USA > Iowa > Allamakee County > Past and present of Allamakee county, Iowa. A record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. II > Part 55
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K. T. GRONNA.
K. T. Gronna is one of Allamakee county's most progressive and successful native sons and is operating the farm in Paint Creek township upon which he was born on the 23d of March, 1857. He is a son of Thomas and Emeline (Thoen) Anderson, natives of Norway. The father as a young man crossed the Atlantic to America and settled in Rock county, Wisconsin, in 1846, residing there until 1850, when he came to Allamakee county among the pioneers in this part of Iowa. On section 12, Paint Creek township, he bought one hundred and sixty acres of wild land and built upon it a log shanty, in which he resided for some years, later replacing this by a more modern home. Through the years success steadily attended his well directed labors and he became a prosperous and substantial farmer, owning four hundred and forty acres of excellent land, upon which he died when he was ninety-one years of age. He was a stanch republican in his political beliefs and a member of the Lutheran church, to which his wife also adhered. In their family were seven children: Andrew, of Paint Creek township; Betsy, who died at the age of twenty; Christian, who passed away in Minnesota leaving a large family; Sarah, who died at the age of twenty ; Caroline, the wife of P. S. Narum, postmaster of Waukon, Iowa; Maria, who married John Anderson, of Canada ; and K. T., of this review. Since the death of their father all the sons have changed their family name, assuming that of Gronna, under which they are now known.
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K. T. Gronna acquired his education in the district schools of his native township and in Luther College at Decorah, Iowa. Upon the death of his father he inherited two hundred and thirty-three acres of the estate, including the homestead, and upon this he has since engaged in farming and dairying, his business ability and his knowledge of the best agricultural methods making both branches of his business important and profitable. Upon the farm he has erected a fine set of buildings and made other substantial improvements and the property is today worthy of comparison with the best in this section of the state. Mr. Gronna gives a great deal of his time to his stock-raising interests and for many years raised full blood Holstein cattle but now confines his attention to the breeding of a fine grade of shorthorns. His business interests are capably and carefully conducted and have brought him a gratifying measure of success, placing him among the township's most substantial and representative agricul- turists.
Mr. Gronna married Miss Ellen Anderson, a native of Winneshiek county and a daughter of Anon and Caroline Anderson. Mr. and Mrs. Gronna have two children. The eldest, Thomas A. Ferdinand, spent five years in Luther College in Decorah, and afterward enrolled in the Iowa State Agricultural Col- lege at Ames. He now assists his father upon the farm. Amy spent three years in a ladies' seminary at Red Wing, Minnesota, and is now at home.
Mr. Gronna is a member of the Lutheran church. He gives his political allegiance to the republican party and is prominent and active in public affairs, believing that official service is one of the duties of a good citizen. For thirty years he acted as treasurer of his school district, has been road supervisor and is now serving his third term as township trustee. In the community where he was born and where his entire life has been spent he is held in high regard, his genuine personal worth, his loyalty in citizenship and his many excellent qualities of character having gained for him the respect and esteem of all who know him.
DELORMA F. SAWYER.
The name of Sawyer has been well known and highly honored in Franklin township since pioneer times and its present representative, Delorma F. Sawyer, owns and operates the homestead which his father took up as a government claim in 1852. He is one of the most progressive and prosperous farmers in this part of Allamakee county and has also for the past twenty-five years controlled im- portant sawmilling interests here, his success coming as a natural result of his ability, energy and sound business judgment. He was born in Rock county, Wisconsin, on the 29th of August, 1852, and is a son of Cuyler Cornelius and Elizabeth (Wartenbe) Sawyer, natives of Ohio, the former born in 1822 and the latter about 1832. Cuyler C. Sawyer emigrated to Ohio when he was about twelve years of age and learned the blacksmith's trade under his father, work- ing for him for several years and finally turning his attention to general farming. He married in Williams county, Ohio, and on October 15, 1850, went with his wife to Wisconsin, coming from there in the fall of 1852 to Hardin, Clayton
MR. AND MRS. DELORMA F. SAWYER
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county, Iowa. He subsequently took up the tract of government land, whereon his son now resides, the old government deed signed by the president being still a highly valued family possession. The father moved on to his holdings in 1853 and began the improvement of his land, building a crude log cabin, sixteen by twenty feet in dimensions. Throughout the years which followed he steadily carried on the work of development, making his farm productive, profitable and well equipped and becoming widely known as a progressive and substantial agri- culturist. Ile died upon the homestead November 4, 1883, and in his passing Allamakee county lost one of her pioneer settlers and a valued and representative citizen. His wife has also passed away, her death occuring April 2, 1896. In their family were five children, the subject of this review being the eldest. Two of these children died in infancy.
