USA > Iowa > Allamakee County > Past and present of Allamakee county, Iowa. A record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. II > Part 53
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WILLIAM F. LAND.
Among Allamakee county's most reliable and far-sighted business men, among its most successful and practical farmers and public-spirited and pro- gressive citizens is numbered William F. Land, who owns and operates eighty- five acres on section 32, Franklin township, and in addition to his agricultural interests is local agent for some important eastern business concerns. A spirit of enterprise and progress, guided and controlled by sound and practical judg- ment, has influenced him in all the activities of his career and has brought him to a position of prominence and prosperity in his native county. Mr. Land's birth occurred in Franklin township. August 16th, 1869, his parents being John and Maria (Coon) Land, natives of Ontario, Canada, the former born February 22, 1828, and the latter May 3, 1825. The maternal branch of the family dates back to the time of Peter Stuyvesant. In Canada the father worked as a team- ster and during the Mexican war came to the United States, locating first near Three Rivers, Michigan, and going from there to Dundee, Illinois. He worked in an iron foundry in that city until he moved to Iowa in 1858, locating in Hardin, where for some time he engaged as a teamster for the Hardin flour mill, be- coming recognized as a most reliable man in this line of work in the vicinity. Later, however, he turned his attention to farming, purchasing land on section 32, Franklin township, and upon this property he continued to reside until his death, which occurred December 23, 1908. He had survived his wife only a few years, her death having occurred February 2, 1905. To their union were born four children: Mary, who died in infancy; John Monroe, who is a farmer residing on section 33, Franklin township; William F., of this review ; and George L., a retired farmer living in Waukon.
In the acquirement of an education William F. Land attended district school in his native township and in his childhood aided with the operation of the home- stead, becoming early familiar with the best agricultural methods. After his marriage he moved to a tract of land which he had previously purchased, turn- ing his attention to farming on his own account. Having learned the mason's and carpenter's trade in his youth he built upon his property a modern residence, and he has since that time made other substantial improvements, his farm being today one of the finest and best equipped in this township. The time which is
MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM F. LAND
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not devoted to its further development Mr. Land gives to his duties as agent for the American Insurance Company of Newark, New Jersey, and for the Smith System Heating & Ventilating Company, dealing in ventilators for school- houses, stores, etc. He is well known in business circles of this part of Allamakee county, where his energy, foresight and ability are highly respected.
On the 3d of December, 1893, Mr. Land was united in marriage to Miss Cornelia E. Perkins, who was born in Saratoga county, New York, August 17, 1875. She is a daughter of Henry S. and Mary E. (Van Avery) Perkins, the former born at Warrensburg, New York, January 22, 1832, and the latter in Saratoga county, that state, in 18442. The father passed away June 24, 1908, and the mother makes her home at Tribbey, Oklahoma, having afterward married M. W. Lang, of Portland, Oregon. Mrs. Land is a stockholder in the Pacific Union Life Association in the latter city. On the paternal side she is of Scotch- English extraction. Members of this family have been prominent in a number of the American wars and Mrs. Land's father served in the Union army during the Civil war, having enlisted at the first call for troops in 1861, in the One Hundred and Eighteenth New York Volunteer Infantry, Eighteenth Army Corps. He was promoted to the rank of corporal and saw service at Antietam with the Pioneer Corps under Grant, serving with credit and distinction until the close of hostilities. He and his wife became the parents of four children : Ida May, who died in childhood; Cornelia E., the wife of the subject of this review ; Perry L., a farmer in Franklin township; and Emery J., stenographer and bookkeeper for a large wholesale commission firm in Portland, Oregon. Mr. and Mrs. Land have two children: Nellie Ruby, who was born August 12, 1895; and Mary Margaret, born October 21, 1900.
Mr. Land is a stockholder in the Luana Creamery Company. He gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has been honored with various positions of trust and responsibility, for he takes an intelligent interest in public affairs and is always active in advancing the permanent interests of the com- munity. He served for three years as road supervisor and is a member of the school board, acting as president of that body at the present time. His success in life has come as the natural result of his industry, honesty and enterprising spirit and these qualities, being dominating elements in his character, have brought him also the respect and esteem of the people among whom his entire life has . been passed.
