USA > Iowa > Buena Vista County > Past and present of Buena Vista County, Iowa > Part 40
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HISTORY OF BUENA VISTA COUNTY
Mr. Allison was married August 30, 1888, to Miss Cora Burleson, a daugh- ter of Ira J. and Emeline (Hills) Burleson, natives of New York state. In 1893 they removed to Omaha, Nebraska, where they still make their home. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Allison has been blessed with two children : June E., who was born July 6, 1890, and is in school at Cedar Falls, Iowa; and J. Lester, who was born September 9. 1893, and is now a high-school student in Marathon.
Mr. Allison gives his support to the republican party, and is a Mason, belonging to the blue lodge and the chapter at Sioux Rapids, and to the com- mandery at Cherokee. Ile is also a Woodman and a Royal Neighbor and is prominent with the brethren of these various fraternal orders. IIe has met with snecess in his business undertakings and owns land in Dickinson county, Iowa, and also in Nebraska. His service in the bank is characterized by integ- rity, accuracy, promptness and courteons treatment of enstomers. In the midst of a busy life he finds time for cooperation in any movement for the advancement and betterment of the city and his high moral worth is acknowl- edged by all with whom he is associated.
SANFORD MILLER.
The Miller family has been prominently identified with the agricultural development and progress of Nokomis township for the past forty years, the first representative of the name to come to Buena Vista county being the father of our subjeet, Henry Miller, who came here in 1869 and entered from the government eighty acres of wild and unimproved land. The father was born in Pennsylvania but was reared in Ohio. In early manhood he was apprenticed to learn the blacksmith's trade, thus serving for seven years, after which he engaged in the blacksmithing business for a number of years. He was married in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Miss Elizabeth Hiles, a native of New Jer- sey. In 1858 he removed from Ohio to Mebean county, Illinois, and there engaged in farming until 1866, when he removed to Madison county, lowa, where he spent three years. He then made his way to Buena Vista county and entered from the government eighty acres of raw prairie land, which he developed and improved, meeting the problems of a frontier existence and applying himself to the tasks which western life presented. with steadiness and courage. He was not long permitted to enjoy his new home, however, for he passed away in 1871, at the comparatively early age of fifty-two years. The wife and mother survived for a long period, her death occurring in 1898, when she had reached the advanced age of eighty-two years.
Sanford Miller, whose name introduces this review, is the youngest son in a family of nine children, and was born in Brown county, Ohio, March 3, 1855. ITis education, begun in the common schools of Illinois, was continued in the schools of Iowa, for he was a lad of fourteen years at the time the family removed to Buena Vista county. He lost his father when a youth of sixteen years and much responsibility then rested upon the son. He at once took up the unfinished work of the father in developing a new farm. He set out an
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orehard and also put out shade trees, erected a good house, barn and outbuild- ings, fenced the fields with woven wire and made many necessary improvements. He assisted his widowed mother in the management of the home place and this continued to be her home until the time of her death. The son is now in possession of the property and is engaged in general agricultural pursuits and stock-raising, keeping Duroe Jersey hogs and Hambletonian horses. Hle homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in South Dakota, but has recently sold that property.
Mr. Miller was married JJune 12, 1888, to Miss Anna Miller, a native of Kankakee county, Illinois. They have an adopted son, now thirteen years of age, who is attending school. Mr. Miller is independent in his political views and affiliations, voting for the men whom he deems best fitted for office, regardless of party ties. ITis religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Alta Presbyterian church. He is thoroughly familiar with the pioneer conditions that existed when he came as a boy to Buena Vista county and in the years that have since come and gone he has rejoiced in the progress that has been made. He is an industrious and useful man in the community and his probity is an unquestioned element in his career.
HENRY JACOBSON.
Henry Jacobson is a self-made man who has met difficulties with resolu- tion, who has conducted his affairs with honor and who has in the end gained not only a good competence but also the merited esteem of his fellowmen. He was born in southern Norway in 1844. a son of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Kjensrud, who in 1856 crossed the Atlantic with their family. They landed first at Quebec and went to Lansing, Towa, where they arrived on the 6th of August, 1856. The mother had become ill on the ocean and only lived for a short time after reaching Lansing, her death occurring when she was about sixty years of age. The father continned to reside at that place until his demise.
