USA > Iowa > Buena Vista County > Past and present of Buena Vista County, Iowa > Part 62
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NELSON SUCKOW.
Nelson Suckow, who follows farming on the old homestead property in Lee township, Buena Vista county, is a worthy representative of one of the old and prominent pioneer families of this section of the state. He is a native of Decorah, Iowa, born July 7, 1854, a son of Lars J. and Sagried (Boe) Suckow, both of whom were natives of Norway. In 1844 they emigrated with their family to America, the trip across the Atlantic requiring ten weeks. banding at Quebec, Canada, they journeyed by lake to Muskego, Wisconsin, where they spent two years. On the expiration of that period they continued their journey to Winnebago county, Illinois, where they remained six years. With a wagon and team of oxen they then journeyed to Decorah, Iowa, where the father engaged in farming for twelve years and, being a shoemaker by trade. he also did shoemaking in connection with his farming operations.
In 1864 Buena Vista county was being opened up for settlement and in May of that year Mr. Suckow, with a colony of people, made the journey from Decorah to this section. He had two yoke of oxen and in all there were twenty-four teams, and they also brought sheep, cattle and goats. This part
MR. AND MRS. LARS J. SUCKOW
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of the country was entirely wild and unimproved, roads had not yet been laid out and streams and rivers were unbridged. It was a long and hazardous journey but these sturdy pioneers possessed the fortitude and courage that enabled them to press onward into the interior of the country. They traveled through Fort Dodge and, coming to the Des Moines river, found that there was no bridge on which to cross. They journeyed down the river until they found a suitable place to ford the stream. They journeyed on From Twin Lakes to Sac City, which at that time contained but one store and a postoffice. From there they made their way to the present site of Storm Lake, which at that time was not laid out. After remaining in camp for two days they jour- neyed north and Mr. Suckow. being acquainted with Torkel Torkelson, managed to find his place and by him was directed to the land on which Mr. Suckow settled. The 20th of June, 1864, witnessed his arrival here. He then had to go to Sioux City to file his claim on a homestead and the trip required about a week, it being the 4th of .Inly that he returned home, proud that he had in his possession a deed to one hundred and sixty acres of land. The next problem that confronted him was the improvement of the land. Ile at once built a log cabin, twelve by fourteen feet in dimensions, with a sod roof and no floor, for the nearest point that lumber could be secured was at Fort Dodge, seventy-five miles distant. The first year Mr. Suckow cleared but six acres and the following year he cleared a similar amount, which was planted to the products that were needed only for their own living. for there was no market within reach of them and thus it was necessary to raise all the supplies needed by the family. It was about this time, in 1866, that the grasshoppers appeared and for three years most all the erops were destroyed. The govern- ment then gave out wheat for seed to all who would apply and wonkl appropriate the erops to their own nse. In this way Mr. Suekow managed to provide for his family, consisting of nine children. The winter of 1869 was a severe one, the snow was so deep that it was impossible to get to market and the only man who had any corn was Mr. Brook, who lived in Brook township, thirteen miles distant, and Mr. Snckow made a trip, requiring three days. to his place and seeured corn from which to make bread. As time passed the country became more thickly settled, towns and villages sprung up, railroads were built, and they were brought in eloser connection with the outside world.
The father, as above stated, was a shoemaker by trade and he eventually left the eare of the farm to his sons, while he built a shop in Sioux Rapids and worked at his trade there. He became a prominent factor in the npbuilding and development of this section of the state and his labors were of direct benefit to Lee township. He became active in public affairs and for eight years served as county supervisor. He was also prominent in the moral development of his community. being a devoted member of the Lutheran church, in the faith of which he passed away Inly 4. 1896, lacking but a few days of being seventy-nine years of age. Thus ended a long. useful and hon- orable career of one of the best known pioneers of Buena Vista county. The mother survived for about ten years and died May 24, 1906, having reached the advanced age of eighty-five years. Both lie buried in the Sioux Valley cemetery.
