USA > Iowa > Calhoun County > Past and present of Calhoun County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress, and achievement, Volume II > Part 25
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OLIVER T. CRAVEN.
From the period of boyhood down to the present Oliver T. Craven has lived in Calhoun county and has long been identified with its agri- cultural interests, his time being now employed in the cultivation of a farm on section 9. Cedar township. He was born in Black Hawk county, lowa. February 9, 1874, a son of Albert and Mary ( Ed- monds) Craven. The father was born in New York but came to lowa in the late '50s and took up his abode in Black Hawk county, near Waterloo. He met pioneer conditions there, little of the land having been brought under cultivation, while all kinds of wild game was to be had in abundance. Waterloo was but a village and the most far-
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sighted could searcely have dreamed of the changes which were to be wrought. After a number of years eomieetion with farming inter- ests in Black Hawk county, Albert Craven put aside business cares to aid his country in the struggle to preserve the Union, enlisting in 1862 as a member of the Ninety-seeond Illinois Infantry, with which he served for three years. He did very arduous and ofttimes dan- gerous duty as a scout and was in active service throughout the entire time. In an engagement he was wounded in the right leg. He had been working in Illinois at the time of the outbreak of the war and after its elose he returned to lowa. In 1882 he purchased land in Cedar township which was a traet of raw prairie, on which he set out trees and made many substantial improvements in keeping with a model farm. He became the owner of three hundred and sixty acres, on which he raised excellent crops, for his methods were at once prac- tieal and progressive. Not only did he win a gratifying measure of suecess in the eonduet of his farming interests but was again and again called to publie office and proved a representative citizen of his eon- munity. For many years he served as township treasurer and was also trustee for an extended period, filling that position at the time of his death. He was a most earnest and active member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church of Somers and assisted in building the house of worship there. He also beeame one of the charter members and organizers of the Muddy Methodist Episcopal church and he did everything in his power to advanee the cause of Christianity and pro- mote the moral development of the community in which he lived, his life constituting a potent influence for good in his part of the county. At the time of his death, which oeeurred Mareh 28, 1915, when he was seventy-one years of age, he was living retired upon his farm. He belonged to the Grand Army of the Republic at Lohrville and thus maintained pleasant relations with the boys in blue with whom he had been associated at the front. His wife died in 1910, at the age of sixty-five years.
Oliver T. Craven is the second in a family of six children, all of whom are yet living in Calhoun county. ITis early education was acquired in the distriet sehools of Black Hawk county and he con- tinued his studies in the sehools of Calhoun county following the removal of the family. His early business training was that of the farm and he entered upon aetive farm work on his own account on attaining his majority. In addition to tilling the soil he raises stoek and he has a well equipped place, provided with every facility to inerease the produetiveness of the farm and make both branches of his business a paying proposition.
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In 1897 Mr. Craven was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Rush- ton, a native of Nova Scotia and a daughter of Robert and Mary Rushton, who were also born in that province. They came to Iowa from Halifax, Nova Seotia, in 1882 and for many years the father was actively engaged in agricultural pursuits in this eounty. Since 1905, however, he has lived on a farm in Kossuth county. To Mr. and Mrs. Craven have been born six children, namely: James, Cleo, Belle, Rena, Ben and Mardick.
In his political views Mr. Craven is a republican but has never been an office seeker. . Ile belongs to the Odd Fellows society at Somers and has filled all of the offices in the subordinate lodge and the encampment, while in the canton he is now lieutenant. He has a wide acquaintance in the county where he has long resided and he has gained the favorable regard not only of his associates in the Odd Fellows society but also of those with whom he has had social and business relations.
JOHN HENRY HOLTORF.