M. J. HART.
M. J. Hart is one of the extensive landowners of Allamakee county and is equally prominent as a buyer and shipper of horses, cattle and hogs. His business interests are, indeed, important and, furthermore, his life record indicates the possibilities of attainment of success when one is ambitious, energetic and capa- ble. Mr. Hart has worked his way upward entirely through his own efforts and his business record is a most creditable one. He was born on the Hart homestead in Paint Creek township on the 19th of March, 1860, and is a brother of W. S. Vol. 11-26
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Hart, of Waukon, in connection with whose sketch mention of the family is made.
In the district schools M. J. Hart pursued his education and for twelve years after putting aside his books he was engaged in railroad construction work. In this way he visited nearly every state west of the Mississippi but for several years past he has devoted his attention largely to the buying and shipping of horses, cattle and hogs and to the management of his extensive real-estate interests.
MFr. Hart was united in marriage, in 1900, to Miss Mary Brennan, a daugh- ter of John Brennan, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this work. They attend the Catholic church and contribute generously to its support. Mr. Hart has always made his home in Allamakee county, although business interests have at different times called him into other sections. He has a wide acquaintance here and is recognized as a most able business man, alert, energetic, wide-awake and determined.
J. F. OSMUNDSON.
J. F. Osmundson, a veteran of the Civil war and today one of the substantial and representative farmers of Waterloo township, is a native of Norway, born in 1839. His parents, Osmund and Anna Rierson, were also natives of that country and emigrated to the United States in 1850, making their first settlement in Racine county, Wisconsin. There the father followed the stone mason's trade for one year, at the end of which time he moved to Iowa and bought land in Waterloo township, Allamakee county, turning his attention to farming. Even- tually, however, he sold this property and in the '70s moved to Renville county, Minnesota, where he again engaged in agricultural pursuits, following this occu- pation until his death, which occurred in the late '70s. His wife survived him a number of years, dying in 1893. To their union were born six children : J. F., of this review; Benjamin, who was killed during the Civil war; Ole, deceased; Gabriel, of Montana ; Henrietta, the deceased wife of Hans Anderson, of Chicago, Illinois; and Annie, the deceased wife of Erik Oleson, of South Dakota.
J. F. Osmundson acquired a limited education in Norway and at the age of ten years accompanied his parents to America. When he was only eleven years of age he became a sailor on the Great Lakes and continued in this occupation until 1861, when he enlisted in Company C, Fifteenth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, for service in the Civil war. He was mustered out in the following June and immediately afterward reenlisted, this time joining the United States navy at Chicago. He served until the close of hostilities and with a creditable military record returned to Iowa, purchasing a tract of land in Waterloo township, which constitutes a portion of his present farm. To this he added from time to time, becoming a large landowner, his holdings aggregating five hundred acres. Of this he has recently deeded one hundred and forty acres to his son but the rest of the farm remains in his possession. Two hundred acres are in a high state of cultivation, and the property, equipped with a substantial residence, fine barns and outbuildings and modern machinery, reflects everywhere the owner's many
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years of careful supervision and practical labor. It lies almost entirely on sec- tion 31, Waterloo township, but a portion of the property is in Winneshiek county.
In 1869 Mr. Osmundson was united in marriage to Miss Mary Ellingson, who was born in Norway and who came to America with her parents when she was still a child. Mr. and Mrs. Osmundson became the parents of a number of children. Edward, the eldest, operates the homestead. He married Miss Ida Fretheim, a native of Winneshiek county, and to them have been born seven children, six of whom survive, Jerry, Carrie, Henry, Edith, Agnes and Inga. Benjamin, the next in order of birth in the family of Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Osmund- son, is married and resides upon his farm in Winneshiek county. Annie is still at home. Rachel became the wife of William Peterson, a resident of Waukon. Lizzie married Sander Anfinson, of Winneshiek county. Henrietta, the young- est member of this family, is the wife of Albert Larson, also of Winneshiek county.