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Their family numbered fourteen children but only five of the number now survive. The record is as follows: Christena died in Sionx Rapids in 1892. Fred and Christopher are twins, the former living in Millelacs county, Minne- sota. Christopher enlisted in 1866 as a member of the regular army and for some time was stationed at Macon, Georgia. After his discharge it was learned that he started for the north and later it is supposed that he started for South Africa, but nothing has ever been heard from him since that time. Carl died in infancy. Ellen became the wife of Theodore Steen, an old sol- dier. He was mail agent on the Union Pacific Railroad from Omaha to Ogden. His death occurred in Omaha in 1880, while his wife died August 13. 1881. They had two children. Lewis Steen is an electrician, residing in California. Effie Steen is the wife of J. C. Kittleson. employed in the Columbia National Bank of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Edward died in infancy. Ludwig, now residing in Rapid City, South Dakota, wedded Julia Johnson, of Fort Dodge, Iowa, and has a family of six children. Bernard is the next member of the family. Nelson, the next in order of birth, is the subject of this review. Norris, who was born near Decorah, in Winneshiek county, still survives. Surene died in infancy. Theodore died at Spirit Lake, this state, in 1884. while out with a surveying party. Edward, who was born in Winneshiek county, Iowa, was lost in a snow storm on the mountains near New Castle, Colorado, in 1902. Rudolph went to the Black Ilills at the age of twenty-two years, and contracted an illness, after which he returned to Sionx Rapids and died in 1888.
Nelson Suckow spent the period of his boyhood and youth amid pioneer surroundings and shared with the other members of the household in the hardships and privations which had to be met when they first located in Buena Vista county, for he was a little lad of ten years at the time of the removal of the family from Decorah to this county. From the time he was able to handle a plow he assisted his father in the work of the fields and remained under the parental roof until he had reached the age of twenty-two years. At that age he went to South Dakota and located a homestead in Beadle county, while in 1880, in company with Robert Ingersoll and John King. he established the first printing office in Huron, that state, and erected the first building in the town. Mr. Suckow speculated in land and also did surveying, while his partners conducted the work in connection with the newspaper. He also took an active part in the building and development of Mitchell, South Dakota, which is today one of the thriving eities of the north. In the fall of 1881 he located a homestead within a half mile of Redfield and in partnership with Rufus Hadley conducted a land office at that place. In February, 1885, he disposed of his holdings in Redfield and removed to Fair- banks, where he engaged in the real estate business, but a year later the town, after having a boom, suffered a collapse and Mr. Suckow then abandoned the place and made his way to Rapid City, where he carried on a similar enter- prise. He spent several years thereafter in the north in various cities and at one time conducted a hotel in Ortonville, Minnesota, but eventually, on account of the advanced age of his parents, he returned to Buena Vista county and has sinee operated the old homestead property in Lee township, being
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numbered today among the substantial agriculturists of this part of Buena Vista county.
Mr. Suekow was married April 10. 1885. in Fairbanks, South Dakota, to Miss Lena Olson, a daughter of Ole and Martha (Veride) Olson, natives of Norway. whence the family emigrated to the new world and settled in Buena Vista county in 1877. The father died in Norway, in 1883, while the mother passed away in Bristol, South Dakota, in 1895. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Suekow has been blessed with one daughter, Laura, who on the 1st of January, 1907, was married to D. C. Haase, and they are now on the home farm with her father. About three years ago they adopted a son, Ludwig A. D. Suekow, who is now five years of age.
Mr. Snekow is a stanch republican in his political views and for sixteen years filled the office of justice of the peace, while for two years he was treas- urer of the township and is now serving as school director. He and his family are members of the Lutheran church. No pioneer of. Buena Vista county is more familiar with its early history than is Mr. Suckow. Although he spent some years in the north the period of his boyhood and youth were passed here. and he is familiar with the hardships which confronted the family in the days of the county's early history and he today rejoiees in the progress that has been made during the intervening years as this section of the state has been placed upon a par with the older sections of the state. Ile is highly esteemed in his community and it is therefore with pleasure that we present the record of his life to our readers.