Delorma F. Sawyer attended district school No. 4. Franklin township, and also studied in the public schools of Hardin. Later he spent four and a half months in a school at Estherville, Emmet county, and was for two terms at Cherry Valley. After laying aside his books he continued to assist his father with the work of the homestead, becoming before he had attained his majority a prac- tical and able agriculturist. At twenty-one he went to the western part of Iowa and entered government land, adding to his holdings one hundred and twenty acres which he purchased and remaining in that part of the state for four and a half years, during which period he clerked in a hotel for some time and also had charge of a mail and stage route. In addition to this he served as book- keeper in a grist and sawmill and when not thus employed operated the mill in the interest of his employers. After four and a half years he returned to Frank- lin township and eventually traded the land which he had acquired in the west for property in this part of the county. After his return he engaged in general farming, assuming the management of the family homestead, and in connection with this he operated a threshing machine. In 1887 he formed a partnership with George Clark and they engaged in sawmilling on Yellow river for two years, Mr. Sawyer afterward continuing at this line of business in Franklin township. For the past quarter of a century he has operated a sawmill and a silo filler and in connection with this carries on the work of improving and cultivating his farm, the neat and attractive appearance of which indicates his ability along agricultural lines. He is a member of the Farmers Shipping Association of Luana and is connected with the Cooperative Creamery Company, besides being a stockholder in the Northeastern Iowa Farmers Cooperative Telephone Company, and is widely recognized as a discriminating, able and resourceful business man, who carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes.
On the 14th of April, 1887, Mr. Sawyer was united in marriage to Miss Helen Russell, born in St. Lawrence county, New York, August 31, 1866. She is a daughter of Wallace and Dora ( Hutchins) Russell, natives of Vermont. They resided in New York for a number of years, the father conducting a large starch factory there, but in 1871 moved to Iowa, where Wallace Russell turned his attention to farming. He also worked at the carpenter's and painter's trades, continuing in these lines of work until his death, which occurred in 1888. His wife survived him many years, dying in 1910. The father had been prominent and active in public affairs for many years, serving as justice of the peace and in various other local offices of trust and responsibility. Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer Vol. II-27
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became the parents of seven children: Hazel Annetta, who was born February 10, 1889, and who is now a nurse in the Finley Hospital at Dubuque; Dora E., who was born February 18, 1891, and who is attending school at Epworth, Iowa ; Homer D., whose birth occurred October 16, 1892 ; Charles Cornelius, born March 18, 1895 ; Lyle Russell, born July 8, 1897: Paul Millard, born August 12, 1901; and Donald Watson, born March 21, 1905.
Mr. Sawyer gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has done able and effective work as school director. He takes an intelligent interest in the development and growth of the section where he has resided since pioneer times and has made substantial contributions to its agricultural and business progress, his name standing as a synonym for integrity and honesty and his record being a credit to a name that has long been an honored one in this com- munity.
JOHN W. HARTLEY.
