USA > Iowa > Buena Vista County > Past and present of Buena Vista County, Iowa > Part 61
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No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for Paul Winther in the days of his boyhood and youth. He acquired his education in the schools of his native country and through the summer months worked in the fields, remaining at home until he had reached man's estate. A comparative review of the business situation and opportunities of the new world and of the old led him to the belief that he might have better advan- tages in America and accordingly in 1871 he sailed for the United States and eame to lowa, purchased one hundred and ten acres of land in Newell town- ship, Buena Vista county. As the years have passed by he has prospered and has extended the boundaries of his farm until he now owns three hundred and thirty acres of finely improved land. He has been extensively engaged in breeding and raising polled Angus cattle and is considered an authority ou
MR. AND MRS. PAUL WINTHER
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fine stock. Ile has prodneed some of the best cattle raised in the county and in his farm work he is also meeting with success, his richly tilled fields annually bringing forth golden harvests. Ile bonght land for thirty dollars per acre, which is today worth one hundred dollars per acre owing to the care, labor and improvements he has placed npon it.
On the 22d of April, 1871, Mr. Winther was married to Miss Mary Staun, a daughter of Nels and Julia (Nelson) Stann. Her birth occurred in Den- mark, September 12. 1844, and her parents were also natives of that country. Her father died when about fifty-three years of age, while the mother sur- vived him until 1890 and passed away when eighty years of age. They were the parents of eight children: Metta, the deceased wife of Martin Hansen; Sena, the wife of Andrew Dalsgaard, of Denmark; Peter Christian; Paul; James ; Carrie, the wife of Peter Kjarsgaard ; Mary, the wife of Paul Winther ; and Annie, the wife of Nels Kuntsen. All are yet living in Denmark, with the exception of Mrs. Winther.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Winther have been born the following named : Christ, who died in infancy; Charles, who died at the age of twelve years; Julia, deceased; Julia, the second of the name, who became the wife of L. N. Peterson, of Newell township, and has five children, Esther, Marion, Bernice, Martin and Ruth; Martin, who died at the age of fourteen years; Mary, the wife of Christ Lobner, by whom she has one child. Francis; Nellie, who mar- ried Peter Hemingsen, a resident of Newell, and has three children, Elmer. Leon and Naomi; Frank, deceased; Frank, the second of the name; Charlotte, at home; Elvira, who died at the age of ten years; and Delsina, also yet under the parental roof.
Mr. and Mrs. Winther are members of the Baptist church and are earnest consistent Christian people. He votes with the republican party and is inter- ested in community affairs, giving stalwart support to many measures for the general good. Ile has served as school director and is now filling the position of school treasurer. Aside from his farming interests he is the president of the Newell Creamery Company. He is today numbered among the prominent agriculturists of Newell township and is an influential citizen, for all who know him esteem him for his integrity of character and recognize his genuine worth. He has the best interest of the community at heart and withholds his cooperation from no movement which he believes will prove of publie good. His worth is widely acknowledged and his prosperity is well merited as it has come as the logical sequence of a life of industry and well directed thrift.
ANDREW NELSON.
Andrew Nelson who has continuously followed farming in Providence town- ship, Buena Vista county, since 1889, now owns a well improved farm of eighty aeres. I He was born in Iowa. November 28. 1875. a son of Mr. and Mrs. Cris Nelson, both of whom were natives of Denmark. The father was a
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soldier in the Danish army and when thirty years of age, believing that he might better provide for his family in the new world, he emigrated to Ameriea when thirty years of age. Purchasing a farm near Cedar Falls, Iowa, he located thereon and for many years was actively and busily engaged in earry- ing ou general farming but is now living retired in New Hartford, this state. Ile is a democrat in his political belief, while in religious faith he is an Adventist. He still survives but the mother departed this life in 1898. Their family numbers three sons. the brothers of our subjeet being : Henry, a resident of New Hartford, Iowa; and Peter, who is engaged in the nursery business in California.