Mr. Osmundson is a devout member of the Lutheran church and is a repub- lican in his political beliefs, interested in the welfare and progress of his town- ship and county without being active as an office seeker. For almost a half century he has lived upon the farm which is yet his place of residence and during that time he has gained the respect and esteem of his neighbors, who recognize in him a man of upright character and high ideals, loyal in citizenship and straightforward and honorable in all the relations of life.
JOHN HENDRICKSON.
John Hendrickson needs no introduction to the readers of the history of Allamakee county for he is a representative of one of the pioneer families of this section and is, moreover, a leading and prosperous farmer of Paint Creek town- ship, where he owns two hundred acres of valuable land. He was born upon this farm in 1879 and is a son of Solva Hendrickson and a grandson of Hendrick Solveson, pioneers in this part of Iowa, of whom more extended mention is made elsewhere in this work in connection with the sketch of H. A. Hendrickson. The father purchased the land known as the old Bryson farm in 1885 and this property has remained in possession of members of the family since that time. John Hendrickson is one of a family of five children, as follows: Randy, the wife of . Albert Syverud, of Canton, South Dakota; Mrs. George Thompson, of Paint Creek township; Anna, who resides with her brother; Celia, who married Ed Whotom of Canton, South Dakota; and John, of this review.
John Hendrickson acquired his education in the district schools of Paint Creek township and from an early age assisted with the work of the home farm, becoming before he was twenty-one an able and practical agriculturist. He owns today two hundred acres of fine land on section 18 and upon this carries on gen- eral farming and dairying, both branches of his business being profitable and important under his able management. He is unmarried and makes his home with his sister Anna, who is a capable and efficient housekeeper.
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Mr. Hendrickson is well known in Allamakee county and is today numbered among the men who have been potent forces in the later agricultural develop- ment of Paint Creek township. He is a successful farmer, a progressive, enter- prising and loyal citizen, and his record is a credit to a name that has long been honored in this vicinity.
IRVING A. McSHANE.
Irving A. McShane owns and operates a well improved farm on section 4, Franklin township, and is widely recognized as one of the enterprising young agriculturists of his native county. His birth occurred in Franklin township on the 12th of September, 1886, his parents being Albert and Elizabeth A. (Roderick) McShane. The father, likewise a native of Franklin township, this county, was born a mile and a half southeast of his present home, his natal day being October I, 1855. His parents were Cornelius and Margaret (Durr) McShane, the former a native of Monongalia county, West Virginia, and the latter of Greene county, Pennsylvania. Cornelius McShane, the grandfather of our subject, followed farming throughout his active career. He came to Iowa in 1851 or 1852, settling first in Linton township, Allamakee county, where he became a landowner. About two years later he took up his abode in Franklin township, locating on the place on which his son Albert was born and continuing to reside thereon throughout the remainder of his life. His demise occurred on the 7th of February, 1907, while his wife was called to her final rest on the 29th of January, 1905. The period of his residence in this county covered more than a half century, and in his passing the community lost one of its honored pioneer settlers and substantial agriculturists.
Albert McShane, the father of Irving A. McShane, was the sixth in order of birth in a family of thirteen children. In the acquirement of an education he attended district school No. 3 in Franklin township and later continued his studies at Smithfield and Bear Hollow. He remained under the parental roof until he had attained his majority and subsequently worked as a farm hand for about four years. On the expiration of that period he was married and a year later rented a tract of land in Franklin township, cultivating the same for six years. At the end of that time he bought a farm of eighty acres in Franklin township, which he has operated continuously since, all of the land being under cultivation with the exception of a small patch of timber. The place is devoted to general farming, and the well tilled fields annually yield harvests which find a ready sale on the market. Mr. McShane is a stockholder in the Luana creamery and well deserves representation among the substantial citizens of his native county.
