USA > Iowa > Fayette County > Past and present of Fayette County, Iowa, Volume II > Part 42
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in 1889. He was a general farmer and made a good living after coming to Fayette county, leaving some valuable property to his family. He was a Dem - ocrat in politics. He and his wife reared four sons.
F. L. Medberry, of this review, was educated in the public schools of Union township, and he also attended Ainsworth Academy, receiving a very good education. He assisted his father with the work on the farm as soon as he was old enough.
Mr. Medberry was married in 1886 to Charlotte Foxwell and soon there- after he began farming for himself, renting land for four years, during which time he got a good start, and then purchased eighty acres in Illyria town- ship on which he remained for a period of nine years, then sold his place and purchased one hundred acres in another part of that township and lived there about seven years. Then he sold out again and bought a fine farm in Pleas- ant Valley township, south of Brainard, which place consists of two hundred acres of as fine farming land as the county affords and which has been greatly improved by Mr. Mcdberry, being well fenced and having on it an excellent dwelling and good outbuildings, orchard, garden, in fact, everything that goes to make country life desirable and attractive. He carries on general farming and stock raising and has become well fixed, all due to his own efforts.
The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Medberry : Frances married Francis Robbins, a native of Clayton county, Iowa, being now principal of the high school at Rosendale, Wisconsin; Katy is a teacher in Illyria township; Elma studied in the public schools of Illyria township; Jessie is living at home and is attending the public schools ; Ivan, Bertha. Grace and Gladys are also in school and members of the home circle.
Mrs. Medberry is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Po- litically, Mr. Medberry is a Republican and he was township clerk of Illyria township for four years, during which time he rendered very faithful services which won the approval of all concerned.
JOSEPH PATTERSON.
It is always pleasant and profitable to contemplate the career of a man who has made a success of life and won the honor and respect of his fellow citizens. Such is the record of the well known farmer whose name heads this sketch, than whom a more whole-souled or popular man it would be diffi- cult to find within the limits of the township where he has his home.
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JOSEPH PATTERSON.
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MRS. MARY PATTERSON.
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FAYETTE COUNTY, IOWA.
Joseph Patterson, whose fine farm is located in sections 19, 20 and 21, Pleasant Valley township, Fayette county, is a native son of the old Buck- eye state, having been born in Hancock county, Ohio, on the 13th day of March, 1837, and is a son of John and Jane (Graham) Patterson. John Patterson was born in Ireland and in young manhood accompanied his parents on their emigration to the United States. They first located in Ohio, where the father carried on farming until 1850, when he came to Clayton county, Iowa, and entered land, which he put in cultivation. He also entered land in Fayette county, it being that now occupied by the sub- ject of this sketch. He lived in Clayton county until his death, which occurred when he was about seventy years old. He was an energetic and in- dustrious man and was successful in his business affairs. In politics he was first a Whig, and later a Republican. His religious membership was with the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he took an active interest.
While a resident of Ohio, John Patterson was married to Jane Graham, who was a native of England, though of Irish parentage. They were the parents of ten children, eight of whom are living, namely: Mrs. Sarah At- wood, Mrs. Katherine Thompson, Mrs. Martha Keys, Wesley, Aaron, Sam- uel, Joseph and Ezra.
Joseph Patterson was about twelve years old when the family moved from Ohio to Clayton county, Iowa, the long and tiresome trip being made in wagons, the subject driving a team the entire distance. The major part of his education was received in an old-fashioned log school house in Iowa, his opportunities for attending school being somewhat limited from the fact that his assistance was needed in the arduous task of clearing the land and getting it in shape for cultivation. The country was wild and the land covered with the primeval timber, so that toil of the most strenuous kind was required before the pioneer farmer could begin to realize any income from his land. Mr. Patterson has remained on the original Fayette county farm since he was twenty-one years old, and has here devoted himself assidu- ously to its cultivation, in which he has met with a very gratifying degree of success. In connection with the tilling of the soil he also gives considerable attention to the raising of livestock, including horses and Polled Angus cattle, in which also he has been successful. He maintains his property at the high- est standard of excellence and is considered one of the best farmers in his section of the county.
