USA > Iowa > Fayette County > Past and present of Fayette County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 29
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FAYETTE COUNTY, IOWA.
Amelia Harnard, of Illinois, now dead. He was a Populist in politics, in religion a member of the United Brethren church. He was elected to the offices of justice of the peace, trustee, and filled several minor offices. His children, all by his first wife, were: Lydia, who died at the age of twenty- two; Frank D., of Maynard (see his sketch) ; Charles A., the subject of this sketch; Ed, a farmer in Centre township, this county; Inez, who married R. Savage, died in 1882; Ettie L., wife of Myron Burnside, druggist, of Wau- coma, Iowa ; Henry died young.
Charles A. Talcott received his education in the old log schools of the township. He lived at home until he was twenty years old, and got forty acres of land in Illyria township, there being no improvements. A little later he took up the carpenter's trade, combining it with threshing for sev- eral years. In 1875 he located in Wadena, buying a blacksmith and wagon shop, which he operated for seven years. In July, 1882, he entered the em- ploy of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad as hostler, later ran as fireman on the narrow gauge branch between Reno and Preston, then on a passenger train between West Union and Turkey River until 1891. In 1876 he married Mary Prouty, who was born at Wadena, the daughter of Jefferson and Martha (Dye) Prouty, who had come to Wadena, Iowa, in 1863. Mr. Prouty was a mechanic and miller. He lived with his son-in-law until his death, in 1903, and his wife is still a welcome member of their family.
Mr. and Mrs. Talcott are the parents of five children: Ella, who died aged two; Laura, wife of Arthur G. Hurling, hardware merchant and post- master of Wadena, mother of three children, Lyal, Ona and Arthur; Frank, hardware merchant of Wadena, married Ella Dye and has two children, Ona and Willfred; Fred, with the Glover Overall Manufacturing Company, Dubuque, Iowa; Xante, now at home. After 1892 Mr. Talcott worked the old homestead one season, then bought a hardware store at Wadena, and re- mained in this business until 1905, when he sold it and bought thirty-five acres of the Wadena mill property, which he subsequently sold.
In politics Mr. Talcott is an independent. He has served as mayor of Wadena for five years, now holding that position, and has been a constable and school director. Volga City Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, claims him as one of their charter members, and he is also a member of the Knights of Pythias organization at Wadena. His wife died in September, 1904. His worth and good qualities have, besides winning success for him, gained and kept many warm friends.
996
FAYETTE COUNTY, IOWA.
OSCAR C. COLE.
It requires as much if not more business acumen, foresight, energy and tact to make a successful newspaper as it does to establish any paying business, consequently he who succeeds at this is deserving of high rank among the lead- ing men of his community. Oscar C. Cole, editor and proprietor of the Iowa Postal Card, published at Fayette, has succeeded in making his paper not only a financial success, but a moulder of public opinion in this county, consequent- ly something of his life and work should be mentioned here.
Mr. Cole was born in West Stockholm, St. Lawrence county, New York, June 25, 1840, and is the son of Horace C. Cole, who was of English descent, born in Westmoreland, New Hampshire, in 1802, and he married Melinda Smith, who was born in New York state in 1806. They followed the tide of emigration setting in heavily for the middle west in 1856, and came to Iowa, locating in Fayette, where Mr. Cole followed carpentering, which trade he learned in his youth. He was one of the earliest wood workers in this town and for many years his services were in great demand here. His death occurred in 1864, and his wife died in 1876. . She was of Scotch and Welsh descent.
Oscar C. Cole was reared on a farm in New York, and he was educated in the old-time log school-house. When he was fourteen years old the family came to Whiteside county, Illinois, where Mr. Cole spent his time between the farm and town until July, 1856, in which year he came to Fayette, Iowa, consequently is numbered among the pioneers, becoming, in due course of time, one of the leading citizens of this place. He entered the Fayette Semi- nary when it opened, January 7, 1857, and was a constant student in that insti- tution until the summer term of 1860. He made an excellent record here and enjoys the distinction of delivering the first Latin oration at the first com- mencement exercises of the school.
Mr. Cole entered the office of the Fayette Journal, as "devil," although. having many years previously decided upon a newspaper career, he had been connected with certain publications. He rapidly attained promotions, be- coming, successively, pressman, foreman, and associate editor in 1860. He was with the office of the Mason City Republican in 1861 and the following year was employed on the staff of the Charles City Intelligencer. He re- mained there only a few months, when he became connected with the West Union Public Record. Two years later he edited and published the West Union Record, which he carried on until 1868, when he became interested in
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FAYETTE COUNTY, IOWA.
the publication of the North Iowa Observer. For a year or two subsequent to that time, however, he was half owner and the editor of the Volga Valley Times, with which paper he continued for four and one-half years. Tiring of journalistic labors, he next tried railroading until an accident caused his re- tirement from that vocation. From May, 1878, to July, 1882, he was mail route agent, and his average record from the time he entered upon the duties of that position until his retirement was ninety-nine and nine-tenths per cent.
