USA > Iowa > Buena Vista County > Past and present of Buena Vista County, Iowa > Part 41
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In taking up the personal history of Mr. Parsons we present to our readers the life record of one who is widely and favorably known in this portion of the state. Ile was reared in manhood in Wisconsin to the age of thirteen years, spending his youthful days on the farm and early becoming familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. When fifteen years of age he began earning his own livelihood by working as a farm hand by the month and was thus employed up to the time of his marriage. He after- ward rented land and thus engaged in farming on his own account for a few years, when he invested the capital he had saved from his earnings in forty
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acres of timber land. Clearing away the trees he converted the traet into a good farm, which he continued to cultivate until 1864, when his patriotie spirit was aroused by the eontinned attempts of the south to overthrow the Union and he joined Company E, of the Forty-third Wisconsin Infantry, with which he served until the close of the war. He participated in the battle of Johnsonville and was on duty as a private.
When hostilities had ended and the country no longer needed his aid Mr. Parsons returned home and resumed farming. Hle bought out the interests of the other brothers in his father's old homestead, comprising one hundred and twenty aeres, to which he added a tract of eighty acres, having previously sold his first forty acres. Upon the old home place he lived until 1885 and then eame to Buena Vista county, Iowa, where he bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Coon township. Upon this he lived for seven years, at the end of which time he took up his abode in Newell in 1892. Here he has since lived retired and now owns a nice home in the town, but sold his farming property in 1899. His life has been one of unceasing industry and his per- severance and diligence constitute the salient features of his success.
On the 22d of May, 1853, Mr. Parsons was united in marriage to Miss Catharine Jane Sawdey, who was born about two miles from Penn Yan, New York, May 16, 1834, a daughter of Elijah and Catharine (Briggs) Sawdey, who were natives of that state. They removed from New York to Pennsylvania and thence to Lafayette county, Wisconsin, where the mother died three years later. In 1864 the father fell from a hickorynut tree and was killed. They had ten children, of whom Francis M., Orrin, James, Jerry. Catharine JJane and Cynthia reared children. Five brothers of the family, Francis, Orrin, Elijalı, James and Jeremiah served as soldiers in the Civil war, being loyal defenders of the Union. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Parsons was Benjamin Sawdey. Ile was of Welsh descent and lived near Penn Yan, New York. He served his country as a soldier in the war of 1812., The maternal grandfather, also a native of the Empire state, married Catharine Briggs and they had four children.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Parsons were born nine children: Arietta V., the eldest, is the deceased wife of William MeKnight and they had five children, of whom four are now living : Ira, Louise, Della and David; Izency is the wife of Harrison Ellis, of Storm Lake, and they have three children, Arietta, Archie and Genoa; Charles H., a farmer near Carthage, Missouri, married Etta Hill, who died leaving two children, Earl and Orin, and after the death of his first wife he wedded Lizzie Peterson, by whom he had four children, Vernie, Charles, Esther and Catharine; Ollie A. is the wife of Henry Warren, of Webster county, Iowa, and has three children, Bernice, Elgin and Lettie; Ilattie B. is the wife of Andrew Giffin, of Rockford, Illinois, and they have three children, Hazel, Mildred and Catharine; Lonise M. is a school teacher and is not married; Mary C. is the wife of Dr. Harvey Marvin, of Sioux City, lowa; Corina is the wife of William G. Davie, of Newell ; Louella died in infaney.
Mr. and Mrs. Parsons are Baptists in religious faith and are people of the highest respectability, their many good qualities having won for them the con- fidence and esteem of all who know them. Mr. Parsons belongs to Newell
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Lodge, No. 232. I. O. O. F., and to Newell Post, No. 416, G. A. R. His politi- cal views are in accord with the republican party and he has held varions township offices, including that of marshal of Newell, in which capacity he served for three years. Whatever tends to advance the interests of the com- munity receives his endorsement, and at all times he has been known as a public-spirited citizen. He belongs to that class of men who have been the architects of their own fortunes. Whatever success he has attained and enjoyed has come to him as a reward of his earnest persistent labor.
PAUL WESTON.