The sons and daughters in that family were as follows: Hawken and Engebert came to America but are now deceased. Ole, who had preceded the family to the new world, acted as their interpreter when the parents and other children arrived. mecting them in Quebec after waiting there for three weeks ere the ship brought them to harbor. He then escorted the family to Lansing. lowa, and two weeks later he went west, being among the first to go to Pike's Peak, and when last heard from was in Australia. Syver was a farmer and landowner of Allamakce county, Iowa, for a number of years and then removed to South Dakota, where he died in 1905. Levi, who had also preceded his parents to America, lived in Allamakee county, lowa. for some time and was then employed by the government to act as a teamster in Utah. Finally he arrived at Pike's Peak and when last heard from, about thirty years ago, was in Montana. Amund, who resided for a time in Allamakee county, became interested in the gold discoveries of the west and went to the mining regions.
MR. AND MRS. HENRY JACOBSON
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ITe enlisted in the Second Regiment of Colorado Volunteer Infantry and was killed in Mexico in a skirmish with bushwhackers.
Henry Jacobson, the youngest of the family, was twelve years of age when he came with his parents to America and in his youthful days he was thrown upon his own resources, after which he was employed on various farms until twenty years of age. Thinking that he could find more remunerative and more congenial labor than the work of the fields, he began elerking in a dry- goods store at Winona, Minnesota, where he remained for a year and a half and then returned to Lansing, Iowa, where he again elerked in a general store for about three years.
On the expiration of that period, in company with two fellow salesmen, John Halverson and Gus Gilbert, he started for Buena Vista county and together the three young men opened the first store in Sioux Rapids in 1869. This was then a pioneer distriet, in which the work of development had scareely been begun. The nearest railroad was at Fort Dodge and from that point they had to haul their goods with ox-teams. There were but few settlers between Sioux Rapids and Fort Dodge-a distance of sixty-five miles across the wild prairie, which was interseeted by numerous deep sloughs. They used four yoke of oxen in transporting their goods and when crossing a bad slough would put their teams together, thus transporting a load over a particularly bad district, after which the four oxen would be hitched to the other load. Mr. Jacobson recounts that on one day's travel they made only four miles and it usually required the greater part of a week to make the entire trip of sixty- five miles. By the time they had their store and goods ready for business the settlers, who had been patiently waiting, gave them all the trade they could attend to and their ox-teams were kept busy in hauling stock from the distant market. Sngar sold at the rate of five pounds for a dollar, tea at two dollars and a half a pound, coffee at fifty cents per pound, flour at seven dollars per hundredweight. salt at ten dollars per barrel, kerosene at seventy-five eents per gallon, bacon at twenty-five cents per pound, butter at thirty-five cents per pound, while calico brought from eighteen to twenty-five cents per yard and all other commodities sold at equally high prices. The trade came from a wide radius of territory, extending as far as Sac City on the south and Spirit Lake on the north. The "three Norwegian boys" as they were called, soon built up a prosperons business and the partnership was continued for about six years, when it was dissolved by mutual consent.
Mr. ITalverson first withdrew and later Mr. JJacobson bought out Mr. Gilbert's interest, while subsequently Mr. Halverson again became a partner of Mr. Jacobson under the firm style of Jacobson & Halverson. They remained in business together for about four years, when Mr. Jacobson pur- chased his partner's interest, Mr. Halverson starting in business for himself. Mr. Jacobson continued to carry on a general mercantile establishment until 1882 and throughout the years enjoyed a liberal patronage because of his large and well selected line of goods, his earnest efforts to please his patrons and his straightforward business methods.