WILLIAM HANS OLSON.
William Hans Olson carries on general agricultural pursuits on a well improved tract sitnated in Grant township. Buena Vista county. He was born in Buchanan county, Iowa. December 31. 1881. a son of Rev. Fred and Hannah (Jacobson) Olson, both of whom were natives of Denmark. The father was a soldier in the Danish army and also served two years in the German army, during which time he received a gunshot wound in the head. He accompanied a party of emigrants to America, believing that he might better provide for his family in the new world. Finding employment here, ho returned to the old country for his family and upon once more reaching American shores made a permanent location in Blackhawk county, Iowa. For a time he followed the carpenter's trade and also engaged in farming. In 1902 he came to Buena Vista county and purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land, which he later sold and invested his money in one hundred and sixty aeres in Grant township. The father spent his later years as a traveling missionary for the Baptist church and his work in this connection was of far- reaching benefit and influence. Crowned with honors and years, he was called to his final rest January 14, 1908, when he had reached the age of seventy years. His widow still survives and makes her home on the farm in Grant township. The family of Rev. and Mrs. Fred Olson numbers six children, as follows :
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Lena, the wife of Andrew Jeansen; Minnie, the wife of Valentine Nelson ; Mary, the wife of Charles Hansen : Charley F .. who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume; William H .. of this review ; and Walter, who follows farming in Grant township.
William H. Olson pursued his studies for four years in the schools of Cedar Falls. lowa, and after the removal of the family to Buena Vista county he continued his studies in the schools of this section. After completing his studies he gave his father the benefit of his services on the home farm until he reached the age of twenty-one years. when he started out to face the re- sponsibilities of life on his own account. HIe first went to Council Bluffs and for a time was employed in an implement house there. Not finding city life congenial. however, Mr. Olson then resumed farming pursuits in Grant town- ship and has since been thus engaged. his labors resulting in a gratifying measure of success. In addition to general farming he raises stock to some extent, keeping high grade shorthorn cattle.
Mr. Olson established a home of his own by his marriage on the 31st of December, 1901, the lady of his choice being Miss Carrie Nelson. She was born in De Kalb County, Illinois, JJuly 11, 1882, and was married at Storm Lake, fowa. Her parents now make their home in Coon township. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Olson has been blessed with a little daughter. Helen Ruth, born August 8, 1905.
Mr. Olson gives his political support to the republican party but has never been active in public life. He and his estimable wife are highly es- teemed by their neighbors and friends and all who enter the door of their own pleasant home find there a warm welcome.
CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN.
Christian Eriksen, who has long been actively and busily engaged in general agricultural pursuits, came to the United States as a young man with- out eapital but through the utilization of the opportunities that have come to him, he has accumulated a valuable farming property, embracing three hun- dred and twelve acres, from which he derives a good annual income. Mr. Eriksen was born in Denmark, May 6. 1851, and was reared and educated in his native country. In 1872, when he had attained his majority, he decided to try his fortune in the new world and accordingly set sail for the United States. Ile first located in Chicago, Illinois, where he worked at any labor that would yield him an honest living. During this time he managed to save a small sum of money and in 1876 continued his journey to Buena Vista county, lowa, where in 1879 he purchased forty acres of wild land, which in course of time he improved and placed under a high state of cultivation. In 1881 he added to his original purchase forty acres more and from time to time extended its boundaries until he now owns altogether three hundred and twelve acres situated in Nokomis township. He has built a good house, barn and outbuild- ings for the shelter of grain and stock, has tiled and fenced the land, set out
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fruit trees and altogether has made it a valable farm property. Since the time of his arrival in Buena Vista county in 1876 he has been engaged in tilling the soil and has now accumulated a competency, which has enabled him to put aside business cares and he has removed to Alta, having in 1905 purchased a residence here, which has been remodeled to suit the convenience of Mr. Eriksen and wife. No man is more deserving of success than is he, for no one has labored more earnestly and energetically to gain a foothold in the bus- ines world.