Andrew Nelson pursued his education in the distriet schools of Grundy county. this state, to the age of sixteen years, subsequent to which time he gave his father the full benefit of his time and service on the home farm. He remained under the parental roof until he had attained his majority. when he took up his abode in Buena Vista county, purchasing eighty acres of land in Providenee township. He has improved the place with good buildings and has placed his fields under a high state of eultivation. so that each year they produce good crops of wheat. corn and oats.
Mr. Nelson was married to Miss Emma Olson, who was born in Newell township. this county, June 3. 1880. Both her parents are now deceased and lie buried in Newell cemetery. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Nelson has been blessed with two interesting children : Laverne, who was born September 9, 1901, and Arthur JJohn, who was born December 28. 1903. Mr. Nelson gives his political support to the democratie party but has never been active as an office seeker, preferring to give his undivided time and attention to his private affairs. Ile is a man of sterling characteristies, well liked in the community in which he lives, and though quiet and unassuming in manner he is ever found ready to lend a helping hand in every movement calculated to better the interests of his locality.
R. P. HOLMES.
R. P. Holmes, a prominent citizen and successful agriculturist residing on section 18. Washington township, owns and operates a valuable and well improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres within three and a half miles of Alta. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, ou the 12th of February, 1846, and in 1855 he accompanied his parents on their removal to Stark county, Illinois, where they opened up a farm near Toulon. On this place R. P. Holmes was reared from the age of nine years and acquired his education in the schools of Toulon. In the year 1872. in Fulton county, Illinois, he was married to Miss Barbara Haackie, a native of the Prairie state.
Subsequently he there carried on agricultural pursuits for some years and ยท in 1882 came to Buena Vista county, lowa, and purchased his present farm. As the years have passed he has brought the fields under a high state of cultivation and has placed many substantial improvements on the property,
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including an attractive two-story residence, a barn and all other necessary outbuildings. He has likewise planted fruit and shade trees, has enclosed the farm with woven-wire fencing and altogether, in its neat and thrifty appearance, the property indieates the supervision of a practical and pro- gressive owner. In addition to the work of general farming he is also engaged in raising and feeding stock, meeting with well merited success in all of his undertakings. He is a stockholder in the Farmers' Elevator Company of Alta, and is well known and highly esteemed throughout the county as a substantial and publie-spirited eitizen.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Holmes have been born seven sons and four danghters, namely : Frank A., who is president of the Cooperative Coal Company of Chicago; Robert L., who is likewise connected with that company: Walter, who is engaged in farming at Morrison, lowa ; Samuel A., a resident of Storm Lake; Horace, living in Burlington, Washington; Harvey II .; Solon G .; Estella, the wife of J. A. Steele, of Salt Lake City ; Anna B., the wife of Darwin E. Turner, of Salt Lake City; Barbara B., the wife of Edward II. Knuteson, of Burlington, Washington ; and Ada, at home.
A stanch republiean in his political views, Mr. Holmes has taken an active and helpful interest in the local work of the party. For twelve years he eapably served as justiee of the peace and for fifteen years was township trustee, while at the present time he is acting as township committeeman. He has been identified with the school board for a number of years and has been a delegate to numerous state and eounty conventions, having assisted in the nomination of several of the governors of lowa. Ile has likewise served on the petit and grand juries, was eensus enumerator in 1900 and for over twenty- five years has never missed a primary or general election. Fraternally he is connected with the Blue Lodge of Masons at Alta, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church at that place, with which his wife is also identified. Having now resided in Buena Vista county for more than a quarter of a century, he has been an interested witness of and also a participant in the steady and persistent work of development that has transformed this district from a wild tract into a thickly settled and prosperous region, in which all the evidences of our modern civilization abonnd.
FRANK AUGUST GABRIELSON.
Frank August Gabrielson, well known in Clay county by reason of his former connection with commercial interests and his present connection with agricultural affairs, now lives in Garfield township, where he owns one hundred and sixty acres of land. There he follows general farming and stock-raising and in his well direeted business efforts is meeting with gratifying snecess.