John Henry Holtorf, residing on section 8, Butler township, owns three hundred and twenty aeres of excellent land, and is recognized as an efficient and successful agrieulturist. He was born in that town- ship on the 20th of February, 1872, of the marriage of Carsten C. and Margaret (Spies) Holtorf. His parents, who were natives of Sehleswig-Holstein, Germany, were married in that country and con- tinned to reside there until 1869, in which year they emigrated to the United States and made their way to Calhoun county, Iowa. The father's brother. Claus Holtorf, and a brother-in-law, George Spies, had located in Benton county, lowa. Carsten C. Holtorf took up his residence on a farm on section 10, Butler township, which he home- steaded, and at onee erected a sod house and began improving his place, which was in a wild state. He had some money and purchased a team with which he broke his land and as soon as possible he replaced the sod house with a log cabin. When the family first settled in this county there were only three sod honses in sight of their home, and conditions of life were those of the frontier. It was necessary to go to Fort Dodge for provisions, and as there were no bridges the streams had to be forded. About 1882 Mr. Holtorf sold his homestead, but was still the owner of an eighty acre farm in Butler township, known as the Van Vorhees plaee. He also owned the Page homestead of
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eighty aeres in the same township, and subsequently bought the Brownell farm, now owned by his son John, and also an additional eighty acres purchased from Mr. Brownell. Besides this property he at one time owned the Patterson farm of one hundred and sixty aeres. At length, feeling that he had acquired enough of this world's goods, he retired from aetive life and removed to Pomeroy, where he passed away two years later on the 6th of November, 1905. He was one of the eleven charter members of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran church of Pomeroy and helped to build the parochial sehool. He was very publie-spirited and took a great interest in various movements for the general good, including the improvement of roads. His wife is still living and makes her home in Pomeroy.
To them were born ten children, namely: Henry, who died in early manhood; Barthold, who died when about twenty-three years old; Daisy A., the wife of O. Becker, of Butler township; Anna, the widow of J. H. Wells, of that township; John Henry; William, who died in infaney: Frederick, a farmer of Butler township: Alma E., who is the wife of Charles Mohr, of Butler township; August, who is farming in that township; and Carsten M., a resident of South Dakota.
John Henry Holtorf passed the days of his boyhood and youth under the parental roof and received his edneation in the public schools and in a German parochial school. He remained at home, assisting his father with the farm work, until he was twenty-five years of age, when his marriage oeeurred. He then removed to his present home place on seetion 8, Butler township, on which he has made many improvements in the intervening years. His total holdings comprise three hundred and twenty acres of fertile land which is well tiled, and which is worth about two hundred dollars per acre. He carries on general farming, and his progressiveness and his long experience in his chosen oceupation make him one of the most efficient agrienlturists of his loeality.
On March 24, 1897, Mr. Holtorf married Miss Dora Knoke, who was born in Butler township, and is a daughter of William Knoke, a pioneer of Calhoun county. To Mr. and Mrs. Holtorf were born eight children, of whom three died in infaney, the others being: John HI., Jr., Gustave A. W., Christina M., Marie and Dorothy, all at home.
Mr. Holtorf is a democrat and works loyally for the suceess of his party, but he has never desired public offiee. However, he has served as school director and in that capacity sought to advanee the interests of the local schools. Both he and his wife hold membership in St.
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John's Evangelical Lutheran church at Pomeroy, and their influence is invariably east on the side of righteousness and justice. He pos- sesses the qualities of enterprise and sound judgment, and his well directed labors have enabled him to gain financial independence, while his personality has won him the friendship of many.
IRVIN S. JENKINS.
Irvin S. Jenkins is a prominent factor in financial circles of Cal- houn county as president of the Lohrville Savings Bank, which he organized in association with a brother in 1904. His birth occurred in Mount Carmel, Indiana, on the 4th of October, 1876, his parents being E. W. and India (Seal) Jenkins. The father was born in Massa- chusetts and was a lineal descendant of the John Howldon family, who came to this country in the Mayflower. Throughout his active career he was engaged in the practice of medicine at Mount Carmel, Indiana, winning well merited success in the pursuit of his profession. During the period of the Civil war he served for three years as a mem- ber of the Sixty-eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, participated in all the priniepal battles of the west and was confined as a prisoner at Andersonville, where he contracted the disease which eventually caused his death. His demise occurred when he had attained the age of fifty years. Mrs. Jenkins, a lady of Scotch descent, came to Iowa following the death of her husband and purchased a farm near Panora, where she reared and educated her children. She is now sixty-nine years of age. Her children are five in number, four sons and one daughter, namely: Phoebe, William E., Freeman HI., Irvin S. and Samuel C.
