USA > Iowa > Buena Vista County > Past and present of Buena Vista County, Iowa > Part 46
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ALVAH MOFFATT.
Nearly a quarter of a century has come and gone since Alvah Moffatt first became connected with farming interests in Buena Vista county and he is now the owner of a farm of one hundred and sixty acres of well improved land in Nokomis township, though he now makes his home in Alta. He is a native of Platteville. Grant county. Wisconsin. his birth having there occurred Orto- ber 31. 1851. He was reared to manhood in Peoria connty, Ilinois. and is indebted to its public-school system for the educational privileges he enjoyed. He remained with his father until he had reached adult years and during that period devoted his time and efforts to the work of the farm.
In 1885 Mr. Moffatt came to Buena Vista county, Iowa, where he at first rented land, thus carrying on general agricultural pursuits for seven years. In the meantime he worked diligently and persistently and. carefully saving his earnings, he was at length enabled to purchase a place of eighty acres. It was already improved to some extent but he continued its further develop- ment, successfully carrying on the farm work for ten years, when he sold the place and went to North Dakota. He took up a claim and resided there until 1903, when he returned to this county and bought the farm in Nokomis town- ship which he now owns, it being pleasantly and conveniently located a mile and a half east of Alta.
Sinee his return from North Dakota, Mr. Moffatt has made his home in Alta, where he purchased a residence and has since lived retired. Hle rents the farm but gives it his supervision so that he knows that everything about the place is kept up in good condition. The claim of one hundred and sixty acres which he secured in North Dakota he still owns and has also bought another traet of land of one hundred and sixty acres so that today he owns two farms in MeHenry county, North Dakota, all of which is productive land. He has good buildings on the place which he homesteaded, and the property is continually increasing in value.
Mr. and Mrs. Moffatt are members of the Presbyterian church and have been connected with many of the church activities, doing all in their power to promote its growth and extend its influence. He is now serving as one of its elders and contributes generously to its support. While he votes with the republican party in matters of national moment, he casts an independent local
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ballot. nor has he ever sought or desired public office. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen, a faternal insurance order, and in these societies has many warm friends. He has worked diligently and persistently to achieve the suc- cess which he is now enjoying. and his life record indicates what may be accomplished when one is not afraid of hard work, but has the persisteney of purpose and firm will to continue in a course which has been marked out. and which leads eventually to prosperity.
ISSI OTTO POND, M. D.
Dr. Issi Otto Pond. successfully engaged in the practice of medicine at Sioux Rapids with a large and constantly inereasing patronage, is numbered among the native sons of Iowa and is imbued with the spirit of enterprise and progress which has been the dominant feature in the rapid upbuilding of the middle west. He was born in Gladbrook, Iowa, July 23. 1873, and is the son of W. O. and Florenee (Deffer) Pond. The old family homestead is still standing just a few miles from Cleveland, Ohio. The paternal grandfather,
David Pond. was a native of Syraense, New York. He married Isabelle Norton, a daughter of Samnel Norton, a representative of one of the old
colonial families of America. The Nortons are of Welsh deseent, traeing their ancestry back to three brothers who sailed from Wales to the new world and landed at Plymouth, Massachusetts, December 21. 1620. The name of the oldest brother was Samuel, but the names of the other two are unknown. Mrs. Issi Norton Pond was descended from this Samuel Norton who named his oldest son Sammel, and the name was thus continued down through different generations. Her grandfather was a captain of the Revolutionary war and lost his life at the time of the capture of Burgoyne at Saratoga Springs. In Connecticut he married Patience Griswold and afterward removed to Saratoga Springs, New York, where, with the help of his son, Samnel Norton, he built the first house at that place. He had but the one son although there were six daughters in the family. After the outbreak of the war for independence he joined the army and laid down his life on the altar of liberty when about fifty years of age. One of his daughters. Chloe, became the wife of a Mr. Butler, and lived at Cherry Valley, New York. She was the mother of Gen- eral Benjamin F. Butler, a distinguished soldier and statesman. Charles Butler, another son. had three children who were killed by Indians while at the home of a neighbor. Mrs. Snow, who was ill in bed. Mrs. Butler and Mrs. Patterson were with her and had their small children with them. Mr. Snow, his two daughters, Laura and Electa. Mr. Butler and Mr. Patterson were working in the cornfield. The girls were sent to the house for water and when returning to the field were captured by some Indians. Mrs. Snow was dragged out of bed into the yard and murdered and this so frightened Mrs. Butler that she became crazed and did not secrete her children so that the Indians took three of them and dashed their brains out against a tree. The
DR. I. O. POND
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two captive girls were taken to Malden but were afterward redeemed. Mrs. Patterson with her two children and Mrs. Butler were also taken prisoners but soon they were redeemed. Two of the Indians together with an Indian hoy afterward killed a white boy about fourteen years of age who had been trapping for furs. The Indians were then arrested and the two red men were hung. The Indian boy turned state's evidence and was cleared because of the fact that he had been forced to take part in the sanguinary deed. When the two men were to be hung they were asked if they had anything to say. One remained sullen but the other said "yes," ealled for Alanson Snow to whom he said "I helped murder your mother, now I must die." Will you forgive me?" But Snow replied, "I will never forgive an Indian."