Paul Weston is one of the prominent business men of Buena Vista county, coming here when this section of the state was largely unsettled. Only here and there had a claim been made and the work of development had scarcely begun. As the years have passed Mr. Weston has borne his full share in the labors that have transformed this seetion of the state into one of the leading eounties of this great commonwealth. For twenty-seven years he has been an active business man of Alta and dates his residenee here from 1878.
He was born in Dane county. Wisconsin, November 4, 1848, a son of William Weston, who was a native of England, in which country he was reared to manhood and married Elizabeth Clark. About 1840 he emigrated to the new world with his family, settling in Wiseonsin, where he followed farming for a short time. Ile then removed to Stevens Point, where he spent his active life and reared his family. Unto him and his wife were born five sons : W. R., who is now living in Salt Lake City, Utah; Nathaniel, a resident of Yakima, Washington; Paul, of this review; Charles and George, who are living in California.
Paul Weston was a young lad when his parents left the farm in Dane county, where he was born and removed to Stevens Point, Wiseonsin, where he was reared and edueated. Ile there worked in a sawmill and afterward learned the machinist's trade, completing his apprenticeship at Stevens Point. He was employed as enginerr until coming to Alta and also took lumber rafts down the Wisconsin and Mississippi rivers, making sales as far south as Keokuk. He later went to the Black Hills, where he spent three years in engineering, after which he returned to Iowa and settled in Buena Vista county. Here for two or three years he was connected with carpenter- ing, being well known as a contractor and builder, but, thinking to find commercial pursuits more congenial and profitable, he purchased a half inter- est in a furniture business and later bought out his partner, continuing the business alone. He also learned undertaking and embalming, and in addition to his stock of furniture carries a nice line of undertaking goods. He is a licensed embalmer and has built up a good business in this line, as well as a dealer in furniture. He created a business house in Alta and is one of the progressive merchants of the town, his labors constituting an element in the
PAUL WESTON
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business development here. In addition to his commercial interests he owns a farm of one hundred and sixty acres which he rents.
Mr. Weston was married in Washington county, Iowa, September 8, 1881, to Miss Hattie Diller, a native of Indiana, who was reared, however, in this state. There was one child by a former marriage, Norman L. Weston.
Politically Mr. Weston is a stalwart republican. IIe has served as mar- shal for two or three years and has also been a member of the city council. In the discharge of his official duties he has always been prompt, capable and reliable, and his record is one which receives commendation of the general public. Ile belongs to Alta Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and was the second one raised in that lodge. Ile also belongs to Cherokee Chapter, R. A. M., to the commandery and the Mystic Shrine of Sioux City. He has filled various offices in the lodge and is now a past master. Those who know him find him a genial, courteous gentleman, and his cirele of friends is ahnost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintances.
ADAM T. TROEGER.
Adam T. Troeger, a prosperous and well known farmer and stoekman residing on section 18, Hayes township, was born in Jefferson City, Missouri, on the 20th of May. 1851. Ilis father, George A. Troeger, who was a native of Germany, emigrated to the United States when a young man, first taking up his abode near Aurora in Kendall county, Illinois. He was twice married. After losing his first wife he wedded Miss Anna Dietel, also a native of the fatherland. When he had carried on agricultural pursuits in Illinois for sev- eral years, Mr. Troeger removed to Missouri, while the year 1852 witnessed his arrival in Clayton county, lowa, where he opened up a farm and reared his family. He now makes his home in Charles City, Iowa, and is a hale and hearty old gentleman of eighty-five years.