Following his graduation from the Guthrie high school in 1894, Irvin S. Jenkins attended the College of Law of Drake University at Des Moines. Subsequently he was engaged in the abstract business at West Union, Fayette county, Iowa, and in 1904, in association with his brother. Freeman H. Jenkins, organized the Lohrville Say- ings Bank to take the place of a private bank condueting business under the name of S. G. Crawford & Company, which was established in 1882. The officers of the institution are as follows: Irvin S. Jen- kins, president : Abraham Cain, vice president : Charles Allen, cashier : and J. E. Barr and Irvin S. Jenkins, directors. The business of the bank has steadily increased and it has reached extensive proportions at the present time. Mr. JJenkins is also identified with agricultural
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interests, operating two farms embraeing eight hundred and eighty acres in the immediate neighborhood of Lohrville and making a spe- cialty of the raising of shorthorn cattle, his undertaking's in this con- nection being attended with excellent results.
On the 10th of February, 1895, Mr. Jenkins was united in mar- riage to Miss Esta Harvuot, a daughter of Lewis and. Nettie (Sehamp) HIarvuot. The father, engaged in the real-estate business, is a very old settler of Guthrie county, Iowa. Our subject and his wife have two children, namely: Myron, who was born April 5, 1899; and Clair, whose birth occurred on the 30th of January, 1902.
Mr. Jenkins gives his political allegiance to the republican party and made an excellent record as a member of the city council for six years, while for nine years he acted as president of the school board. He is now at the head of the Commercial Club, and in this connection is doing much to further the growth of his eity along material lines. Hle is a worthy exemplar of the Masonie fraternity, belonging to Nekoda Lodge, No. 397, F. & A. M., and he is likewise identified with the Knights of Pythias. Ilis religious faith is that of the Chris- tian church, the serviees of which he attends. He is a man of sterling character and has always merited and received the confidenee and respeet of all with whom business, official or social relations have brought him into contact.
VIRGIL N. NOEL.
Virgil N. Noel is a lumber merchant at Lohrville and the diligenee and industry which he displays in managing his commercial interests constitute the chief features in his growing suceess. He was born in Dallas county, Iowa, March 21, 1859, and is a son of George W. and Duleina (Thornton) Noel, both of whom were natives of Kentucky. The father was a lawyer and also engaged in merchandising. He lived in Kentucky until 1850, when he came to Iowa, settling in Dallas as one of its pioneer residents. He assisted in establishing the town of Redfield and was otherwise connected with the substantial develop- ment of the state. He continued in the practice of law and also turned his attention to merchandising, but in 1862 he put aside all business and personal considerations and responded to the country's call for aid, enlisting in Company G, of the Thirty-ninth lowa Infantry, of which he became commissary sergeant. He was captured at Corinth while participating in a skirmish with the guerrillas, eight of the Federal
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forces being taken prisoners by Mosby's men and later killed near Burnsville, Mississippi. Mrs. George Noel was living near Redfield at the time of her husband's death. Both were consistent and faithful members of the Methodist church, and Mr. Noel had been very active in public affairs of the community.
Virgil N. Noel is the tenth in order of birth in a family of twelve children, several of whom died in infancy. He has but one brother now living. Our subject attended the district schools of Dallas county, Iowa, and began earning his own living at the age of fifteen years as a farm hand. He was thus employed at farm labor until 1880, and has since been engaged in the lumber trade. He had carefully saved his earnings, being ambitious to conduct business on his own account, and for seven years he remained at Redfield, Iowa, but removed in August, 1887, to Rockwell City, sinee which time he has been a resident of Calhoun county. For twenty-seven years he was associated with Fred Strong, conducting a lumber yard under the firm style of Strong & Noel. They had a yard not only at Rockwell City but also at Churdan. Mr. Noel has been at Lohrville for only a short time, here acting as manager for the S. Hansen Lumber Company.