When twenty-one years old, Mr. Patterson married Margaret Bunkle, who was a native of Jersey City, New Jersey, who is now deceased. To this union were born four children : Arthur, Mrs. Lucy Hitch, Ida (deceased) and
(71)
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Grant. Subsequently Mr. Patterson married Mary Upton, who was born April 14, 1838, in Maryland, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Upton. Her father was a native of Ireland, but she knew little of her mother, who died when Mary was very young. She accompanied her father to Clayton county in her early life and her marriage to Joseph Patterson occurred in Fayette county. Her death occurred on December 24, 1909. To Joseph and Mary Patterson were born nine children, of whom five are living, namely: John, deceased: Edgar, of this county ; William, deceased; Grace, a resident of Washington; Bertha, of Oklahoma; Sidney S., who remains at home; Mary and Martha Ann, twins, a twin to Grace that died in infancy.
In politics Mr. Patterson is a stanch Democrat, and, though he keeps well posted on the current issues of the day, he takes no active part in local public affairs aside from the casting of an intelligent ballot. Religiously he is a member of the Christian church at Brainard. In every relation of life Mr. Patterson has performed his full part and because of his sterling quali- ties of character and his upright life. he has long enjoyed the unbounded respect of the entire community.
MARTIN BOUSKA.
As the name indicates, this gentleman is of foreign descent, though a native of Iowa, born in Winneshiek county in November. 1857. His parents, Frank and Josephine Bouska, natives of Bohemia, were married in that couli- try and two of their nine children were born there prior to the immigration of the family to America some time in the early forties. On coming to the United States Frank Bouska made his way direct to Winneshiek county, lowa, where he settled on government land and in the course of a few years developed a fine farm and was in comfortable circumstances. He lived a long, active and useful life, dying at the advanced age of ninety-one years, his wife being eighty-eight years old at the time of her death. Of their family, nine children grew to maturity and are still living, the subject of this sketch being the only one residing in Fayette county.
Martin Bouska remained with his parents until nineteen years of age when he came to Fayette county and located on the tract of land in Eden township which she still owns and makes her home. The place originally consisted of one hundred and sixty acres, but by his energy and well directed labors he has since succeeded in very materially increasing the area of the
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farm until it now contains two hundred and forty acres of very fine land, admirably adapted to agriculture and the raising of livestock. Mr. Bouska was reared to agricultural pursuits and, having a natural liking for the vo- cation, he has succeeded well and at the present time is one of the leading farmers and stock raisers of the township in which he resides as well as one of the enterprising, public spirited citizens of the community. He has made made many valuable improvements on his farm in the way of buildings, etc., and now has one of the most beautiful and desirable rural homes in the county of Fayette, everything on the place being in first class order and in- dicating the care and attention of the proprietor. As already stated, he is not only successful as a tiller of the soil but devotes considerable interest and attention to the breeding and raising of livestock, making Poland China swine a specialty, which high grade animals he markets in large numbers every year. He also raises fine horses of the Belgian breed, and a superior quality of cattle, his domestic animals of all kinds being among the best in this part of the state and yielding him a large income.
Mr. Bouska takes a lively interest in all matters relating to agriculture and livestock and, as a member of the Breeders' Association, has been in- fluential in introducing a superior grade of domestic animals into his section of country, they proving of great benefit to the farmers who now find it just as easy and far more valuable to keep good stock instead of the ordinary and indifferent grades which were formerly the rule. He is public spirited, believes in progress and does all within his power for the material advance- ment of his township and moral improvement of his neighborhood. In poli- tics he is a pronounced supporter of the Republican party, and in religion, a Roman Catholic, belonging with his family to St. Mary's church at Wau- coma, to the support of which he is a liberal donor.
On the 20th day of January, 1877, when a little past twenty years of age, Mr. Bouska was united in marriage with Frances Resabeck, of Auburn township, Fayette county, a young lady of many estimable qualities of mind and heart and popular among the large circle of friends with whom she is accustomed to associate. She has borne her husband children as follows : Anthony, a mail clerk on the Northwestern railroad with headquarters at Omaha, Nebraska; Mary Lucy; Martin, a mail carrier on the rural delivery route from Waucoma ; Josephine and Frank, who have left the parental roof and are doing for themselves; those still members of the home circle are William, Christ, Julius and Edward, all intelligent and responding cheerfully to the efforts which their parents are putting forth for their improvement. On November 10, 1910, Joseph, the youngest of the family, died at the early
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age of forty-five years. He was a very prosperous breeder in Poland China hogs and during the last few years was doing an enormous business in Duroc- Jersey hogs. The Bouskas are among the most popular and highly esteemed families of Fayette county, the home being a favorite stopping place for the young people of the neighborhood while the spirit of hospitality which reigns therein sweetens the welcome and delays the departure of the guests who are accustomed to share it.