About two years before he closed out his store he had become interested in other business enterprises, including the establishment of the first creamery
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in the county. This, however, did not prove a financial success. At the beginning of the season Mr. Jacobson had contraeted for cream at fourteen eents per pound but, the price going down, he was obliged to sell in New York at thirteen cents per pound. In 1881 his store and almost his entire stoek of goods was destroyed by fire and he had no place to shelter the little that remained. He was therefore obliged to close out the ereamery and utilize the building for a store. This eaused a great loss and damage to his business interests and, moreover, when the Northwestern Railroad was being built through the town he extended eredit to many of the contractors, who after- ward were unable to pay, thus augmenting his losses. Other complications arose that eventually caused him to elose out his mercantile business and he then turned his attention to farming on a traet of land of one hundred and sixty aeres which he owned near Sioux Rapids. Here he again met with a fair measure of prosperity and here remained until 1907, when he sold his residence and took up his abode in Sioux Rapids. where he is now living practically retired, occupying a comfortable home and enjoying well merited rest.
On the 11th of July, 1869, Mr. Jacobson was married to Miss Mathea Hanson, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ole Hanson, who were natives of Norway. Mrs. Jacobson was only two years of age when brought by her parents to this country. By her marriage she has become the mother of seven children : Stella, the wife of L. A. Torkelson, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work ; Emma, a teacher in the public schools: Julia. the wife of T. T. Thompson, who is residing in Provo, Utah, and who is a traveling salesman for the .Moline Plow Company of Moline, Illinois, with headquarters at Salt Lake City ; and Madeline, who is a teacher in the public schools. Three children of the family are deceased.
Mr. Jacobson is a stalwart republiean and has always voted that ticket with the exeeption of one occasion when, before he had attained his majority and while living in a democratic community, he was compelled to vote illegally and against his wishes. This set him to investigating the principles of the two parties and the result was that he has since been an ardent repub- lican. Such in brief is the life history of Henry Jacobson, a respected resident of Buena Vista county, who started out on his own account at a salary of thirty dollars per year. While not all days have been equally bright, he has nevertheless enjoyed a goodly measure of prosperity and in every relation of life he has commanded the esteem and good will of his fellow townsmen by reason of his unfailing integrity.
DAVID BURNS.
Almost one-third of a century has come and gone since David Burns took up his abode in Buena Vista county, and as one rides abroad today and sees the well developed farms, surrounded with fine homes and substantial build- ings, it seems hardly possible that at the time of Mr. Burns' arrival mueh of
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the land was uneultivated, while the work of general progress and improve- ment seemed scarcely begun. He has long been numbered among the pros- perous farmers of the county and. although making his home in Alta, still owns a valuable farm in Maple Valley township, comprising one hundred and sixty acres of rich and productive land. He was born in Prince Edward's Island June 15, 1850, and is a son of Captain Peter Burns, whose birth occurred in the same house in which his son David first opened his eyes to the light of day. He was reared and married there, the lady of his choice being Miss Belle Kennedy, a native of Scotland, and of Scotch parentage. Peter Burns was a sea eaptain and followed the sea for many years. Eventually he became a resident of Canada, settling on a farm there in 1850 and making it his place of ahode while he reared his family. His last years, however, were passed in Ontario.
David Burns lived in Canada to the age of nine years and then erossed the border into the United States, going to Detroit. He made his arrangements to earn his living by becoming a sailor on the lakes. He was thus employed during the summer seasons, while in the winter months he returned to Canada and worked in a sawmill as an engineer. Thus his youth was a period of earn- est toil, in which he fully recognized the value of industry, economy and persisteney of purpose.
In Ontario, on the 23d of March, 1871, Mr. Burns was married to Miss Christine Ross, a native of Rosshire. Scotland. whence she was brought to Can- ada in her infancy, and was there reared. Immediately following their marriage the young couple removed to Ogle county, Ilinois, where Mr. Burns worked on a farm by the month, and in 1876 he removed to Iowa, settling in Buena Vista county. His industry and careful expenditures during the years passed in Iowa enabled him to purchase land here in Maple Valley township. Hle first became owner of eighty acres of raw prairie, which he placed under the plow and also feneed. He likewise erected a home upon the farm, and as his financial resources increased he bought another eighty aere tract. Event- nally, however, he sold that property and invested in two hundred and forty aeres of land, on which he took up his abode, giving his immediate care and attention to the further improvement of the place. He built there an attrac- tive residenee, substantial barns, cribs and sheds. planted fruit and trans- formed the property into a model farm, carefully tilling the fields, from which he annually gathered rich harvests. He later sold eighty acres of that place and invested in one hundred and sixty acres of land in Murray county, Minne- sota, near Slayton-an improved farm. Ile also owns one hundred and sixty acres of land given him by King Edward for service with the volunteers at the time of the Fenian raid in 1866. Ile was also presented a medal by Queen Victoria, while King Edward later gave a one hundred and sixty aere traet of land to each volunteer who had aided in crushing out the rebellion. Mr. Burns located his land thirteen miles from Rainy river, near Lake of the Woods, and across the lake from Wisconsin. It is a heavily timbered land, exempt from taxes for ten years.