In October, 1882, Mr. Cole started the Iowa Postal Card, which he is still publishing, and the paper is receiving an excellent patronage, being con- sidered a splendid advertising medium, being well edited and presenting a good mechanical appearance. For several years past, his son, Lyle L., has been associated with his father in the publication of this paper. They have made it a spicy and attractive weekly, which is noted for its independence and the faculty of "calling things by their right names."
Mr. Cole was married in 1867 to Angie Libbey, of Lawrence, Massa- chusetts, who was born in Sanford, Maine, August 5, 1840, and to this union two children were born, a son and a daughter, Lyle L., mentioned above, and Erma Eloise.
E. V. ODEKIRK.
It is well once in awhile to stop and think how absolutely humanity is dependent on the farmer. All of our food must come from the farm; it can come from no other place, for all animal life must live on organic matter, and no chemist has as yet been able to originate life, nor even to combine elements in such a way as to make a food which will sustain life. That is reserved for living plants and animals to do, and we are all dependent for food on the farmer, whose business it is to take care of these plants and ani- mals, to cause them to live and grow until suitable for food purposes.
E. V. Odekirk was born in Wisconsin, December 30, 1856, the son of E. P. and Adelia (Helmer) Odekirk, both natives of New York, who came as pioneer farmers to Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin. E. P. Odekirk was born March 30, 1829, and was married on August 13, 1854. His wife was born October 17, 1838. The following children were born to their union : E. V., the oldest, December 30, 1856; Hattie M., born July 30, 1859; Dora N., July 18, 1868; Mattie L., October 4, 1871 ; Stella Pearl, January 12, 1878. Mr. Odekirk enlisted in Company B, Thirty-first Wisconsin, on Feb- ruary 23, 1864, and served faithfully for two years. In 1868 he came to
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FAYETTE COUNTY, IOWA.
Iowa, locating on the farm which his son now owns. Here he first had eighty acres, then later had forty in another location. He lived on this farm until his death, February 15, 1881. He was a Baptist and a strong Re- publican. He was a man tried and true, one who could be relied upon at any time.
E. V. Odekirk was educated in the early schools. He has always lived on the old farm, has now one hundred and fifty acres, and gives his atten- tion to general stock raising. On February 24, 1881, he was married to Estella Proctor, daughter of J. M. and Sarah Ann ( Armstrong) Proctor, he born June 27, 1832, in Ohio, and she born in Ireland on March 14, 1842. They were married March 19, 1857, and were the parents of the following children: Adam E., born March 21, 1858; Estella M., March 28, 1862; William R., May 31, 1866; Elizabeth E., April 7. 1872. J. M. Proctor came with his father and sister, in 1854, to Centre township, this county, from Ohio, and is living in Kansas at present. His wife died in June, 1885, Mr. and Mrs. E. V. Odekirk are the parents of the following three children : Sarah A., born April 6, 1884; Beaulah V., born November 16, 1887; Milton P., born January 16, 1892. E. V. Odekirk was made vice-president of the Randalia Savings Bank at the time of its organization. In stock farming he is very proficient and has gained a name for the character of the stock pro- duced on his farm. He is a man well worth knowing on account of his many good traits.
THOMAS THOMPSON.
The little kingdom of Norway has not sent as many citizens to the United States as many of the other countries of Europe, but those who have taken up their homes within our shores have proved to be most desirable citizens, always welcomed in any community, for they are thrifty, home builders, law-abiding and loyal to our institutions. One such is Thomas Thompson, a prosperous farmer in Illyria township, Fayette county, Iowa. who was born on December 30, 1837, in Norway, the son of Thor and Gunnila Thompson, both natives of Norway, where they spent their lives, being now deceased. Three sons of this family came to America, namely : Ole, a stone mason, living in Clayton county, Iowa ; Iolef, a farmer in Clay- ton county, Iowa, and Thomas, of this review.