JUDGE ALFRED N. HOBSON.
Alfred Norman Hobson was born April 1, 1848, at Allegheny City, Penn- sylvania, now a part of greater Pittsburg. He was the eldest child of Joseph and Elizabeth (Baker) Hobson, both now deceased. He came to Fayette county with his parents on May 4, 1855, upon their removal to this county, and, with the exception of brief absences from the county, has resided therein ever since. His father settled at Fayette, where he entered upon the practice of law. In 1858 he was elected county clerk and moved his family to West Union. After five consecutive terms as clerk, he was elected to a seat in the house of the thirteenth General Assembly, serving with ability during his term. At the close of it, he was appointed assessor of internal revenue, in which position he served until the office was abolished.
Joseph Hobson was a man of great force of character and commanding influence and enjoyed the respect and confidence of all who knew him. His wife was Elizabeth Baker, who was an ideal wife and mother, presiding over the home with dignity and tenderness, giving the best of care and counsel to her children.
It was under the influence of such a home that Alfred N. Hobson grew to manhood. In boyhood he attended the public schools of the village, after- wards the Upper Iowa University, and later for a brief period at the State University of Iowa. He chose law as his profession, and entered upon the study under the direction of his father and later in the office of L. L. Ains- worth. He was admitted to practice in the district court of the state on April 27, 1870, and in the supreme court of the state on April 2, 1873. After his admission to the bar he went to California with a view to locating there. He taught school one summer in the mountains in Sierra county, that state. and after an experience of a few months concluded to return to Iowa.
From April, 1871, to May, 1873. Mr. Hobson held a clerkship in the
a. n. Hobson
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office of the United States assessor of internal revenue at Dubuque. During his residence in Dubuque he spent his leisure time in study and had access to many volumes from the public library. He considers the time thus spent among the most enjoyable and useful experiences in life. In his duties in this clerkship he was trained to the necessity for accuracy and promptness and gained much valuable knowledge of business, and made the acquaintance of a large number of the prominent men of Iowa.
After his return to West Union, in May, 1873, Mr. Hobson entered the law office of L. L. Ainsworth as a clerk and continued in that capacity until after the election of the latter to Congress. In February, 1875, a copartnership was formed which continued until Mr. Hobson was called to the bench at the beginning of 1895. During the last eighteen months Judge Hobson was en- gaged in practice. W. J. Ainsworth was also a member of the firm.
During the time he was engaged in practice Mr. Hobson devoted his energies to acquiring a thorough practical knowledge of the profession, and won recognition at the bar of the district as a thorough student of the law and well informed on all subjects necessary to successfully pursue the practice of the law, but was particularly recognized by the bar as a chancery lawyer, unsurpassed in northern Iowa. In 1894 there was a spontaneous movement in the district to elevate him to the bench, and the Republicans tendered him the nomination, which he accepted. He was elected and entered upon the duties of the position for which he was eminently qualified, on January I. 1895. As a judge, he has been remarkably successful, not only in earning the esteem of the bar and litigants, but in the care and caution exercised in ruling on points of law, in his methods of expediting business in the court room, and in rendering decisions that have been affirmed in the higher judicial tribunals. His judicial district consists of the counties of Allamakee, Clay- ton, Winneshiek, Fayette, Howard and Chickasaw. Judge Hobson was re- nominated by acclamation in 1898, 1902, 1906 and 1910, and re-elected with- out opposition in the recent general election, and has always been re-elected either without opposition or with only nominal opposition.
In 1878 Judge Hobson was married to Martha K. Ingham, daughter of John B. and Catherine (Neeb) Ingham, of Allegheny City, Pennsylvania. They have had three children, Joseph Ingham, Ida Neeb, and Florence Louise. The latter died in her tenth year. Joseph is married to a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Simeon Howe. of Dover township, near West Union, and is one of the prosperous young business men at Emmetsburg, Iowa. Ida N. was graduated from the department of liberal arts of the State University of Iowa in June, 1909, and is at home.
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FAYETTE COUNTY, IOWA.