The father of Jonathan Norton was married to Mary Dean and they had one child. IIe was a resident of Saratoga Springs, New York, at the time of the Revolutionary war when Burgoyne's army was encamped within eight miles of that place and they could hear the eannon and smaller arms in the battle. Mr. Norton then took his mother, his wife and child, his cattle and the goods he could haul, and started for Connectient, a distance of one hun- dred miles, expecting to meet Hessians or Indians at any moment. He traveled under some difficulty but at length managed to reach a party also en route for Conneetient. He remained in that state until the British army evacuated the country, when he returned to Saratoga Springs.
Samuel Norton, son of Samuel Norton, Sr., was born in 1725 and married Patience Griswold. His death occurred at Saratoga, New York, in 1777. His son Samuel, born October 15, 1748, wedded Mary Dean and died February 30, 1822. Jonathan Norton was the father of Mrs. Pond and great-grand- father of Dr. Pond.
W. O. Pond, father of Dr. Pond, was born in Ohio July 23, 1841. and in 1869 beeame a resident of Tama county, Iowa. He was a graduate of Lincoln University and after completing his studies went to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he was employed for some time as a bookkeeper, but becoming dissatis- fied with that position and looking for something better he started on foot for St. Louis, walking the entire distance and selling articles of clothing en route in order to pay his expenses. He did not find it easy to secure employ- ment in that city but after some time entered the services of a shipbuilder with whom he remained for three years. During that time he saved his earnings and to invest his capital came to Tama county and bought land, turning his attention to farming. After following that occupation for a few years he took up contract work and was very successful, his prosperity enabling him to accumulate much property. He is now living in a beautiful residence on the old homestead, the house being surrounded by a well kept lawn, adorned with fine trees, shrubs and flowers. Very substantial buildings also add to the convenience and attractive appearance of the place. For nearly two decades Mr. Pond has been retired, enjoying well earned rest. He is deeply interested in matters of general moment and is a cooperant in many projects for the publie good. Also interested in education he has given his children good opportunities in that direction and has thus assisted them in qualifying for the responsible duties of life.
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Mr. Pond was married June 23, 1872, to Miss Florence E. Deffer, who was born at Harper's Ferry, Maryland, November 11, 1852. and died at their home in Gladbrook, Iowa. September 14. 1908. Her childhood days were spent amid the stirring scenes of the war of the Rebellion, her home being situated between the camps of the armies of the north and south. At the battle of Antietam it was used as a mutual hospital. She witnessed the exciting events of John Brown's raid, his capture and execution at Harper's Ferry, which did so much to precipitate the war, and she often described these various seenes to her children. Her parents lived in Virginia during the war until the way was opened for them to go to Ohio, where they lived a short time, and then emigrated to Towa. Mrs. Pond's married life was spent in oving sacrifice to her children and in doing good to others. Even during her last illness, which covered a period of a year, she did not think of her own suffering, but constantly of the care entailed upon those about her.
Dr. Pond is the eldest of three children. His brother. Aubrey Burdette, resides at Gladbrook, while the sister. Olive, is the wife of William E. Silver. of Gladbrook, and the mother of two children. Ruth and Grant Mason Silver.