Mr. Eriksen chose as a companion and helpmate for the journey of life Miss Jensine P. Peterson, whom he wedded in 1878. She is likewise a native of Denmark and is the eldest of a family of six children, four sons and two daughters. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Eriksen has been blessed with six children : Erick S .: Rena E., the wife of Frank Wilson, who is engaged in farming in South Dakota; Rane; George; Christian, Jr .; and Mary, a young lady at home.
Mr. Eriksen gives his political support to the republican party and for twelve years served as school director, while at the present writing he is acting as road supervisor. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran church. Ile eame to this country a poor man but through the enterprise, industry and fru- gality so characteristic of his race, he has worked his way upward until he is numbered among the substantial citizens of Buena Vista county.
MARSHALL P. TYPPER.
The industrial interests of Sioux Rapids finds a worthy representative in Marshall P. Typper who is engaged in the manufacture of brick and tile. Carefully noting every opportunity that has come to him. he has worked his way steadily upward and is today in control of a profitable and growing con- cern which constitutes a feature in the business upbuilding of Buena Vista county. A native of Illinois, he was born in Warren, JJo Daviess county. on the 21st of October, 1864, his parents being Thomas Campbell and Mary (Potter) Typper, both of whom are natives of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. In the year 1861 they arrived in Jo Daviess county, Illinois, where they now reside. The family is of Welsh deseent although represented in this country for many generations.
Marshall P. Typper was the third in order of birth in a family of four children and was educated in the common schools, while in the periods of vaeation he assisted in the farm work until twenty-one years of age. I. then started in business on his own account, taking up general agricultural pursuits in Franklin county. lowa. He was not very successful during the first few years of his farm adventure, owing to the fact that the land was low and wet, but finally through the advice of a friend who was engaged in the manufacture of tile he commenced draining his land through that process and from that time forward he met with gratifying prosperity in his work in til-
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ling the ground. In a few years his fields brought forth rich produce and his well directed labors were therefore crowned with merited success.
In 1905 Mr. Typper sold his farm in Franklin county and turned his at- tention to the manufacture of brick and tile. He has a large and well equipped plant and though the output is quite extensive, it is hardly sufficient to supply the demand of the trade. The product is of excellent quality, and his straightforward business methods and reasonable prices also constitute features in the success of his enterprise.
Mr. Typper was married November 25, 1894, to Miss Lizzie Evans, a daughter of Henry and Mrs. (Gordon) Evans who were natives of Wales. Leaving that little rock-ribbed country they came to the new world and set- tled in Jo Daviess county, Illinois, at an early period in its development. Mr. and Mrs. Typper have become parents of a son and daughter, Claude Henry and Ahna. Mr. Typper votes with the republican party, for he believes that its principle are most conducive to good government. Ilis social nature finds expression in his membership in Sioux Rapids Lodge No. 574 1. O. O. F.
His friends are many and the number is continually increasing, owing to his genial disposition, his unfailing courtesy and deference for the opinions of others. He is a man of broad mind, progressive in his citizenship and liberal in his ideas, who enjoys the full respect of his business colleagues as well as social acquaintances and his life record has at all times been one that would bear close inspection and serutiny.
FREDERICK E. SUTTON.
After a long, active and useful life identified with the agricultural interests of Buena Vista county. Frederick E. Sutton is practically living retired in Sioux City, where he owns a niee residence property, but he still gives super- vision to his extensive landed interests. Mr. Sutton was born in Oxford, New Haven county, Connecticut, June 10, 1844, a son of Edward J. and Lucretia A. (Morris) Sutton, the former a native of Chittenden county, Ver- mont, and a son of James Sutton, of English ancestry. Mrs. Sutton was born in Connecticut and by her marriage became the mother of three sons: E. M., who was married and spent his entire life in the east, passing away in 1907; E. E., of this review ; and C. J., a resident of Chittenden county.