Thomas Thompson was educated in Norway and before leaving his
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FAYETTE COUNTY, IOWA.
home land engaged for some time as a peddler. Believing that larger advan- tages were to be had in America, he set sail for our shores in 1861, and eventually located in Clayton county, Iowa, and began working on the boats that plied the Mississippi river. While living in that county he married, in Clayton, in 1874, Ingebary Danielson, who was a native of the same locality in Norway as Mr. Thompson, the daughter of Daniel Knutson and Julia (Nelson) Danielson. Her father was a farmer in Norway, and he brought his family to America in 1861, and located in Clayton county, Iowa, where the father died, the mother then making her home with her daughter, Mrs. Thompson, until her death. Five children were born to them.
Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Thompson, namely : Gunnield died in infancy; Thore, born August 23, 1877; Daniel, born February 12, 1879; Ole, born March 1, 1881. These children were all born in Fayette county and they all attended the local schools.
After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Thompson, in 1874, settled in section 24, Illyria township, Fayette county, Iowa, first buying eighty acres, on which stood an old log house and stable. But being a man of thrift, a hard worker and a good manager, Mr. Thompson has added to his original hold- ings from time to time until he is now the possessor of one of the valuable and desirable farms of the township, consisting of three hundred and fifty acres in sections 23 and 24. It is well improved in every respect, about two hundred and fifty acres being under cultivation. In 1894 they moved to the pleasant and substantial home, where they now reside. General farming and stock raising is carried on in a very successful manner by Mr. Thompson, who is evidently abreast of the times in all matters pertaining to the farm. He handles some fine full blood Shorthorn cattle, and Poland-China hogs. also draft horses and Shropshire sheep. He has some imported stock, all of which are greatly admired for their excellent quality and find a ready market. He also makes a specialty of select Swedish oats, Oderbucker bearded barley, and different varieties of yellow and white Dent seed corn. He has devoted most of his life to general farming and has been rewarded with a large meas- ure of success. His sons now look after a great deal of the business in con- nection with the crops and livestock. One of them, Thore Thompson, was married on July II, 1908, to Olive Gunderson, of Wayne township, Clayton county, Iowa; she is the daughter of George and Inoburg (Olsen) Gunder- son, and this union has resulted in the birth of one son, Orvin E., who was born March 20, 1909. Thore is a scientific farmer, having attended the agri- cultural department of the State University of Wisconsin, at Madison.
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FAYETTE COUNTY, IOWA.
Thomas Thompson is a member of the Lutheran church and in political matters he supports the Republican ticket. This family are highly respected by all their neighbors and acquaintances and are among the leading citizens of Illyria township.
PETER GREEN ABBOTT.
It is gratifying to be able to trace one's ancestry to a remote period. especially so if we find among them only people of the highest honor and industry, as is the case in tracing the genealogy of Peter Green Abbott, a representative citizen of Fayette county, who was born in Concord, New Hampshire, February 14, 1830. He is the son of Reuben and Hannah (Abbott) Abbott. The son, brother, father, grandfather and great-grand- father were all named Reuben. In Concord, New Hampshire, there were four generations in one house, all named Reuben Abbott. Two of the daugh- ters of the oldest brothers of Peter G. Abbott still live in the old home, an historic New England place; this is the home where the great-grandfather settled when he came there from Andover, Massachusets. He was descended both through his father and mother from George Abbott, who came over from England in 1620 in the "Mayflower." and who located at Plymouth, where the family remained through several generations or until the subject's great-grandfather, Reuben Abbott, moved north before the commencement of the American Revolution and located at Concord, New Hampshire. The subject's paternal grandfather, Reuben Abbott, and his maternal grand- father, Daniel Abbott, were both in the Revolutionary war, going into the patriot army from New Hampshire. They are buried within a quarter of a mile of each other. Daniel Abbott was taken prisoner by the Indians, who took him to Canada. Just how he escaped is not clear, one version saying that he was exchanged, another that he borrowed skates of the Indians and acting as though entirely unskilled in their use, until a proper opportunity presented itself, when he dashed away and made good his escape.
The old Abbott home mentioned above was built prior to the Revolution and the present members of the Abbott family living therein take a delight in keeping it as nearly as possible in its original picturesque style, the old brick ovens, used for cooking purposes before the invention of stoves, and many heirlooms and relics of a bygone generation are to be seen.
Peter G. Abbott grew up on the farm and worked there until he was twenty-five years of age. In 1855 he joined his brother, Ezra. in Clayton
MRS. ACHSAH ABBOTT.
PETER G. ABBOTT.