In taking up the personal history of Dr. Pond we present to our readers the life record of one who is widely and favorably known in this part of Iowa. When sixteen years of age he left school ten weeks before his class was graduated from the high school of Gladbrook and later gave his attention to the work of the farm for a time, but afterward attended the Western Col- lege at Toledo, Iowa, spending his freshman year there. The following year he became a student in the State Normal at Cedar Falls, and completing that course he taught school for about two yeears, after which he took up the study of medicine in 1897. The sueeeeding four years were devoted to preparation for the practice of medicine and surgery in the State University and during the last year of his eollege days he was appointed and served as house sur- geon. Immediately following his graduation in 1901 he came to Sioux Rapids, where he has sinee been actively and successfully engaged in practice. When he decided to become a member of the medical fraternity it was his intention to follow the regular school but about that time he was a witness of a remarkable eure accomplished by homeopathie treatment after allopathic physicians had given up the case. This caused him to investigate the merits of the two schools with the result that he determined to follow homeopathic principles. He has built up a good business and has been very successful in his professional labor.
On the 4th of September, 1902. Dr. Pond was married to Miss Delia Hall. of Sioux Rapids, a daughter of H. H. and Almeda (Folletto) Ilall, both of whom were natives of Wisconsin. Her father was born in Waukesha county, Wisconsin, July 15, 1854, and was the son of Otis and Sarah (Sykes) Hall. who were natives of Vermont, where they were married, removing thence to Wisconsin at an early day. In 1868 they became residents of Hardin county, Iowa, and in the meantime Mr. Hall served as a soldier in the Civil war. He died in 1897 at the age of sixty years, while his wife passed away in 1871 at the age of forty years.
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Henry H. Hall was the fourth in order of birth in a family of eight chil- dren, namely: Otis Sykes; Julia, who died in girlhood ; John A., residing in Eldora ; Henry II .; Lois A., living in Steamboat Rock, Iowa; Martha, who died in childhood; Asa, who died in boyhood ; and Mabel, living in California. In 1878 Henry H. Hall married Almeda Follette and they had two children, Mrs. Pond and Alma, who died in childhood. Dr. and Mrs. Pond are well known in Sioux Rapids and this part of the county and their sterling worth justly entitles them to the respect which is uniformly accorded them. They have two children : Almeda Florence and Waldo Otto, to whom they are much devoted.
F. W. CORNELIUSSEN.
F. W. Corneliussen is an enterprising agrieulturist, owning and operating one hundred and sixty aeres of land on section 32. Nokomis township, which was entered from the government by his father in 1869. Mr. Corneliussen is a native of Norway, born December 21, 1856, of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Corneliussen, who were likewise natives of that country. The parents emigrated to Ameriea in 1865 and spent three years in Wisconsin, after which the father eame to Iowa and entered one hundred and sixty acres of government land in Buena Vista county. In 1869 he returned to his native land and in 1872 brought to this eounty his family, numbering five sons, all of whom grew to mature years.
F. W. Corneliussen was a youth of sixteen years when he accompanied the other members of the family to the new world. He was given the advantages of a common-school education and remained under the parental roof until the time of his marriage, which occurred in Nokomis township in 1880, when Miss Mary Gulbransen became his wife. She is also a native of Norway but was reared in America. Following his marriage Mr. Corneliussen located on & traet of eighty acres which he purchased. He built a good house and improved the place in other ways, making his home thereon for three years. He then sold that property and removed to Barnes township, where he bought two hundred aeres, which he also improved with a house and good buildings. After residing there for eight years he disposed of that property and invested his money in one hundred and sixty aeres in Maple Valley township, which he improved. He enltivated that farm for six years, subsequent to which time he disposed of his land and bought the interest of the other heirs in the home- stead property, which has been his home since 1896. Ile has here one hundred and sixty aeres, all of which have been placed under a high state of cultivation. lle has recently completed a fine two story and a half house, has erected good barns and outbuildings, has fenced and tiled the land, and has made it a val- uable farm property. He follows practical methods in his labor and his efforts are attended with gratifying results. In addition to raising the cereals best adapted to soil and climate, he also raises stock on a small scale, feeding cat- tle and Poland China hogs. IIe is also a stoekholder in the Farmers Elevator and in the creamery at Alta.