Since receiving his honorable discharge from service in the Civil war John W. Hartley has given practically all of his attention to the development and improvement of his fine farm in Allamakee county and his energy, industry and well directed labors have brought him success and an honored place among the county's progressive and able agriculturists. He was born in England in 1844 and four years later came with his parents to America, the family settling in New York state, where they remained for a short time, and then removed to Greene county, Ohio. They later went to Wisconsin and after spending four years in Columbia county, that state, came to Allamakee county, lowa, where in 1853 the father took up three hundred and twenty acres of government land în Union City township. This property he cleared, developed and improved and upon it he made his home until 1866, when he disposed of his holdings and purchased another farm in the same locality. This also he later sold and bought the farm whereon the subject of this review now resides. He continued to carry forward the work of cultivation for a number of years, but in 1875 retired from active life and made his home near Lansing, where in 1876 his wife passed away. About twenty years later the father removed to English Bench, Allama- kee county, and there resided with his daughter and son-in-law until his death, which occurred on the 3d of October, 1907. He and his wife had a large family of children, seven of whom grew to maturity and six still survive.
John W. Hartley was nine years of age when his parents settled in Alla- makee county and here he grew to manhood, acquiring his education in the district schools except one year at Evansville, Indiana, and spending a great deal of his time assisting with the work of the homestead. He served in the Union army during the Civil war as a member of Company F, Sixth Iowa Volunteer Cavalry, and in 1866, following his discharge, returned to Allamakee county and turned his attention to farming, an occupation which he has followed with credit and success since that time. He now owns nine hundred and fifty acres of fine land, located nine miles southwest of New Albin, and in his careful development of this property has proven himself an able and practical farmer,
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the excellent condition of his land evidencing his many years of well directed labor. He gives a great deal of his time to his stock-raising interests, feeding practically all of the products of his farm to his fine herds of polled Angus cattle, his horses, sheep and hogs. He is known as a successful breeder and dealer and his animals command high prices in the local and Chicago markets, this branch of his interests being an important and remunerative one.
Mr. Hartley has been twice married. In 1868 he wedded Miss Sarah G. Ratcliffe, a native of Wheeling, West Virginia, who died on the 20th of March, 1889, leaving nine children: Joseph and Benjamin, of Union City township; Charlotte H., the wife of A. L. McClintock, of Rossville, Iowa; Mary, who resides in Chicago, Illinois; John L., of Deer Park, Washington; Helen S., a trained nurse in Ottowa, Illinois; S. Frank, who lives at home; James T., of Twin Falls, Idaho; and Sarah G., the wife of Charley J. Burkey, who resides near Los Angeles, California. In 1891 Mr. Hartley was again married, his second union being with Miss Nora Pierce, a native of Iowa township, Allama- kee county, and a daughter of Philip I. Pierce, who resides in South Dakota. Mr. and Mrs. Hartley have four children, George P., Sidney R., Alice M., and Lewis P., all of whom live at home. The family are members of the Presbyterian church.
Mr. Hartley gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has rendered the township excellent service in many important official positions and was besides for six years county supervisor. In the course of his long residence in Allamakee county his personal worth and his excellent qualities have become widely known and have drawn to him many stanch and loyal friends. His busi- ness record also is a creditable and worthy one, for his labors have been valuable as factors in general advancement and his life has been in all its relations upright, straightforward and honorable.
CHRISTIAN WINTRICK.
Christian Wintrick, identified with agricultural and stock-raising interests in Allamakee county, is one of those whom Switzerland has contributed to the citizenship of lowa. He was born in the land of the Alps on the 26th of April, 1876, a son of Christian and Magdalena (Dramman) Wintrick, who were also born in that country, the father on the 17th of March, 1838, and the mother January 23, 1840. They came to the United States about the year 1880, making their way direct to Iowa, where the family located on a rented farm near Elgin. That remained their place of residence for about eight years, after which they came to Franklin township, Allamakee county, the father here purchasing the farm which continues to be their home. Here he gave his attention to agricultural pursuits for a time but is now living practically retired, enjoying a well earned rest.
Christian Wintrick, the third in order of birth in a family of six children, had not yet reached his fifth year when brought by his parents to this country, so the greater part of his life has been passed in Iowa. He attended school at Cherry valley and also at Elgin, while he received thorough training along agri-
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cultural lines under the direction of his father on the home farm. At an early age he began assisting in the work and as his years and strength increased his duties became more important and arduous, making his training along agricul- tural lines thorough and comprehensive. He remained at home, operating his father's farm, until 1909, when, desiring to own a farm he purchased one hun- dred and ninety-three and a half acres on section IS, Franklin township, which continues to be his home. He engages in general farming and also gives con- siderable attention to stock-raising, being the owner of some high-grade cattle, horses and hogs. He is meeting with excellent results in his agricultural pursuits, his success being due to intelligently directed efforts, unflagging enterprise and progressive methods. He has other interests as well, being a stockholder in the Luana Creamery Company.