On the 30th of March, 1880, Albert McShane was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth A. Roderick, who was born in Jefferson township, Allamakee county, on the 21st of October, 1857. They became the parents of nine children, as follows: Sophia Edna, born December 27, 1880, who is the wife of Frank Colvin. a farmer of Franklin township; Henry, whose birth occurred on the Ist of December, 1882, and who follows farming in Franklin township; Irving A., of this review : George, who is at home; Fannie, whose natal day was January
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15, 1889, and who is the wife of Herbert McCracken, a farmer of Clayton county ; Mary, born March 28, 1891, who is the wife of Joseph Geno, a resident farmer of Jefferson township, this county; Lizzie, who was born on the 30th of July, 1893, and is still under the parental roof ; Lottie, who was born on the 5th of November, 1896, and died on the 28th of December, 1900; and Glenn, whose natal day was June 24, 1900. The religious faith of the family is that of the Baptist church. Mr. McShane gives his political allegiance to the democracy but has never sought nor desired office as a reward for his party fealty. Both he and his wife have spent their entire lives in Allamakee county and are well known and highly esteemed within its borders.
Irving A. McShane, whose name introduces this review, acquired his educa- tion in the district schools of Franklin township. He spent the first twenty-one years of his life under the parental roof and worked for others at different times. Subsequently he continued in the employ of others until March, 1912, and then purchased the farm which is now in his possession and which he has cultivated successfully to the present time. His residence is modern and commodious and his property is well improved in every particular.
On the 29th of September, 1909, Mr. McShane was united in marriage to Miss Anna Nelson, whose birth occurred near Grand Meadow, Clayton county, in 1883, her parents being Christian and Hilda (Torgerson) Nelson. The mother passed away in the winter of 1910, and in 1913 Mr. Nelson was again married. He now makes his home in Clermont. Our subject and his wife had one child, who died in infancy. Mr. McShane is a republican in his political views but does not consider himself bound by party ties and often casts an independent ballot at local elections. He is a young man of many sterling traits of character, and high regard is uniformly tendered him.
J. GERHARD MEINERS.
One of the first settlers in that portion of Union City township in the north- ern part of Allamakee county was J. Gerhard Meiners. He was born in Schale, province of Westphalia, Prussia, August 20, 1836. Until his eighteenth year he remained at the home of his parents where he was educated in the government schools. As wages were meager in his native country, and he being of an adventurous nature, he departed for the Netherlands in 1854 where he was engaged in various occupations for four years, principally in Amsterdam and Delft.
In 1859 he had decided to sail for America but before his plan matured he was drawn by lot to serve in the Prussian army where he served faithfully for four years as a member of the Fourth Squadron of the Guard Cavalry and on account of his splendid physique he was stationed with the Guard Cuirassier Regiment at Berlin. At the conclusion of his four years service, in 1863, he returned to his parental home where he followed the occupation of carpenter until he was again called to the service of his country in 1864, in the war between Prussia, Austria and Hanover as allies against Denmark which ended on the 18th day of April, 1865, by the capture of the Duppler Schanzen. Scarcely had
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he reached home when the call came again for him to follow his flag in the war between Prussia and Austria. At the close of this war, in 1866, it was evident that a war between France and Germany could not be averted and he determined to end his career as a soldier and seek his fate in America and accordingly he set sail for America in 1868 accompanied by his mother and his young wife, Anna Catharina Spiegler, with whom he was united in marriage just previous to his departure. On his arrival he settled directly on his present homestead in Union City township.
Scarcely had he reached this country when his mother passed away, Septem- ber 4, 1868. Death called his wife October 18, 1870, and left him and an eighteen months old daughter to mourn her loss. In 1871 he was united in mar- riage to Anna Adelheid Schoo and to this union were born six sons and four daughters of whom one son died in infancy. Death again visited the home and on January 21, 1891, took from the family the wife and mother after an illness of a short duration.
Shortly after his arrival in America he purchased a tract of raw land and erected a log cabin. Since then he has purchased other real estate so that his holdings now consist of a two hundred and eighty acre farm, well improved and well equipped with modern buildings. Since the death of his wife in 1891 he has lived, a widower with his children, on his old homestead.
ROBERT WESLEY ERWIN.