Frederick E. Sutton was quite young when the family removed from his native state to Vermont and there he was reared and educated, being given good school advantages. He remained on the home farm during the period of his boyhood and youth and farmed in Chittenden county for several years. In 1872, however, believing that the new and rapidly developing west offered greater opportunities than the east, Mr. Sutton removed to Buena Vista county, lowa, and purchased eighty acres of land on section 13, Maple Valley township, on which stood a small house but it was otherwise nnimproved. He broke the land with an ox team and in due course of time had the soil in a fine state of cultivation. so that he harvested plentiful crops each year as a reward for his
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care and labor. He later remodeled his pioneer home and eventually replaced that structure with a modern two-story residence. He also enlarged the boundaries of his farm by adding eighty acres, so that the old home place now embraces one hundred and sixty acres of rich and valuable farm land. More- over he purchased twenty acres of land in Sulphur Springs, which tract is supplied with a good residence. also owning two business houses there, and in that eity he made his home for several years. As his financial resources increased he invested in three hundred and twenty acres of land in Beadle county, South Dakota. which is improved with a fine dwelling and substantiat
ontbuildings. For a long period Mr. Sutton was actively engaged in general agricultural pursuits but for the past few years has made his home in Sioux City. Iowa, merely looking after his invested interests. for the competency that he has acquired now enables him to rest from his former toil.
Mr. Sutton was married in 1864 to Miss Etta Smith, who was born and reared in Vermont. After a happy married life. covering a quarter of a century Mr. and Mrs. Sutton were separated by the death of the latter in 1889. Mr. Sutton formerly gave his political support to the democratic party but is now a republican, casting his last presidential votes for Presidents MeKinley and Roosevelt. His activity in business has not only contributed to his individual success but has also been a prominent factor in the development of Buena Vista county, where he so long made his home and although he now resides in Sioux City, where much of his interest centers, he still maintains a deep concern in the seetion of the state which he saw grow and develop from a wild region into a rich agricultural district and his labor was an important means in bringing this about.
ENOCHI ERICKSON.
The rapid development of the rich agricultural resources of Buena Vista county is due to the persevering efforts of men of brain and enterprise who bring to their calling excellent judgment and superior business methods. The tremendous strides in agriculture during the past few years have developed methods of farming which were almost totally unknown a third of a century ago. Having learned all that his father is able to teach him. the young farmer of today, whose ambitions are equal to his possibilities, sees before him an ever widening vista of opportunity resulting from invention and experi- ment. and though he has acquainted himself with the chemistry of soils. the value of lands, the rotation of crops and the economy of time, he knows that work is being continually carried forward at the experimental stations of the country and recognizes that there are short ents to results still undiscovered and more practical and profitable methods that will further eliminate the former drudgery of the farm and give the agriculturist the leisure which was formerly thought to be enjoyed only by the more substantial classes in the city. Standing as a representative of all that is progressive in agriculture.
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Enoch Erickson is one of the busy and enterprising men of Buena Vista county and is accomplishing excellent results in his chosen life work.
Mr. Erickson was born in Mahaska county, Iowa, April 26, 1872, and is a son of Thomas and Abbie (Johnson) Erickson, the former a native of Norway and the latter of Ohio. Extended mention of his parents is made elsewhere in this volume. The son was reared in his native county, early becoming familiar with the duties and tasks that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He was twenty-one years of age when he started ont in life for himself and was the first one of the family to leave the old home. He came direct to Buena Vista county, where he has since engaged in farming. For several years he cultivated a half section of land in Poland township, which he still owns, but for the past three years he has rented his farm as his health will not permit his farming.
On the 6th of November. 1895, Mr. Erickson was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Howe, a daughter of John Howe, and unto them have been born two children: Thomas Russell, who was born December 30, 1901; and Letha Ree, born April 2, 1905. The parents are members of the Methodist church and are highly esteemed throughout the community, where they have an extended circle of warm friends. In all of his business dealings Mr. Eriekson is known to be upright and fair, never taking advantage of another in any transaction and is highly esteemed by friends and neighbors, while by all he is regarded as one of the wide-awake, progressive men of the county.
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