farmer of Warren county, was born on a farmi in Stephenson county, Illinois, April 17, 1847, a son of John and Charity (Gil- bert) Smith. James H. was reared and edu- cated in Green county, Wisconsin, and after his father's removal to this county he attended the country schools here. In early life he be- came familiar with modern farming, and his place is now one of the finest in the county.

The beautiful home, which stands on section 18, occupies one of the finest building sites in the township, while the circular-shaped barn attracts wide-spread attention. The traveler who passes the farm soon evinces a desire to see the interior of this fine structure, and on examination wonders at its many conveniences and its simplicity. The dome-shaped building has a large space of many square feet on the first floor, wherein can be stored a great many tons of hay, and from many points of this floor are openings to emit quickly the feed for 'a great variety of stock. Either wing of the lower floor of this most modern structure con- tains a sufficiently large space for corn and oat cribs almost hid, or at least not taking up the room which in a square barn would be too ap- parent. The practical dimensions are 56x56 feet, and for most conveniently housing stock is the finest of the kind in this locality. The stalls for horses and the places partitioned off for colts, were made to please the artistic eye of the owner and are models of convenience and skill, and certainly fill a long-felt want. Across from the building an underground run stretches beneath the road, thus admitting hogs to the pasture from the barn-yard, thus not interfering with road traffic. This modern farm and fine home is located about three- quarters of a mile from the pretty city of Milo, on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, and the place is a source of pride to the entire community. Mr. Smith has devoted many years of his life to improving his beautiful farm, and it certainly would please the most fastidious observer.

Mr. Smith was married December 30, 1877, to Miss Alice Stoops, a native of Marion county, Indiana, and a daughter of Henry and Amanda (Hunter) Stoops. They have had five children, namely: Arlo E., born January 26, 1879; Noel H., October 10, 1880; Merrill B., April 1, 1884; Orra E., March 4, 1887; and Rosa E., August 27, 1889. Noel Hurst died October 21, 1880, and lies at rest in the Baptist churchyard, not far distant from the pretty home in which she first saw the light of

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day. Mr. Smith affiliates with the Republican party, and his first presidential vote was cast for General U. S. Grant.

MASON WHEELER, one of the most prominent farmers and stock- raisers of Lucas county, residing on section 33, Liberty township, and the efficient County Commissioner, whose in- terest and labor in behalf of the public wel- fare well entitles him to representation in this volume, was born in Perry county, Ohio, on the 23d of April, 1840. His parents, Samuel Davis and Elizabeth (Nathis) Wheeler, had eight children. Our subject spent his boy- hood days in his native State until sixteen years of age and then came West with his father's family, who made the journey over- land with an ox team in the year 1856, set- tling finally in Liberty township. He con- tinued under the parental roof until he had attained his majority and then started out in life for himself, renting a farm of his father on which he raised a crop.

In September of the same year,-1861,- he enlisted in Company C of the Thirteenth Iowa Infantry, under Colonel Crocker, joining the troops at Chariton. The troops were first sent to Davenport, Iowa, and then transferred to St. Louis and later to a point near Jeffer- son City, Missouri, where they were detailed to guard railroads. Subsequently they fol- lowed Johnston, and on the 3d of October, 1862, participated in the battle of Corinth and followed Price in his retreat, returning thence to Corinth. Mr. Wheeler was under the com- mand of Grant throughout the Vicksburg cam- paign, his regiment being at that time at- tached to the Seventeenth Army Corps under General McPherson, who was killed during the Atlanta campaign. Mr. Wheeler also served through that campaign and was honorably dis- charged from the service at Nashville, Tennes- see, in November, 1864, after three years and two months of faithful and arduous service, during which he participated in a number of

hard-fought engagements and valiantly de- fended the old flag and the cause it repre- sented. Though never seriously injured, he passed through many trying experiences and had many narrow escapes.

Having served his country nobly in her hour of need, Mr. Wheeler then returned to his home and the duties of civil life and once more rented his father's farm, upon which he raised one crop. As a companion and help- meet on life's journey he chose Miss Sarah J. Budd, their marriage being celebrated in the fall of 1865. The lady was born in Franklin county, Ohio, and was one of the four chil- dren of Abraham and Eliza (Coon) Budd. They have six children: Charles F., who is now liv- ing in Washington; Elizabeth E., Mintie, Bertha, Harvey and Samuel D., who are all yet at home.