Mr. Burns removed to Alta in 1903 and bought a residenee property, where he now resides, and from this point gives supervision to his farming interests. Unto him and his wife have been born nine children, four sons and
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five daughters: Eugene, living at Hartley, O'Brien county, Iowa, is now a dealer in implements, in live stock, and is the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of land: Edgar G. is in partnership with his brother, Eugene R .; Guy is engaged in railroading; P. R. has recently completed a course in the business college at Quiney, Illinois, and is now at home ; Belle is the wife of G. G. Baker, of Slayton, Minnesota; Ida W. is the wife of Amil J. Schmitz, of Storm Lake; Luella O. is a trained nurse ; Alta M. is engaged in elerking in her brother's store in Hartley ; and Hnghena V. is at home.
Politically Mr. Burns is a democrat and while living on the farm served as township treasurer, school director, and township assessor. He was also treasurer and president of the school board. was road supervisor and is the present street commissioner of Alta, and in the discharge of his official duties he has labored earnestly and effectively for the interest of the community. Mr. Burns is a member of the Masonic lodge of Alta, also of Cherokee Chapter, R. A. M., the commandery at Cherokee and the Mystic Shrine at Des Moines. Iowa. He is well known in Storm Lake and throughout Buena Vista county as one of its public-spirited men and a useful and exemplary citizen whose sterling worth of character has gained him a high place in the regard of those with whom he has come in contact, while in his control of his business interests he has manifested enterprise and ability that have brought to him success as the logical sequence of his labors.
CHARLES C. COLWELL.
In considering the lives and characters of prominent men we are naturally led to inquire into the secret of their success and the conditions that prompted their ambition. Success is not a matter of genius, as held by many, but rather results from experience and sound judgment. for when we trace the career of those who stand highest in public esteem we find in nearly every case that they are those who have risen gradually, fighting their way in the face of all opposi- tion. Self-reliance, conscientiousness. courage, interest these are the traits of character that insure the highest emoluments and greatest success. To these may we attribute the prosperity that has crowned the efforts of Charles (. Colwell. Born in Vinton. lowa, December 19. 1865, he is a son of James Marigold Colwell, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, who is now living in Los Angeles, California, at the age of sixty-nine years. Ile is of English and Scotch ancestry and many of the sterling characteristics of those races are manifest in his life. At the time of the Civil war he enlisted in the Union army, but before he reached the front was discharged on account of physical disability. By trade he was a saddler and harnessmaker, and for forty-four years continued in business of that character in Vinton, lowa. The years marked his growing prosperity and his success at length enabled him to retire in 1903. He now makes his home in sunny California and is enjoying there the rest which has come to him as the logical sequence of his former labor. Ile is a Royal Arch Mason and a member of the Mystic Shrine, and for many years
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he has belonged to the Universalist chureh. In polities he is a republican. voting with the party since its organization. In early manhood he married Lucinda Lathrop, who was born in Indiana and died in 1883, at the age of forty- two years. She, too, was a member of the Universalist church. Of a family long connected with America, its identification with the interests of this eoun- try dates back to a time prior to the Revolutionary war, in which some of the name served. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Colwell were born four children: Nettie .J. is the wife of J. D. Deupree, of Los Angeles, California, who was formerly an attorney at law in Storm Lake and was clerk of the courts for seven years, but resigned his position in order to move to Los Angeles, California; Edgar H., of San Francisco, is now manager of the ready print department of the Pacific Type Foundry Company : William A. is a dealer in books and stationery at Holleywood, a suburb of Los Angeles, and is one of the chief officers of the California State Anti-Saloon League, devoting much of his time and energy to that cause.