He was born in Webster eonnty. Iowa. Mareh 3, 1861. a son of John and Florence (Peterson) Gabrielson, both of whom are natives of Sweden. It was in 1857 that his parents eame to America and the following year settled in
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Webster county. The father was born in Boxholm, Sweden. November 16, 1826, and on the 24th of June, 1850, he wedded Florence Charlotta Peterson. They lived for about seven years thereafter in their native country and then, as stated, came to the new world, establishing their home in Galesburg, Illinois, where they resided for about a year. In 1858 they came to Webster county and were pioneers in that part of the state. During the period of his residence in Galesburg Mr. Gabrielson was converted and became an earnest Christian worker. Following the establishment of his home in Dayton. Iowa, he became a local preacher and a deacon in the Methodist church. For many years he engaged in preaching the gospel and at all times was most active and earnest in promoting the various departments of the church work. He not only followed the eall of "Onward Christian Soldiers," but also proved a faithful soldier of his country in her hour of need, enlisting at the time of the Civil war as a member of Company C, Eleventh Iowa Volunteer Infantry. His memory remains as a blessed benedietion to all who knew him because of his loyalty to principles of truth, justice, right and honor. The world is better for his having lived for his labors were ever a potent element for good in the community in which he made his home. He died May 28, 1908, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Ilans Shold, of Dayton, Iowa, his wife's death occurring January 4th of that year.
In the family of this worthy couple were ten children of whom the eldest died in infancy. Axel C .. born in 1855, is now living in Dayton, Iowa. Charles J., born in 1857, died in 1900. Hattie C., born in 1859. passed away in 1886. Frank August is next in order of birth. Mary C., born in 1862, is the wife of Hans Shold, a blacksmith residing in Dayton. George A., born in 1864, married Anna Burk and makes his home in Dayton township, Webster county, Iowa, on the old homestead farm which joins the corporation limits of Dayton on the north. Edward, who was born in 1866, married Kate Entermill and died in 1907. Victor, born in 1868, was married June 21, 1893, to Hannah Sokinson and lives in Dayton. A daughter died in infancy.
Frank August Gabrielson was reared in Dayton under the refining influ- ence of a good Christian home. Ile pursued his education in the publie schools, enjoying the pleasures common to the youth of that day and did such tasks as were assigned him through parental authority. In the fall of 1882, when a young man of twenty-one years, he removed to Sioux Rapids, where he engaged in the hardware business. The enterprise prospered from the begin- ning and as the years went by he enjoyed an increasing business and became well known as a merchant of the town. In 1907, however, he sold out and located on the farm which he now occupies, comprising one hundred and sixty acres of land in Garfield township.
Here he follows general farming and stock-raising and has a well equipped place, which in its neat and thrifty appearance indicates his careful supervision and practical methods.
It was on the 26th of January, 1887. that Mr. Gabrielson was married to Miss Ida JJansen. a daughter of R. M. and Laura (Dean) Jansen, who were natives of the state of New York. They were married January 8, 1856, and settled near Fort Wayne, Indiana, at an early day. Mrs. Jansen was born near Macedon, Now York, May 27, 1832, and died January 8, 1900, the last two
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and a half years of her life being passed in Linn Grove. She was the mother of the following children : Frank, who married Mollie Harp and resides in Hum- boldt, Jowa; Ella, the wife of Arthur Stevens, a resident of Seibert. Colorado: Irena. the wife of John J. Jacobson, living in Lebanon, South Dakota; Cora, who is a teacher in a public school of Okmulgee, Oklahoma; John, who resides in Dallas, South Dakota ; and Birdie. a professional nurse now located in Portland, Oregon. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Gabrielson has been blessed with several children, but they lost their first born in infancy. The others are: Ira N., who was born September 27, 1889, and is attending Morningside College; Guy G., who was born May 22, 1891, and is attending school in Sioux Rapids ; and Rush R .. who was born April 7, 1897, and is a student in a home school at Webh.
The family are members of the Methodist church at Webb and are well known socially, having the warm regard of all who know them. Mr. Gabrielson is a member of Buena Vista Lodge. No. 574. J. O. O. F .. and both he and his wife are members of Sioux Valley Lodge No. 387, of the Daughters of Rebecca. He is also connected with the Court of Honor and the Yeomen, and in his political views is a stalwart republican. In all life's relations, whether as a business man. eitizen or in social affairs, he is progressive and believes that the individual should continually advance through the recognition and improve- ment of the opportunities which come to all. He well deserves classification with the foremost leading citizens of his community.