On the 24th of March, 1910, Mr. Wintrick was united in marriage to Miss Mary Hammon, who was born in Clayton county, Iowa, on the 5th of June, 1888, a daughter of Henry and Augusta ( Wittenburger ) Hammon, natives of Germany. Her father at one time engaged in farming, but is now living retired, making his home in Franklin township. In his family were ten children of whom Mrs. Wintrick is the ninth in order of birth. By her marriage she has beconie the mother of one child, Augusta Freda, who was born January 8, 1911.
Mr. Wintrick gives his political allegiance to the republican party and for three terms served as constable. His entire attention, however, is given to his farming interests, the careful supervision of which has ranked him among the prosperous agriculturists of his section.
A. T. GRONNA.
A. T. Gronna, closely associated with agricultural interests of Paint Creek township as the owner of a fine farm of two hundred acres, was born upon the property a portion of which he now operates on the Ist of May, 1851. He is a son of Thomas and Emeline ( Thoen) Anderson, natives of Norway and pioneers of Allamakee county, of whom further mention is made elsewhere in this work.
A. T. Gronna acquired his education in the district schools of Paint Creek township and when not engaged with his books assisted with the work of the homestead, becoming a practical agriculturist before he was of age. When he was twenty-seven he bought from his father two hundred acres of land and he has made his home upon this property since that time, standing today in the front ranks of progressive farmers. Upon the land he has made substantial improvements, erecting a fine barn and outbuildings and in 1883 a modern stone dwelling, each year witnessing his increased prosperity. The buildings are all substantial and adequate, the machinery of the modern, labor-saving type and the entire place reflects the owner's many years of care and labor.
Mr. Gronna married Miss Olena Smeby, of this county, a daughter of Hans and Helen Smeby. She passed away in 1905, leaving two children. Theodore was educated in the district schools of Paint Creek township, in Luther College in Decorah and at the State Agricultural College at Ames, and he has also a
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diploma from the Wisconsin Agricultural College. He is now at home assisting his father with the work of the farm. The other child born to Mr. and Mrs. Gronna is a daughter, Helen.
Mr. Gronna is a member of the Lutheran church and he gives his political allegiance to the republican party. He has been honored by his fellow citizens by election to various important public offices, having served as secretary of the school board and as township clerk for many years. He is numbered among Allamakee county's most representative and progressive native sons and his influence has been a tangible force for good in the community where his entire life has been spent.
O. H. MONSERUD.
O. H. Monserud, a prosperous and progressive farmer of Taylor township, owning in association with his wife three hundred and sixty acres of fine land on sections 7 and 8, was born here June 6, 1854, his parents being Ole and Sophia Hanson, natives of Norway. They came to America in 1851 and settled as pioneers in Allamakee county, where the father died in August, 1854. The mother afterward married Peter O. Monserud and the subject of this review took his stepfather's name.
O. H. Monserud was educated in the district schools of Taylor township and in Decorah College, and after laying aside his books he clerked for four years in a store operated by Nielander & Company and others at Lansing. Afterward he turned his attention to farming, buying one hundred and thirty acres of land from his father-in-law, Nils Bottolson. To this he has since added some of his wife's property. and they own together three hundred and sixty acres of choice land on sections 7 and 8, Taylor township. This tract is well improved, provided with a beautiful brick residence, barns and outbuildings and the necessary labor- saving machinery. Mr. Monserud also owns one hundred and sixty acres in South Dakota and gives practically all of his time and attention to his agricul- tural pursuits, winning that success which always follows earnest and persistent labor.