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FAYETTE COUNTY, IOWA.
county, Iowa, whither he had gone some years previous, and who is now liv- ing in Cumberland, Wisconsin. Henry, another brother, is living at Leroy, Kansas. Peter G. remained with Ezra Abbott from May, 1855, until Decem- ber of that year, the latter's home having been near Carter's Grove, eight miles east of Clermont. In December, 1855, Peter G. Abbott came to Bethel township, Fayette county, and bought an eighty-acre tract in section 9, when the surrounding country was all a wild and unbroken prairie; but before purchasing the tract mentioned he rented land for a short time and, being a good worker, soon had a start.
On September 7, 1856, Peter G. Abbott married Emily, the daughter of Martin and Harriett (Hunt) Palmer, who came to Fayette county, Iowa, with her mother and stepfather, Davis Kidder, in the spring of 1855, her father having died when she was young. Her family on both sides of the house were highly respected and well known in their respective communities, being people of the highest honor and integrity and always pleasant to meet.
About five years after his marriage Mr. Abbott sold his first farm and bought one hundred and sixty acres in section 8, buying at first only forty acres, which he added to as he prospered, forty acres, then eighty acres. He raised enough colts to pay for the last eighty acres, having formerly raised a great many horses and his stock was always of a high grade and easily marketed. He has lived on his present place for a period of forty-seven years, having resided in Bethel township longer than any one now living here, being the oldest settler of the same. When he came the vicinity was decidedly wild and the virgin prairie was overrun by wolves, deer and small game. He has lived to see the township develop from its wild state to its present far-advanced stage of improvement, playing well his part in tlie great transformation, there being only about fifteen families in the township when he came here.
The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Peter G. Ab- bott : Almida Josephine married Charles Dickens, whose sketch appears else- where in this work; Reuben Martin married Ruth Graves and lives in Oel- wein, he being employed by the Chicago Great Western railroad; they have three girls and one son, Esther Lorena, Julia, Ada Clare, and Reuben Merle ; their oldest child, Esther, married Eugene Borland and has three children, Ida Ruth, Vernon Eugene, and an infant; Julia married Charles Brownell and lives in Scott township, near Stanley; Justin Palmer Abbott, who lives near Brushie, South Dakota, on government land; Arthur Platts Abbott married Etta Freeman and four children have been born to them, three of whom are living, two girls and one boy, George Deigle, who died when
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FAYETTE COUNTY, IOWA.
eight years of age, Arthur Green, Mary Emma and Sybil. Arthur Platt Abbott is employed by a company organized to push an invention of his own. Walter Henry Abbott died when ten months old. Henry Walter Abbott, the youngest child, married Etta Schoonover and lives on the farm adjoining his father on the north, owning one hundred and sixty acres, half of which lies in section 8 and the other half in section 9. He has two children, Clarence Weston and Edith Belle.
Mrs. Peter G. Abbott passed to her rest on May 11, 1873, and Mr. Abbott was again married, his second union taking place in Chickasaw county, Iowa, in November, 1879, when he espoused Achsah (Oatman) Moss, widow of Thomas Moss and daughter of Simon Oatman. She was born in Ontario county, New York, and came to Iowa in 1854 with her aunt, with whom she resided until her marriage with the subject. Her aunt, Mrs. S. M. Crandall, widow of J. B. Crandall, died October 7, 1909, lacking less than three months of reaching the age of one hundred years.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Abbott are members of the Congregational church. In early life Mr. Abbott was active in the Republican party and he was for- merly a Whig, then allied himself with the Know-Nothing party. He was a delegate to county conventions and was elected to the office of justice of the peace, assessor, township clerk, township treasurer and school director. For many years he has refused to run for offices, although often nominated for them without his knowledge or consent. This is an indication that he is held in the highest esteem by his fellow men and that he gave the utmost satisfaction in his former official capacities.
THOMAS KERR.
Of thrifty Scotch-Irish parentage comes Thomas Kerr, one of the well known and progressive agriculturists and stock raisers of Illyria township, Fayette county. He was born May 18, 1851, in Kane county, Illinois, and is the son of James and Elizabeth (Binnie) Kerr, the father born in county Tyrone, Ireland, in 1820, and the mother a native of Glasgow, Scotland. James Kerr, who came to America in 1820, was a sailor on the lakes and the Atlantic ocean for a period of nine years. In 1849 he located in Kane county, Illinois, and there he and Elizabeth Binnie were married, she having come to America in 1848 with her parents, the family locating near Elgin, Kane county, Illinois. After their marriage, James Kerr and wife lived in
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FAYETTE COUNTY, IOWA.