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The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Corneliussen has been blessed with ten ehil- dren : Christena, Sven, Anne, Emma, Millie, Florence, Bessie, Ruth, Irene and Fred. Mr. Cornelissen casts his presidential ballot for the republican can- didates but at local elections votes independently. He has been a member of the school board for many years. He holds membership relations with the Methodist Episcopal church at Alta and is an officer in the church. Ilis wife and family also belong to that organization.
Mr. Corneliussen has assisted materially in the agricultural development of Buena Vista county, for he has improved four good farms and is now the owner of one of the valuable farm properties of his section of the state. Like many who come to this country from foreign lands, he has improved the oppor- tunities that have come to him, has displayed good judgment in making his investments and has accumulated a goodly competency.
CHARLES CAMPTON.
The history of its farming interests is largely the history of Buena Vista county. Towa is preeminently an agricultural state and leads all other states in the production of corn, while other crops are almost equally as large. More than a century ago George Washington said that agriculture is the most use- ful and most honorable occupation of man, and it is to this work that Charles Campton has always given his attention, being now engaged in cultivating his farm on seetion 26, Providence township. He was born in Lafayette county, Wisconsin, October 19, 1859, and is a son of Abram and Emeline (Cannon) Campton, natives of Ohio and Dubuque, lowa, respectively. The father learned and followed the blacksmith's trade and on removing westward from Ohio became one of the pioneer settlers of Dubuque. It was there that he learned his trade and through much of his life he has worked at the forge. He removed from this state to Lafayette county, Wiseonsin, casting in his lot among the early settlers, and there he is still living at the venerable age of eighty-two years. His wife died in 1892. when about sixty-five years of age. They were parents of eight children, three sons and five daughters, of whom seven are yet living: Charles; Franklin; Elizabeth, the wife of Aaron Deno; Cordie, the wife of Walter Van Meter; Cora, the wife of Curtis Ooley; George; Lorine, deceased; and Lillie, the wife of John Van Meter.
No events of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farming life for Charles Campton in his boyhood and youth. He was reared in Wis- consin and was early trained to habits of industry, economy and perseverance -habits which have been valnable in later years, bringing to him the success which he now enjoys. He came to Buena Vista county, lowa, in 1881, and bought a farm of eighty acres, since which time he has purchased another eighty-acre tract, on which his son now resides. He has worked diligently and the well kept appearance of his place is an indication of his active and useful life. Ile has made substantial improvements from time to time and has raised the cereals best adapted to the soil and climate, giving careful attention to the
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eultivation of his fields, as to the time of planting, the nature of the soil required and the manner of harvesting the erops.
Mr. Campton was married in 1872 to Miss Georetta Heath, a daughter of James and Jane (Ayer) Heath. Three children have graced this marriage: Elvin, who married Rosa Anderson and lives on his father's farm; Myrtle, the wife of Thornton Layman and the mother of two children, Durlin and Zoc; and Geraldine, the wife of Thomas Ilouseholder and the mother of three chil- dren, Averill, Gail and Bernice. Mr. Campton votes with the democratic party, but has neither ambition nor desire for public office, preferring to give his undivided attention to his business affairs, which are capably conducted and are bringing to him well merited success. There has been nothing unusual in his history, but it is that of a man who has worked earnestly day after day, and by his business integrity and diligence has gained a place among the sub- stantial citizens of Providence township.