In 1876 Mr. Monserud was united in marriage to Miss Mather Bottolson and they have become the parents of seven children : Nils Oliver, who is president of the bank at Humboldt, South Dakota, and a member of the state highway com- mission of South Dakota; Minnie, the deceased wife of J. M. Boardman; Joseph, who has passed away; Alfred M., who is married and lives in Chicago, where he is a fireman on the Chicago & Alton Railroad; Martha C., Walter H., and William, who live at home. Some time after the death of Mr. Bottolson Mr. and Mrs. Monserud moved from their home to that of Mrs. Monserud's widowed mother and here they now reside.
Mr. Monserud gives his political allegiance to the republican party and is interested in the cause of education, having been for thirty-two years a member of the school board. He was postmaster at Eldergson for seven years, an officer in the Scandinavian Mutual Insurance Company for thirty-five years, and for
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ten years president of the Farmers Cooperative Creamery Company at Water- ville, Iowa. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran church and are people of exemplary character, commanding and holding the respect and confi- dence of their neighbors and friends, among whom they have resided for many years.
NILS BOTTOLSON.
Upon the roll of Allamakee county's honored dead appears the name of Nils Bottolson, who was numbered among the best known pioneers in Taylor township and a man who in promoting his individual interests made many substantial contributions to the general growth and development. He was born in Nordrehang presteggeld-benefice-Ringerige, Norway, June 22, 1826, and is a son of Bottolf and Martha. He grew to manhood in his native country and there acquired his education, crossing the Atlantic at the age of twenty-four years. He made the journey with his parents and his sister Karen, who later became Mrs. Knute Steen, and the party embarked at Drammen, Norway, May 30, 1850, on a sailing vessel. They arrived at New York city seven weeks later and went by canal and steamboat to Milwaukee and by post horses to Beloit, Wisconsin.
In the fall of the same year Nils Bottolson came on foot to Allamakee county, Iowa, where he settled in pioneer times, sharing with the other early settlers the privations and hardships incident to life in the wilderness. He remained an honored and respected resident of this locality until his death and bore a worthy and honorable part in the work of upbuilding, facing the stern and hard condi- tions of his life with confidence and courage and steadily carrying forward the work of improving and developing his farm. He joined Ole Larson in the purchase of a breaking team of four yoke of oxen and with this broke the tenacious blue joint sod and prepared his land for cultivation. His efforts were finally crowned with success and with the passing years he prospered materially, adding to his holdings from time to time and becoming the owner of an extensive acreage, his land lying on section 7, Taylor township. Upon this property he passed away July 23, 1912, at the age of eighty-six years, and his death deprived the township of a worthy, valuable and useful citizen as well as an honored pioneer.
On the 7th of November, 1856, Mr. Bottolson was united in marriage to Miss Maren Lovise Larson-Sjellebek, and they became the parents of a daughter, Mrs. O. H. Monserud. Mrs. Bottolson survives her husband and is well and favorably known in Taylor township, where her many excellent qualities of mind and character have gained for her an extensive circle of friends.
In the early days of his settlement in Allamakee county Mr. Bottolson became affiliated with the democratic party, and the Allamakee Journal, espous- ing also the doctrines of that organization, was for more than thirty years his news medium. He was a Lutheran in religious belief and during his active years regularly attended the divine services in the United Lutheran church of
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Center township, never vacillating in religious or political matters. A biographer writing of him at the time of his death says:
"I have never heard my early friend and comrade speak an ill word of any person nor have I heard a word spoken derogatory to his moral worth. He was possessed of a God-given boon, a genial and equable temperament and never allowed himself to be ruffled by adverse fate. He held himself aloof from base and profane language but instead spoke kindly words and had a pleasing way of expressing himself. In his dealings with his fellowmen he was scrupu- lously honest and upright and his word proved better than gold as it did not tarnish. He was a kind and desirable neighbor, always ready when called on for aid. He was of a robust and healthy physique and endurance in labor, never evincing signs of fatigue in creating wealth that other generations may enjoy comforts and advantages that the early settlers had not in their ceaseless toil and drudgery. He preferred the company and relationship of laborers and mingled principally with those who 'ate their bread by the sweat of their brow ;' was a benefactor to the needy in giving employment to them on his extensive land possessions and none ever left his doors penniless or hungry.
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