Mr. Noel was united in marriage to Miss Mary Spillers, who was born in Redfield, Iowa, a daughter of Samuel and Anna (Thomas) Spillers, both of whom were natives of Indiana. They removed from that state to Iowa in the early '50s and at the time of the Civil war Mr. Spillers joined the Union army, becoming identified with the boys in blue of Company G, Thiry-ninth Iowa Infantry. He partici- pated in a number of hotly contested engagements, and after the war he returned to Dallas county, where he followed the occupation of farming, devoting many years to the work of tilling the soil. In the latter period of his life he lived retired at Redfield, there passing away in 1913, when he had reached the age of seventy years. His widow still survives him. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Noel are five children. Guy U., who is engaged in the lumber business at Estherville, Iowa, is married and has three children. Martha is the wife of Roy Kuebler of Webster City, and has three children. La Verne is the wife of H. C. Phetteplace, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and they have two children. Nadine and John, who complete the family, are at home.
Mr. Noel has been active in the public affairs of the communities in which he has lived. While a resident of Rockwell City he did mueh to shape publie thought and feeling, and he was a recognized leader in the ranks of the republican party. He was elected to the office of city councilman and was later chosen mayor of the city, which posi-
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tion he acceptably filled for four years, giving to the public a business- like administration, characterized by needed reforms and improve- ments. He was also a worthy and helpful member of the school board and has always been a stalwart champion of the cause of education. Fraternally he is a Mason and was very active in the lodge at Rockwell City. serving as master and in other offices. He is likewise identified with the Mystic Workers and with the Modern Woodmen of America, and is loyal to the teachings and purposes of those different organiza- tions, which are based upon a recognition of the brotherhood of mankind.
ANCIL FINEY BOWMAN.
Ancil Finey Bowman, a representative and successful agriculturist of Calhoun county, is the owner of an excellent farm comprising two hundred and forty acres on section 7, Union township. His birth occurred in Piatt county, Illinois, on the 29th of May. 1852, his parents being William and Sarah ( Ruckman) Bowman. In the acquirement of an education he attended the common schools, and when not busy with his textbooks assisted his father in the operation of the home farm, thus early becoming familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. On attaining his majority he began farming on his own account and cultivated land in Illinois until 1903, when he came to Calhoun county, Iowa. On the 2d of March of that year, he purchased a farm of two hundred and forty acres in Union township, which he has operated continuously and successfully to the present time. The place is divided into fields of convenient size by well kept fenees, all of the land has been tiled and the property is highly improved in every particular. Mr. Bowman raises stock in connection with the cultivation of cereals best adapted to soil and climate, meeting with a gratifying measure of prosperity in both branches of his business.
On the 25th of November, 1875, Mr. Bowman was united in mar- riage to Miss Frances J. McMillan, who was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, June 22, 1855. IIer parents, Clement and Sarah Jane McMillan, both of whom were natives of Virginia, passed away in Illinois. To Mr. and Mrs. Bowman have been born four children, as follows: Bertha E., who is the wife of Frank Steele, of Union town- ship; W. E., also a resident of Union township: Maggie, who gave her hand in marriage to Earl Orr, of Union township: and Grace, at home.
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Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Bowman has supported the men and measures of the republican party, and he has also done able public service in local positions. During the period of his residence in Illinois he aeted as school director for sixteen years and also held the office of township trustee, while in this eounty he has served as trustee of Union township for three terms. His religious faith is that of the Methodist church, and his life has been upright and honorable in all its relations, commanding the regard and esteem of those with whom he has come in contaet.
JOIIN P. CALMER.
John P. Calmer is serving his third term as mayor of Manson, and devotes much time and thought to the business of the municipality. He also looks after his extensive landed interests. A native of Swe- den, he was born October 11, 1842. and is a son of Per Olson and Johanna Anderson, a descendant of the Calmer family. The father, who followed agricultural pursuits, passed away in early manhood, and his wife also died when comparatively young. Both were mem- bers of the Lutheran church.
John P. Calmer was left an orphan when but five years of age, and while a youth worked as a farm hand for a few years. He also learned the blacksmith's trade while living in Sweden, beginning when ten years old, and for two years followed that trade on his own account. After receiving his papers as a meehanie from the Swedish government, he took advantage of the option accorded him and changed his name to Calmer, by which he has since been known. In 1868 he became a resident of Illinois, where he worked for nine months in a shop and then built and conducted a blacksmith shop of his own for several years. In 1875 he eame to Calhoun county. Iowa, where he bought a quarter section of land. Something of his energy and thrift may be gathered from the faet that he purchased the land with money which he himself had earned and saved. In addition to operat- ing his farm he conducted the second blacksmith shop in Manson, and as the years passed his resources increased. While actively engaged in agricultural pursuits he raised many head of stock annually, from the sale of which he derived a substantial addition to his income.