Adam T. Troeger was reared on the old homestead farm in Clayton county and supplemented his preliminary education by two years' attendance at a col- lege in Naperville, Illinois. After completing his own education he taught for two years in the schools of Clayton county. imparting clearly and readily to others the knowledge that he had aequired. IIe was married in Indiana, on the 2d of August, 1877, to Miss Mary S. Fleisher, who was born, reared and edueated in Wisconsin, and also followed the profession of school teaching. Subsequent to his marriage Mr. Troeger operated his father's farm for three years, and in 1882 bought and located on his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Ilaves township, Buena Vista county. Ile at once began to cultivate and further improve the property, erected a substantial two-story residence, a large barn. granary and other ontbuildings and also planted a grove and orchard. He likewise tiled the land and enelosed his fields with woven-wire and hog-tight feneing, and the neat and thrifty appearance of the place indicates the supervision of a practical and progressive owner. A well kept lawn also adds to the attractiveness of the surroundings. In addition to
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his home farm. Mr. Troeger also operates a tract of eighty acres which he rents, and is likewise engaged in raising and feeding cattle and hogs, fattening about two carloads of hogs annually. He also keeps a number of Shropshire sheep, and in connection with his other business interests conduets a dairy. meeting with a gratifying and well merited measure of success in all of his undertakings. He was one of the organizers of the Farmers' Mutual Insur- ance Company, was chosen its first vice president and thus served for two years. later acting as president for fourteen or fifteen years. He is well known and highly esteemed throughout the community and is numbered among the substantial, publie-spirited and progressive citizens of Buena Vista county.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Troeger have been born five sons and one daughter, namely : Leslie E., a graduate of Ames Agricultural College and now assistant editor of the Iowa Homestead at Des Moines; Paul, a graduate of the Storm Lake high school and now a student in Ames Agricultural College; Philip. Cecil P. and Edward I., all of whom are attending school; and Ruth N., a graduate of the Storm Lake high school and of Buena Vista College of Music and now engaged in teaching music.
Politically a republican, Mr. Troeger has taken an active and helpful inter- est in the local work of the organization and his fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, have called him to various positions of trust and respon- sibility. Ile served as justice of the peace for several years, was secretary of the school board for fifteen years, has also acted as township trustee and has been a delegate to state and county conventions. Ile is now serving as trus- tee and steward of the Methodist Episcopal church at Storm Lake and the members of his family take an active part in the church work, doing all in their power to promote its growth and extend its influence. Having resided in this county for more than a quarter of a century, Mr. and Mrs. Troeger are widely and favorably known here and have an extensive and growing circle of friends.
FREDERICK N. SIPE.
Frederick N. Sipe, a substantial agriculturist of Nokomis township, owns two hundred and eighty acres of land on section 32, from which he derives a good profit each year. Ile was born in Juniata county, Pennsylvania, Jan- uary 31, 1860, a son of John W. and Maria (Ilittle) Sipe, who were likewise natives of the Keystone state. The father was a blacksmith and machinist and in 1865 removed with his family to Seott county, Iowa, following his trade at Davenport. lle died there in 1904, at the advanced age of seventy- five years. The mother still survives at the advanced age of seventy-nine years and makes her home with a son in Rock Island, Illinois.
Frederick N. Sipe was one of a family of thirteen children, of whom seven are now living. He was a little lad of five years at the time of the removal of the family to lowa, the home being established in Davenport, where he acquired his education in the common schools. At the early age of fifteen
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years he started ont to make his own way in the world and in 1882 took up his abode in Osceola county, this state, where he continued at farm labor for two years. He was then engaged in the lumber business for four years and subse- quently removed to Sioux county, being manager of a lumberyard in Boyden for nine years.
It was while he was thus engaged that he was married on the 6th of June, 1888, to Miss Flora MeMullen, a native of Allamakee eounty and a daughter of Calvin MeMullen, who, in 1870, homesteaded a elaim in that county, but is now living a retired life in Alta. Mrs. Sipe was engaged in teaching school in Cherokee and Buena Vista counties for five years prior to her marriage.
Following his marriage Mr. Sipe operated his father-in-law's farm for five years and in 1898 purchased one hundred and twenty acres of his present traet of land, on which he took up his abode in 1901. He tiled and fenced his land, erected a nice country home, barn, sheds and other outbuildings and has added to his original purchase eighty acres, so that his farm now embraces two hun- dred aeres, located in section 32, Nokomis township. He follows general farming and raises shorthorn cattle and Duroe Jersey hogs, shipping about a carload of each to the eity markets annually. He is secretary of the Farmers Elevator at Alta and takes a deep interest in the welfare of his community.
Two children grace the home of Mr. and Mrs. Sipe: Le Roy and Vera Mae, both in school. They lost their first born. Lelia Grace, who died when four and a half months old. Mr. Sipe has been a life-long republican and for six years was trustee of the township, while at the present time he is serving on the school board. Ile is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Alta and for six years has been a member of the official board. His fraternal rela- tions are with the Odd Fellows lodge at Alta, and he is also a Master Mason, belonging to the lodge at Alta, and he and his wife are affiliated with the Eastern Star lodge.