A. L. DENIO.
It requires various interests to make up a composite fabric of business activity and commercial prosperity in any community. Among the energetic. farsighted and successful business men who are factors in the growth and development of Alta is numbered A. L. Denio, who for the past ten years has successfully conducted a lumberyard at this point. He has long lived in Iowa, for he became a resident of Cherokee county in 1876 and in 1882 took up his abode within the borders of Buena Vista county. His birth occurred in St. Joseph county, Indiana, June 25, 1863, and his life has been characterized by the spirit of indomitable industry and progress which has marked the growth of the middle west. His father. Charles C. Denio, was a native of Delaware
county, New York, born in 1828. There he was reared, but when gold was discovered in California he made his way to the Pacific coast, inspired by the hope of rapidly acquiring a fortune among the mines of that state. While he did not gain wealth, he yet met with fair success and brought back a goodly sum when he returned by way of the Isthmus of Panama. Soon afterward he located in St. Joseph county, Indiana, and for a time engaged in merchandising at Hamilton, while later he carried on business at New Carlisle. He was mar- ried at that place to Miss Elizabeth Whitlock and continued his residence at New Carlisle until his life's labors were ended in death in 1873, when he was forty-five years of age. His widow afterward became the wife of William P. Miller, who removed to Cherokee county, lowa, and established a lumberyard at Aurelia, where he is still actively engaged in business. There were two children of the mother's first marriage, the daughter being Jennie, the wife of W. II. Reynolds, of Orlando, Florida.
The son, A. L. Denio, was a lad of twelve years when he went with his mother and stepfather to Cherokee county. His publie-school course was sup- plemented by study in the academy at Manchester and by a two years' course in the University of Michigan. After completing his education he went south,
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spending two years in Florida, and, upon his return to lowa, settled in Alta, where he engaged in the Inmber business for two years. He then disposed of his yard and conducted a banking business in Webster City, lowa, until 1887, being cashier of the Farmers National Bank there. In 1899 he again eame to Alta, where he purchased the lumberyard which he now owns. Ile earries an extensive stoek building materials of all kinds and his sale of lumber brings him a gratifying ammal return, for he has seeured an extensive patronage, He gives close and unremitting attention to his business, knowing that care, fore- sight and diligenee constitute a sure foundation upon which to build success.
In February, 1887, in Webster City, Mr. Denio was married to Miss Carrie S. Harris, who was reared and educated in Des Moines. Unto them has been born one son, Charles Carroll, now a junior in the State University of Iowa.
On election days Mr. Denio deposits his ballot in support of the men and measures of the republican party. He has never had ambition in the line of offiee seeking, although he onee served as councilman. IIe is interested, how- ever, in the snecess of his party and has served as a delegate to its conventions. For two years he has been actively connected with the Fair Association of Buena Vista county and for two years has been superintendent of speed at the Iowa State Fair, at Des Moines. Hle belongs to the Masonie fraternity, hold- ing membership in the lodge at Alta, the chapter at Webster City, the commandery at Cherokee and the Mystic Shrine at Des Moines. In the lodge he has filled various offices, was master for three terms and is now past master, while in the chapter he acted as high priest during his residence in Webster City. He was likewise president of the Northwestern lowa Association of Lumber Dealers for two years. When he came to this city in his boyhood northwestern Iowa was but sparsely settled and much of the land was still neultivated. Ile has lived to see a wonderful transformation as the region has become peopled by those who have converted its distriet into a rich agri- cultural region, equipped with all of the modern improvements and advantages known to the older east. He has at all times stood for general progress and his cooperation is never sought in vain when the purpose is to further the inter- ests of Alta or the community at large.
JAMES HARKER.
No history of the business interests of Storm bake would be complete without due mention of James Harker, deceased. Though his activities here covered a period of less than ten years, yet no man wicked greater influence or was held in greater esteem than he. An Englishman by birth, he was a native of Yorkshire. In 1839 his parents, James and An (Coates) Harker, emigrated to America and settled in Lafayette county, Wisconsin. His early education was such as the common schools of those pioneer days afforded. He was truly a self-made man and many valuable lessons he learned from the school of experience which fitted him for the responsible positions which he held. At the age of twenty-eight he served one term in the lower house of
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the Wisconsin legislature. In 1866 he became a resident of Jefferson, Greene county, Iowa, casting in his lot with the pioneers of that county. There he engaged in milling and mercantile business until 1874, when he turned his eyes to Buena Vista county, where he had bought government land in early days. He organized the Storm Lake Bank and served as its president until it became the First National Bank and was president of that institution at the time of his death, which occurred July 5, 1883, when he had reached the age of forty-nine years, six months and seventeen days. He exerted great energy in buying, selling and improving lands in this part of the state and was among those who were instrumental in hastening the building of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad throngh Clay and O'Brien counties in 1880.
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