THOMAS T. WALKER.
Thomas T. Walker, who is successfully engaged in farming and stock- raising in Grant township. was born in Pennsylvania in September. 1860. his parents being James S. and Hannah (Randebough) Walker, who were also natives of the Keystone state bui are now deceased. The father took up his abode in Pendleton, Indiana, where he followed his trade of shoemaking until he passed away at the age of ninety-three years. His political allegiance was given to the men and measures of the democracy. The record of his children, in addition to Thomas T. of this review, is as follows: John, who is a shoe- maker residing in Indiana; James, who follows farming in Pennsylvania; Charles, a laborer, who makes his home in Indiana; and Elizabeth, the wife of J. Kinneman.
Thomas T. Walker attended school until twelve years of age and then worked for others until he had attained the age of twenty-four years. At that time he was married and returned to the home farm, which remained his place of residence for five years. The year 1902 witnessed his arrival in Buena Vista county and he has since been engaged in the operation of a fine farm of six hundred and forty acres in Grant township, which annually yichls golden harvests as a return for the care and labor which he bestows upon it.
Mr. Walker was joined in wedlock to Miss Elizabeth Harris, a native of Indiana, whose parents are deceased. Ento this union have been born the
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following children, namely: Bertie, Earl and Roy, all of whom are at home. They are also rearing an adopted child, Mae.
Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Walker has given his political allegiance to the democracy, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. A man of genial nature and cordial disposition, he has gained the friendship and esteem of those with whom he has been associated and is well known as a prosperous and enterprising agriculturist of his community.
HON. DE WITT C. MILLER.
A life of varied activity and large usefulness is that of the Hon. De Witt C. Miller, now president of the Miller & Chaney Bank of Newell. He has con- ducted extensive and important interests in Buena Vista connty, not only in financial lines but also as a stoek-raiser and has aided in shaping and molding public opinion concerning political questions. An earnest worker in the ranks of the republican party. he has been honored by its followers with election as representative to the general assembly. He was born in Livingston county, New York, November 27. 1828, and has therefore passed the eightieth milestone on life's journey. While he has now largely put aside the onerons cares of a business career, he yet manifests a keen interest in the affairs of life and in spirit seems yet in his prime. His parents were Allen and Hannah (Tripp) Miller, natives of Massachusetts and Poughkeepsie, New York, respectively. The progenitor of the Miller family in this eonntry was William . Miller, who was of Scotch birth and established his home in Norwich, Conneeti- ent, becoming one of the founders of the town. The paternal grandfather, Jonathan Miller, was a native of Massachusetts and a minister of the Methodist Protestant church. Ile also followed the occupation of farming and when the comutry became involved in the second war with England he served as a soldier in the American army. He married a Miss Chase and both died when well advanced in years, rearing a large Family. The maternal grandfather, Charles Tripp, was a native of Dutchess county, New York, and made farming his life work. He had a family of cleven children, Mrs. Hannah Miller being the youngest.
In the place of his nativity Allen Miller was largely reared and throughout his business life he carried on farming and stock-raising. He reared his family principally in Livingston county, New York. but in the spring of 1848 removed westward to Rockford, Illinois, where he continued to till the soil and raise stock. There his remaining days were passed, his death occurring when he had reached the advanced age of seventy-nine years and six months. He was a public-spirited man in his community and his fellow townsmen recog- nizing his worth and ability, called him to various official positions. His wife died in 1877, when more than eighty-nine years of age. Both were Methodists in religious faith and enjoyed in the fullest extent the confidence and esteem of those with whom they came in contact. Their family consisted of the
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following children: Ezra L., deceased; Melvina, who has also passed away ; Benjamin, who died at the age of fourteen years; Ruth. Jonathan and Sarah. who have all departed this life; George, a resident of Newell; Amelia, the wife of John MeFarland, of Newell township; and De Witt C., of this review.