During their residenee in Buena Vista county, Mr. and Mrs. Sipe have gained a prominent place in church and social circles, while in his business dealings Mr. Sipe commands the confidence and good will of all with whom he is brought in contact.
REV. DANIEL WILLIAMS, B.A.
The subject of this sketch was born of Welsh parentage, December 11, 1851, in Green Lake county, Wiseonsin, where he spent the first fifteen years of his life. In 1866 his father and family moved to northeast Iowa, where he spent the following four years. In November, 1870, after teaching a term of school, he left home to attend Ripon College, Wisconsin, where he remained two terms. In September, 1871, he went to the State Normal School at Man- kato, Minnesota, and the following winter taught school four miles north of Lake Crystal. In May, 1872, he entered the State University of Minnesota, where he remained for six years, taking the classical course and graduating in June, 1878. In September of the same year he entered Princeton
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Theological Seminary and took the full three-year course, graduating in May, 1881.
In October, 1881, he was ordained to the gospel ministry and spent the following five years in home mission work in North Dakota. In 1886 he came to northwest Iowa, where he has resided since, spending a year at Sanborn. two at Estherville, nine at Bancroft, and is now abont completing his tenth year as a resident of Storm Lake. For the past six years he has not had charge of a special church but is supplying vacancies. He was a delegate to the Presbyterian assembly at Minneapolis in 1886. and to the one at Pittsburg in 1895.
In 1894 Mr. Williams published a historical pamphlet of sixty-eight pages, entitled : "The Early History of the Presbyterian Church and Neighborhood of Proseairon. Wisconsin." During the last twenty years he has written a large number of articles, mostly historical, to church papers and other periodi- cals, and has several serap-books filled up with these fugitive articles of different dates and on different subjects. Since coming to Storm Lake. Mr. Williams has taken great interest in the affairs of Buena Vista College. Dur- ing the winter of 1898-99 he taught four classes during the absence of one of the professors. and since June. 1906, has been a member of and secretary of the board of trustees. He is a strong believer in and a stanch supporter of the old-time doctrines of the Presbyterian church.
Mr. Williams was married in 1883 to Eliza Flora, daughter of Rev. T. I. Hodgkin. M.D., of Toronto Canada. One child was born to them. a little boy who died at three years. In 1892 Mr. and Mrs. Williams crossed the occan and spent six months visiting in the British Isles. and two months in 1903 on the Pacific coast. Mrs. Williams has been greatly interested in missions and has published several missionary stories, one of which was published in Chi- «ago and republished by a ladies' missionary society in Dunedin, New Zealand.
C. W. PETLON.
(. W. Petlon, who owns and operates a farm of two hundred aeres, sit- nated on section 7, Elk township, is numbered among Buena Vista county's pioneer settlers and substantial citizens. Ile was born in Syracuse, New York, .Fune 2. 1846, a son of Jacob Petlon, who was born in Germany but was reared in the Empire state. He was there married to Miss Catherine Myers, of Ger- man parentage. The father was a harnessmaker. following his trade in New York but in 1855 be removed to Delaware county, lowa, and purchased land, thereafter following farming throughout his active business career. He died about 1885 and his wife still survives at the advanced age of eighty-seven years and is still hale and hearty.
C. W. Petlon of this review was a little lad of nine years at the time the l'amily removed to lowa. Ile was reared and educated in Delaware county and remained under the parental roof until he attained mature years, during which time he assisted his father in developing and enltivating the farm.
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When a young man of twenty-three years he came to Buena Vista county and homesteaded eighty acres of land. which he broke and developed into a fine farm. He later purchased more land and now owns two hundred acres all in one body and located on section 7. Elk township. He has made all of the improvements which are here seen, including a good country residence, barns and outbuildings. He is engaged in general farming and stock-raising and in 1898 extended the scope of his activities by erecting a store building in which he opened up a general stock of merchandise. He has built up a good patronage, for his enterprise has proved a convenient factor to the neighboring farmers.