In 1900 Mr. Calmer removed to Manson, where he has since lived. retired from business cares. He still owns six hundred and forty aeres of fine land, however, and personally looks after his financial inter-
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ests. Mr. Calmer was one of the organizers and is still a director of the Calhoun County State Bank, was one of the organizers of the Farmers Elevator Company at Manson and was one of the organizers and first directors of the Calhoun County Fair. His interests and activities have always been of a character that have contributed to the publie welfare as well as to individual success.
In 1869 Mr. Calmer married Miss Christina Nelson, who was born in Sweden in 1847. They have become the parents of eight children: N. Peter, Oscar G. and Albert B., all three operating their father's land: Franz D., who is following agricultural pursuits in Idaho, where he owns three hundred and sixty acres of land that was deeded to him by his father: Josephine, the widow of J. F. Reinhardt, now residing in Naper, Nebraska, where she conduets a hotel; Johanna, the wife of John Van Meter, a resident of South Dakota: Hilda, who gave her hand in marriage to HIans Larsen, a grocer of Nelson, Minnesota: and Ida, who is at home.
Mr. Calmer is a charter member of Morning Light Lodge, No. 384, A. F. & A. M., organized at Manson in 1875, and also a charter member of Manson Chapter, No. 131, R. A. M., with which he is still connected. He is a democrat in politics and has served as town- ship trustee, treasurer and assessor. For a number of years he was a member of the town eouneil of Manson, and he is now serving his third term as mayor of the city, giving to the municipality an excellent administration characterized by efficiency and devotion to the public welfare. He has always taken a deep interest in the public schools and was for years a member of the school board, and during the greater part of that time served as president of the board in Lincoln township. He takes pleasure in the opportunity which leisure affords him to serve his community and gives his thought and energy unre- servedly to promoting the best interests of Manson.
JOHN P. WICKLAND.
John P. Wickland is engaged in general farming on seetion 27. Logan township. He was born in Vermland, Sweden, January 3, 1842, and is a son of Olaf and Mary Eunice Peterson, who were also natives of Sweden. The father owned a small tract of land there and engaged in general farming, but his life's labors were ended in death in 1875. IIe had for a number of years survived his wife, who passed away in 1859.
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John P. Wiekland attended sehool in Sweden, where he remained during the first thirty years of his life. He then determined to try his fortune in America, and in 1872 sailed for the United States. He lived at Lynnville, Illinois, where he worked on a farm until he was able to save from his earnings a sum sufficient to enable him to pur- chase land. He bought land at five dollars per aere in Calhoun county, but continued to reside and work in Illinois until his land was paid for. He took up his abode in Calhoun county in 1879 and has since lived upon the same farm. It was raw prairie, very swampy, when it came mto his possession. The roads were almost impassable, and he had to carry lumber on his back from Morrison because the wagons would become so deeply imbedded in the mud. Under these difficulties and obstacles he managed to build a shanty, around which he put sod the first winter. During that season he made considerable money catching muskrats, the skins of which brought good returns. At that time he had only a few neighbors, Mr. Powell, Mr. Catlin and Mr. Carmichael. living in his part of the county, and the work of improvement and development seemed searcely begun. His first erop was planted in sod eut by an ax, but when the harvest was gathered he could get no eash for what he had raised. Moreover, he had to haul his produce to Jefferson. On his farm he planted trees, which are now large and constitute one of the attractive features of his place, and he also gave many trees to his neighbors. He had to go to Gowrie to attend church -- the Swedish Lutheran-and in taking one of his children there for baptism was nearly drowned in the rain. Mr. Wiekland not only worked earnestly and persistently in developing his own farm, but also took an active part in early day affairs of the township, in build- ing bridges, laying out roads and otherwise aiding in the early develop- ment of the district. To his original property he added until at one time he was the owner of four hundred and eighty acres of good land. He has since disposed of mueh of the property, however, but still retains one hundred and sixty aeres, which he devotes to general farm- ing. His has been an active and useful life, and good results have attended his efforts.
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