De Witt C. Miller was reared in Livingston county, New York, upon the old home farm and through the summer months was busily engaged with the work of the fields, while in the winter seasons he attended the district schools. On attaining his majority he began farming and stock-raising in connection with his father and remained with his parents until they departed this life. Following his father's death he continued the business alone and met with gratifying sneeess in his labors as an agrieulturist. He was twenty years of age at the time of the removal of the family to Rockford, Illinois, and there he made his home until 1879, when he purchased land in Buena Vista county, Iowa, and the following year removed his family to this state. Here he invested in. nine hundred and sixty acres in Fairfield township. forty acres south of Storm Lake and four hundred and forty acres in Newell township. Ile improved nearly all of the land and in connection with his extensive farming operations he was largely engaged in stock-raising, devoting much of his attention to cattle. However. he brought eleven hundred head of sheep into the county at the time of his removal and for many years was regarded as one of the foremost representatives of agricultural and stock-raising interests in north- western Iowa. Ilis landed possessions are still extensive and his farms are good income bearing property. In 1892 he removed to Newell, where he has since made his home. In 1888 he purchased an interest in the bank of L. H. Gordon, whose holdings he later bought and then admitted George Chaney to a partnership, while eventually another son-in-law, Frank Redfield. became connected with the firm, the former being now cashier and the latter assistant cashier. The business of the bank is capably conducted along safe, substantial lines and the institution is regarded as one of the strongest financial concerns of the county. Mr. Miller still retains the presidency although he leaves the active management of the bank to his partners.
On the 15th of May, 1853, Mr. Miller was married to Miss Agnes Lawson, a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Thomas) Lawson, both of whom were natives of Scotland and on coming to America in 1834 settled in Buffalo, Now York, where they lived for several years, removing thence to southern Ohio. In 1858 they took up their abode at New Milford, near Rockford, Illinois, where their remaining days were passed. Their family numbered six children. Agnes, John, Eliza. Agatha, Thomas and George. Of this number Mrs. Miller was born in Edinburg, Scotland, June 3, 1831. and was therefore but three years of age when brought to the United States, her useful career terminating when death's summons eame October 10, 1908. She gave her hand in marriage to Mr. Miller in 1853 and they became the parents of six children: Caroline. who is the deceased wife of Charles Ellingwood, by whom she had eight children. Berniee, Annabel, Herbert. Marvin. Fannie. Grace, De Witt and Agnes; Belle, the wife of James T. Norton, by whom she has seven children. Fannie. De Witt. Ernest, Ruth, Edgar. Caroline and Marion: Jessie. the wife of II. J. Eaton, by whom she has six children. John, Robert. Marjorie. Charles.
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Ruth and Helen; Nellie, the wife of George Chaney, by whom she has six children, Agnes, Osborn. Carrolton, Gerald, Jessie and Caroline; Susie, the wife of Porter Baldwin, by whom she has four children. Paul, Allen, Norton and Loyd; and Mary, the wife of Frank Redfield, by whom she has four children, Frances. Eldora. Miller and an infant son. The family is unusually large and it is remarkable that during the fifty-five years of Mr. Miller's wedded life, out of six children and thirty-five grandchildren, his daughter Caroline was the only one claimed by death. until his companion of many happy years recently sueenmbed to the inevitable.
Mr. Miller is a member and a trustee of the Congregational church, to which his wife also belonged. To the support of the church he has been a generous contributor and in its work has taken an active and helpful part. Politically he is an earnest republican. Hle cast his first presidential vote for President Pierce and in 1856 supported Fremont, the first republican presidential candidate. Since that time he has never failed to vote for the standard bearer of the party. Ile has held various township offices, was mayor of Newell for one term and for two terms represented his district in the state legislature, where he was connected with much important committee work and with various construetive measures. That he received the endorse- ment of his constituents was indicated in the fact of his reelection. He is a trustee of Buena Vista College and has always been interested in educational work. Whatever tends to promote public progress along the line of sub- stantial improvement has received his endorsement and support and Buena Vista regards him as a citizen who has been a worthy conservator of her interests, his labors in various directions constituting factors in her growth and progress.
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