Mr. Petlon was married in Delaware county on Christmas day of 1876, to Miss Lovina Hayden, who was born in Pennsylvania but was reared in this state. She engaged in teaching prior to her marriage. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Petlon has been blessed with two sons and two daughters: J. V., a young man at home; Jessie E., who is engaged in teaching; Loma E .; and Royal V., who completes the family.
Mr. Petlon gives his political support to the democratic party and while keeping well informed on the current news of the day he has never sought to figure in public life. He is well known as a pioneer of the county and as a most industrious and useful man, whose probity is an unquestioned element in his career. His energy is often at the service of his community and he has the love and respect of all among whom he lives.
JACOB ENEMARK.
From a humble beginning JJacob Enemark has worked his way upward in the business world until today he owns a valuable farm property of one hun- dred and twenty acres situated on section 30. Nokomis township, and is con- sidered one of the progressive and wide-awake farmers and stock-raisers of this section of Buena Vista county. He was born in Schleswig, Germany, March 10. 1866, the second in order of birth in a family of three sons and one daughter, born of the marriage of Erasmus and Johanna (Timmerman) Enemark, the former a contractor and builder in his native land.
Jacob Enemark was given the advantages of a common-school education and spent the period of his boyhood and youth under the parental roof. Ile had read of the advantages to be enjoyed in America, and desiring to make his home in whatever country offered the best inducements for advancement to the ambitious young man, decided to emigrate to the United States. Accordingly, at the early age of eighteen years, he bade adieu to friends and native land and set sail for the new world. He at once made his way to Alta. lowa, where for three years he was employed at farm labor. This, however, he resolved should be but a starting point for his future success and by economy and hard labor during this term he managed to save a sum of money that enabled him to purchase land and he became the owner of eighty acres. lle improved this traet with a good house and substantial outbuildings and
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also set ont an orchard. He then began active work in the cultivation of his land and each year harvested good erops, which brought him the capital that eventually enabled him to add to his original purchase forty aeres adjoining, so that his farm now embraces one hundred and twenty acres. In addition to raising the eereals best adapted to soil and climate he also gives much of his attention to the raising of stock. Hle keeps good horses, cattle and Poland China hogs. He is also a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator and in the creamery at Alta.
Mr. Enemark was married in December, 1887, to Miss Electa Sherman, a native of La Salle county, Illinois, and a daughter of Henry Sherman. Their union has been blessed with two children. Ethel and Frank, both in school. Mr. Enemark is an independent republican, and while he is interested in the welfare of his country and his home locality he has never been active as an office seeker. Ile belongs to the Knights of Pythias and the Yeomen of Alta. Ile deserves great credit for what he has accomplished in the business world, for he came to this country as a stranger, and through his own well directed efforts has attained to his present position-that of one of the substantial Farmers and stock-raisers of Buena Vista county and Nokomis township.
NEWELL BARROWS.
After a long life of activity and usefulness Newell Barrows is living retired, deriving his income from a valuable farm property of one hundred and sixty aeres, situated on section 12, Maple Valley township. Ile was born near Montreal, Canada, February 7, 1836, a son of John and Leonora (Freeman) Barrows, both of whom were born in Canada, of French ancestry. In 1836 John Barrows removed with his family to Vermont, where he engaged in farming, being in the employ of one man for thirteen years. They became the parents of ten children, of whom only four reached years of maturity, and spent their last years in Vermont.
Newell Barrows acquired his education in the common schools and remained under the parental roof until he had reached mature years. Ile learned the trades of coopering and brickmaking and when a young man of twenty-one years made his way from the east to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he followed the brickmaker's trade. He later engaged in farming and cooper- ing, being thus engaged for twenty-two years. He later contraeted for the purchase of two hundred and twenty-four acres of land in Sac county, lowa, paying for the same in brick, giving one thousand brick per acre for the land. Eventually he removed to his farm property and improved it, operating the same for thirteen years. Disposing of that land he invested his money in his present traet of one hundred and sixty acres, located on section 12, Maple Valley township. He tiled the land, which he divided into fields of convenient size by well kept fences, erected a nice country home, good barn and outbuild- ings, and altogether made it a valuable property. In addition to carrying on general agricultural pursuits he was also engaged in raising good grades of
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