Robert Wesley Erwin, manager at Waukon of the Missouri Iron Company, whose headquarters are at St. Louis, Missouri, was born in Tapan, Ohio, August 2, 1872, and is a representative of an old American family, his ancestors on both sides having fought in the Revolutionary war. He acquired his early training in the public schools of Fulton, Missouri, and completed a high-school course at Bay City, Michigan, afterward studying at Westminister College, Fulton, and the Utah State College, from which he received the degree of B. S. After his graduation he remained connected with the institution as teacher for four years. He has held the positions of assistant chemist at the Utah experiment station and major of the Utah national guard, which he helped to organize. In 1895 he returned from the west and entered the employ of the Granite City Steel Com- pany at Granite City, Illinois, the main office of this concern being in St. Louis, Missouri. He was chief chemist of this company for one year and was then promoted to the position of assistant superintendent. He left the employ of the Granite City Steel Company in 1897 to take the position of chief chemist for the American Steel Foundry Company, an office which he held for two years, going from it to the position of superintendent, which he held until the consolidation of the American Steel Foundry Company with the American Steel Foundries Company in 1905. During this time he also acted as consulting chemist and chemical engineer for the Sligo Furnace Company, of St. Louis, with works at Sligo, Missouri, and for the National Iron & Steel Company, of Mexico City. He is now manager of the Missouri Iron Company, whose headquarters are at St. Louis, Missouri.
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Mr. Erwin married, on October 19, 1899, Miss Catherine Listeman, of Col- linsville, Illinois, and they have a daughter, Catherine Elizabeth. In civil life Mr. Erwin has held the following positions: secretary of the board of edu- cation of Granite City, Illinois; trustee of the Methodist Episcopal church, of that city ; and secretary and director of the Granite City Building Loans Association. He belongs to the Masonic order and is connected with the Sons of the American Revolution, the lowa Engineers' Society, the American Institute of Mining Engineers and the St. Louis Engineers Club. At the time of the Spanish-American war he organized two companies of recruits and in Waukon he aided in the foundation of the Peoples National Bank. He has always taken an active part in educational and religious work.
GABRIEL PEDERSON.
Gabriel Pederson, prominently connected with business interests of Water- ville as a member of the firm of Pederson & Company, general merchants, and well known in official life as the capable and efficient postmaster of the town, was born in Norway June 6, 1866. He acquired his education in his native country, attending public schools and gaining a German and English education. In 18SI he crossed the Atlantic to America and came directly to Iowa, joining an uncle in Allamakee county. Here he was employed on a farm for several years thereafter, but in 1892 went to Montana, where for one year and a half he worked at anything that would bring him an income.
Returning at the end of that time to Allamakce county, he secured a position as clerk for Victor H. Stevens in the latter's general store at Waterville, and after serving in this capacity for several years he purchased an interest in the con- cern, the business being reorganized under the firm name of Pederson & Com- pany. Mr. Pederson has been the active manager since that time and a great deal of the credit for the success of the enterprise is due to his initiative spirit and executive ability. Eventually his partner Mr. Stevens moved to Dubuque, where he passed away in 1912. Mr. Pederson still continues to conduct the business and has secured a large and representative patronage, drawn not only from the city but from the surrounding districts as well. He carries a full line of high class merchandise and keeps his stock always tastefully and attractively arranged, studying the needs and demands of his customers, whose confidence he has in large measure. In addition he is one of the owners of the electric light plant of Waterville, which is operated by a gasoline engine, and he aided in the or- ganization of the Waterville Savings Bank, of which he owns stock. He has been postmaster and express agent for a number of years and has proven straight- forward, energetic and reliable in the discharge of his duties.
Mr. Pederson was married August 31, 1896, to Miss Ida Bryson, who was born and reared in Paint Creek township. She is a daughter of John S. Bryson, who was born in Dundee, Scotland, in 1831, and who came to the new world with his parents in 1836, locating in Canadian West. In 1840 the family re- moved to Connecticut, where John Bryson received his first six months' school- ing and later secured a position in the woolen factory where his father was over-
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