The youngest member of the family is Charles C. Colwell, who attended school at Vinton, Iowa, and at Glenwood, this state. He then learned the printer's trade and in 1886 came to Buena Vista county, where he worked at the case in the office of the Sioux Rapids Press for a few months. On the expiration of that period he took charge of the paper and continued as its man- ager for three years. Removing to Storm Lake he was foreman of the Storm Lake Pilot for four years and later went to the Vidette office, where he remained as foreman for three years. When the Pilot and Tribune merged he became foreman in the office of the new paper and so continued for three years, or until January, 1899, when he purchased of JJames M. Hoskins the Sioux Rapids Republican and conducted the paper until January 1. 1907.
In 1906 Mr. Colwell purchased the Sioux Rapids Press in connection with J. E. Durkee, and the Colwell-Durkee Printing Company was formed, the two papers being merged under the name of the Republican-Press.
On the 1st of Jannary, 1907, however, Mr. Colwell retired from the paper to assume the duties of clerk of the district court, to which he had been elected the preceding fall, and for which office he was renominated in June, 1908, with- out opposition on either ticket, so that he is now serving for the second term.
On the 13th of July, 1887. Mr. Colwell was married to Miss Belle Hoskins, who was born in Richland Center, Wisconsin, and has been a resident of Buena Vista county from the age of seven years. She is a daughter of Amasa and Jane (Murdoch) Hoskins, her father a captain of the Civil war, serving with a Wiseonsin regiment. Ile has been dead for many years, but the mother is still living and makes her home with Mrs. Colwell.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Colwell have been born two children: Verna May, who was born in Sioux Rapids, lowa, May 9, 1888, and is now a clerk in her father's office, and Ada Belle, who was born in Sioux Rapids, July 13, 1900.
In his fraternal relations Mr. Colwell is a Royal Arch Mason and also a member of the Knights of Pythias. In polities he is a republican and during his early residence in Storm Lake served as a member of the city council. IIe was also president of the Sioux Rapids school board for five years and served in the council there for a similar period. His official duties have ever been
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discharged in a most prompt and able manner and no higher testimonial of his excellent services could be given than the faet that he resigned another positon when renominated for the office which he is now filling.
MARONI PARSONS.
Maroni Parsons. now living retired in Newell, has passed the seventy-sixth milestone on life's journey. ITis has been an active. useful and honorable career and the rest which he is now enjoying has come to him as the merited reward of earnest, honorable labor. He started on life's journey at Brown- helm. Lorain county, Ohio, November 11. 1832. He was a grandson of Benjamin Parsons, a native of the state of New York and a farmer by occupa- tion. who served his country as a soldier in the war of 1812. He married Miss Phillips and both lived to a ripe old age. They had six sons and six daughters, all of whom are married and reared families of their own. This number included Thorit Parsons, who was born in the Empire state and was a farmer by occupation. At an early day he removed westward to Ohio and settled in Lorain county. where he resided until 1833, when he began business in Missouri, taking up his abode in Caldwell county, that state. Two years later he removed to Clay county, where he lived for two years, and on the expiration of that period went to Hancock county, Illinois, where he engaged in farming for eight years. His next home was in lowa county, Wisconsin. After two years there passed, the county was divided. the south half being called Lafayette. Ile removed to that district, where he spent his remaining days. his death occurring in 1863 when he was sixty-one years of age. His early religions faith was that of the Methodist church, but he afterward joined the Mormons and his wife was connected with the same society. Mrs. Parsons hore the maiden name of Mary Page and she, too, was a native of New York. Her father died in middle life, while her mother, Rachel Page, reached an advanced age. They reared a large Family, including Mrs. Parsons, who, surviving her husband, died in Iowa county, lowa. By her marriage she became the mother of two sons and three daughters: Caroline, the widow of Horace Weaver, of Boise City, Idaho: Maroni; Amy, the deceased wife of George W. Pilgrim, of Independence, Missouri; John E., who is living in Darlington, Wisconsin; and Izeney. the wife of Elmas Baker, of Freeport, Illinois.
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