In 1866 Mr. Wheeler purchased a farm four miles north of his old homestead, where he lived for four years, when he sold it and purchased the farm of his father, upon which he has since been actively engaged in agricul- tural pursuits. He has been uniformly suc- cessful and from time to time has added to his possessions by the purchase of more land until he to-day owns a splendid farm of 420 acres, all of which is included in the home place save a tract of eighty acres. He has for some years been extensively engaged in stock-raising, his farm being very favorably situated for that purpose, the White Breast river running through it, giving at all times an abundant supply of water for the stock. He has on hand over twenty head of horses, seventy-five head of cattle and an equal number of hogs. He makes a specialty of shorthorn cattle and Clyde horses, and has some very fine speci- mens of these upon his place, while his efforts have done much to advance the grade of stock raised in this locality. His farm buildings are substantial and commodious, and are models of convenience peculiarly adapted to the uses to which they are put. Nearly all have been placed upon the farm since the present owner took possession and indicate his characteristic

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thrift and enterprise. He is well known as a practical farmer whose success in life is the result of his own energy and able manage- ment.

In politics Mr. Wheeler has always been a strong and able adherent of the Republican party and has been honored with many offices of trust. He has served for many years as Justice of the Peace in his township and for more than twenty years has been a member of the School Board, while for several years he has acted as Assessor of Liberty township. He is a warm friend of education and gives his support to all measures calculated to prove of public benefit. The position and standing of Mr. Wheeler in Lucas county are well shown by his long continuance in office. In 1888 he was elected County Commissioner, and has ever since creditably and acceptably filled that position, involving much arduous service. Dur- ing his term the splendid court-house has been built, at a cost of $59,000, whereby $1,000 was saved, the appropriation having been $60,000. He labors for the best interests of the community and is well known as a valued citizen as well as prominent farmer and an honored man.

J AMES A. RICHMOND is a progressive, enterprising and typical Western busi- ness man, belonging to that class of citizens to whom this section of the country owes its prosperity and progress. He was formerly identified with agricultural inter- ests, but is now successfully conducting a drug store in Dallas Center. The record of his ca- reer is as follows :

He was born in Wayne county, New York, September 12, 1847, and is a son of Rufus R. Richmond, a native of Hillsdale, Columbia county, New York, born on the 17th of Janu- ary, 1815. The grandfather, James Richmond, was also born in Hillsdale, and died in Claver- ack, at the advanced age of eighty-three years. For many years he was engaged in the manu- facture of woolen goods, but after the death of

his father he purchased the old homestead and turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. Both he and his wife were earnest and life- long workers in the anti-slavery cause and the cause of temperance. The wife of James Richmond bore the maiden name of Phoebe Terry, and she also was a native of Hillsdale, New York, while her last days were spent in Claverack, where she died at the age of sev- enty-five. Mr. and Mrs. Richmond were the parents of seven children, four of whom are yet living. The paternal grandparents of Rufus R. Richmond were Stephen and Rebecca (Simon) Richmond, the former born in 1754. They had nine sons and three daughters, all of whom lived to be married. The mother of this family died when about sixty years of age, and the father in 1841, at the age of seventy- seven. For many years they had lived in Hillsdale, New York, and were probably born in that vicinity. The maternal grandfather of Rufus Richmond was Lieutenant Samuel Terry, who married Esther Woodward, daughter of Caleb and Elizabeth (Edmonds) Woodward. They resided in Hillsdale, where Mr. Terry passed away, at the age of eighty-nine; while his wife, who died in 1862, reached the very advanced age of ninety-nine years. The founder of the Richmond family in America was Ed- ward Richmond, who came to this country from Richmondhill, London, probably about the middle of the seventeenth century. Many of his descendants have borne his name, in- cluding the great-grandfather of Rufus. His wife's name was Elizabeth Powell. With the exception of the Simons, who originally came from Scotland, the ancestors on both sides of the house were of English descent.

Rufus R. Richmond, the father of the gen- tleman whose name heads this review, spent his early life in the woolen manufacturing busi- ness, and on the farm with his father. In May, 1840, he was united in marriage with Ann Rossman, who was born in the same county, and in the same year as her husband. Her death occurred in Dallas county.