Kane county, Illinois, three years on a farm, then came to Iowa, locating in Highland township, Clayton county, in 1854, being among the first settlers there. Mr. Kerr got good government land there for one dollar and twenty- five cents per acre. He was a man of enterprise and he added to his original purchase until he owned five hundred and eighty acres. He cleared a great deal of this land and soon had a splendid home, and he lived there in 1901, when he sold out and moved to River View, Chicago, Illinois, where he now resides. Mrs. James Kerr died in 1896. Mr. Kerr is a well preserved man notwithstanding his life of hard work; he was well and favorably known in Clayton county. He is a Republican in politics and a member of the Presby- terian church. Fifteen children constituted his family, namely: Thomas, of this review; Agnes lives in Chicago; Marian also lives in Chicago; Robert lives on the old place in Clayton county, Iowa; James lives in Chicago; John lives on the old place in Clayton county ; Hannah and Annie live in Chicago; Henry lives in Highland township, Clayton county, Iowa; Elizabeth lives in Volga City, Iowa; Jessie lives at Osborn, Clayton county, Iowa; Amelia, Lydia, Edward and Erias are all deceased.
Thomas Kerr received a good education in the home schools and he remained under his paternal roof until twenty-four years of age. On Decem- ber 10, 1879, while living in Highland township, Clayton county, Iowa, he married Ella E. Moats, of that vicinity; she is the daughter of David and Lydia (Clapper) Moats, the father a native of Franklin county, Pennsyl- vania, and the latter of Stark county, Ohio. They came to Clayton county, Iowa, in 1851, got wild land, cleared it and made a home. Selling his land, he moved to Elgin, Iowa, in 1897. Mr. Moats was a carpenter by trade and he also farmed. He is a Republican and a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church. Fourteen children constituted his family, named as follows : Ambrose is a blacksmith at Scotch Grove, Iowa; Martha Jane is deceased ; Steward M. lives in Nebraska; Austin lives at Cedar Rapids, Iowa; James, who was an attorney at Eagle Grove, Iowa, died in 1906; Elizabeth is de- ceased ; Lyman is an attorney at Eagle Grove, Iowa ; Ella E., wife of Thomas Kerr, of this review; Mary lives in Elgin, Iowa; Harry is deceased; Hattie lives at Elgin, Iowa; Adelbert is deceased; Abraham lives at Volga City, Iowa; Charlie is the youngest in order of birth.
Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Kerr, named as follows : Lulu married Charles Ruthlesberger and they live in Illyria town- ship, this county; William is attending business college at Oelwein, Iowa; Lydia is attending school at Fayette, Iowa; Hattie is also attending school in Fayette; Fern is living at home.
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FAYETTE COUNTY, IOWA.
After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Kerr began farming in Highland township, Clayton county, Iowa, remaining there until 1901 ; they came to Illyria township, Fayette county, and bought the place on which they now live, in section 3. Mr. Kerr owns in all two hundred and ten acres, formerly known as the Sampson Humphrey place; he has added many substantial improvements on the place and is carrying on general farm- ing in a very satisfactory manner ; he also devotes much of his time to stock raising, paying especial attention to raising Durham cattle, Norman horses and Poland China hogs.
Mr. Kerr is a Republican in politics, and he has been trustee and school director, clerk of the board, and is now clerk of Illyria township. He is interested in the Elgin Farmers' Creamery at Elgin, Ilowa. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, of Highland township, Clayton county. Mrs. Kerr is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
JOHN M. FREY.
In placing the name of John M. Frey in the front rank of Fayette county's progressive citizens, simple justice is done to a biographical fact. universally recognized throughout this locality by men at all familiar with his history. A man of judgment, sound discretion and business ability of a high order, he has managed with tactful success large landed interests and so impressed his individuality upon the community as to gain recognition among its leading citizens and public-spirited men of affairs. Like many of the enterprising residents of the Hawkeye state, Mr. Frey hails from the great German empire, his birth having occurred in the province of Baden, Germany, September 11, 1858, and he grew to maturity and was educated in his native village. He is the son of Martin and Caroline (Herbold) Frey, both natives of Baden, Germany, the father born May 18, 1822, and the mother on Octo- ber Ioth of the same year. The elder Frey was a cabinetmaker by trade, which he followed until he came to America. In March, 1872, the family left Germany and on the 22d of that month arrived in Highland township. Clayton county, Iowa. A week or two later the father bought a farm of eighty acres in section 11, Illyria township, Fayette county, and remained on the same for a period of five years, then sold out and bought one hundred and twenty-nine acres in section 25, Illyria township, and this splendid place is at present occupied by his son, John M. Politically, the elder Frey was a Democrat, and he was a good and useful man in his community.
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