Concerning the genealogy of her people we

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have gleaned the following items: Johanas Rossman started to this country from Germany with his two sons, George and Conrad, but, George dying on the way, only the other two arrived; and it was feared that the name Ross- man might run out altogether. The father settled in the town of Livingston, Columbia county, New York. Conrad married and had five sons,-John, Fite, Jacob, Jonas, and George, and four daughters, -Patrie, Cone, Pinder and Berger. For his second wife he married Miss Shutts, and had the following children: Lizzie, who never married; Philip, Conrad, Hendrick, Adam, Samuel, Tobias, and Hannah. Adam and Samuel were twins. Fite married Ann Ham, and had four sons and two daughters, namely: John, Peter, Fred- erick, Jacob, Catharine, and Margaret. Jacob married Nancy M. Latting, and had six chil- dren, -Allen, Richard, Refine L., Ann, Phœbe E., and Harriet. Ann became the wife of Rufus R. Richmond, as already stated, in 1840. The Latting family came from Malines, Belgium, where the name was formerly spelled Lattin. Allen married Mary S. Alling, and Richard married Clarissa Van de Boe, but neither had children. Refine L. married Mary E. Ten Broeck, who died, and she again mar- ried Irena Casper, and had four children, - May Belle, Allen, Richard, and Refine L., Jr. Phœbe E. became the wife of Alexander Lock- wood, and had one daughter, Ida Frances, de- ceased. Harriet married David M. Lawrence, and had one son and one daughter-Richard R. and Eva H., both deceased.

Rufus R. Richmond had six children, of whom two sons laid down their lives on the altar of their country. Allen R., who was a member of Company G, Seventeenth Iowa In- fantry, was killed at the battle of Iuka, Missis- sippi; and Cassius M. C., after participating in the siege of Vicksburg, died in the hospital in Keokuk, Iowa. The surviving members of the family are Richard M., Edward A., Mrs. Mary E. Brenton, and James A.

The father of this family first came to Iowa in 1855, locating two miles south of Dallas

Center, where he entered from the Govern- ment 160 acres of land, and made a home on the Western frontier. His nearest neighbor, either to the north or east, was about five miles away. All around him stretched an un- broken prairie, and there was little indication of future progress and development. He at once began to clear and improve his farm, and continued cultivating his land until after the breaking out of the late war, when his son, Cassius M. C., told him of his determination to enter the arniy. The father then replied, " Well, my. boy, if you go I'll go, too," and both became members of Company G, Twenty- third Iowa Infantry, serving under Captain Roach and Colonels Dewey and Kinsman. The son died, as before stated, but the father continued at the front for three years and took part in nearly all the engagements with his regiment; but when his boy was in the hos- pital he secured an appointment there to serve as steward. When the preservation of the Union was an assured fact, he returned home and continued the development of his first farm until the fall of 1879, when he purchased another quarter section, built a residence there- on, and continued farm work until 1894. He is now living retired, and makes his home with his children. An honored pioneer settler, his life has been well and worthily passed, and he has won the high regard of many friends.

James A: Richmond acquired his education in the district schools and in the Hudson River Institute, which he entered at the age of twenty years. Shortly afterward he returned to the West, taking up his residence in Iowa, and for a few years engaged in buying and selling stock. In 1879 he opened a drug store, which he has since successfully operated, having now a well appointed establishment and enjoying a large and lucrative patronage. In addition to his other property he also owns a fine farm of 160 acres, and is to-day numbered among the substantial citizens of the community.

On the 23d of September, 1879, Mr. Rich- mond was united in marriage with Miss Hattie E. Everett, a native of Sycamore, Dekalb

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county, Illinois. Four children are born by this union, -Ina E., Raymond E., Laurence B. and Allen R.,-all yet at their parental home.

Mr. Richmond has always been a sup- porter of the Republican party, which his fa- ther aided in organizing in this locality. He cast his first presidential vote, in 1868, for U. S. Grant. As a citizen he is true to every duty that devolves upon him, and is eminently public-spirited, giving his support to all inter- ests which are calculated to prove of public benefit. The family is noted for loyalty and fidelity, and among the most valued and in- fluential citizens of Dallas county is numbered the gentleman whose name heads this review.

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Memorial and biographical record of Iowa, Part 169

Author: Publication date: 1896 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1360

Author:
Publication date: 1896
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1360