Mrs. Hobson is a woman of intelligence and refinement, and, while de- voted to her domestic duties, is imbued with the public spirit of the modern woman, and is active in club work, being a member of the Tourist Club, a well established literary club, and the Tuesday Art Club, which has for a number of years been an incentive to the study of art. In addition to her usual duties in connection with the church with which she is united, she has for many years been a teacher in the Sunday school and has seen a large number of young men and young women go out into life from her classes. Mrs. Hobson is also a favorite in the social circles of the community.
Judge Hobson is a member of the following, among other societies : Iowa State Bar Association ; State Historical Society of Iowa : National Geo- graphic Society of Washington, D. C .; West Union Lodge No. 69, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons ; Unity Chapter No. 62, Royal Arch Masons, Elgin, Iowa; a charter member of Langridge Commandery No. 47, Knights Templar, West Union: a member of Zarephath Consistory No. 4, Daveh- port, Iowa, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasons, southern juris- cliction of the United States : is also a charter member of West Union Lodge No. 124. Knights of Pythias, West Union. Judge and Mrs. Hobson and their children are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
None of the able judges called to preside over the courts of the counties comprising the thirteenth judicial district has had a wider experience on the bench than has the subject of this sketch. None was better prepared for the position prior to elevation thereto. Now, in the prime of life, rich in the experience of years of faithful service, his life and health being spared. the future appears bright in its prospects for a continuance of this service during the term for which he has just been re-elected by the unanimous vote of the people.
WILLIE BRACE.
This enterprising farmer and respected citizen is a native of Stephenson county, Illinois, where his birth occurred on the 13th day of August, 1868. His father was Levi Brace and his mother Diana Fairchild, both natives of New York, but married in Illinois, to which state they were taken when young. In 1881 Levi Brace moved his family to Fayette county, Iowa, and purchased a farm in Eden township, adjoining the one now owned by the sub- ject, and on this he spent the remainder of his life, dying in 1897. at the ripe old age of eighty-one years. His widow, who survives him, is still in
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Eden township and has reached the age of eighty-one years, retaining to a marked degree the possession of her faculties, both physical and mental.
Levi and Diana Brace reared a family of nine children, all but one now living, their names being as follows: George M. F., Waucoma, Nettie, wife of Don Adams, of Armstrong, Iowa; Hattie, who married Mr. Christy, and lives in Seattle, Washington; David, of Portland, Oregon; Eva, now Mrs. Samuel Ferguson, of Nevada, Missouri; Luna, wife of Arthur Crow- ther, of Klondike, Oregon; Guy, a resident of Waterloo, this state, and Willie, whose name appears at the head of this article.
Willie Brace was a lad of thirteen when his parents came to Iowa and since that time his life has been very closely interwoven with material interests and general welfare of the township in which he now resides. He re- mained with his parents until twenty-six years old, when he, in partnership with his brother Guy, commenced clearing and developing land in Eden town- ship, but after a short time he was obliged to return home to care for his father during the latter's old age and last illness. Sometime after his father's death he succeeded to eighty acres of the homestead and in 1895 took posses- sion of the same, since which year he has erected substantial buildings, be- sides making a number of other improvements and now has a beautiful and valuable farm which in point of fertility and general productiveness is not ex- celled by any like area of land in the county.
Mr. Brace is enterprising in the full sense of the term and believes in the dignity of his vocation. As a farmer he is easily the peer of any man of his township similarly engaged, being progressive in his ideas and in favor of modern methods, which he early adopted and which with his industry, energy and general good management have contributed to the success which he has attained. For some time past he has devoted considerable attention to horticulture and the raising of small fruits and now has a small nursery of two acres in excellent condition which promises to become an important adjunct to his agricultural interests in the no distant future. Progressive and intelligent, he keeps his finger on the public pulse on all matters of general import, has firm and decided convictions, which he expresses fearlessly when occasions may demand. In his political allegiance he votes with the Republi- can party and his fraternal relations are represented by the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Yeoman, in both of which orders he is an active and influential worker. Among his neighbors and friends he is held in much esteem, his good name standing above reproach and thus far no blameworthy act has attached to his career, his life being an open book in which no blurred or marred pages are to be found.
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Mr. Brace was married on December 21, 1893, to Carrie E. Winter, daughter of Charles and Amelia ( Fairchild) Winter, the mother and grand- mother of the contracting parties being sisters, Mrs. Winter coming to Iowa from Missouri, though a native of New York state. Mrs. Brace was born in Moberly, Missouri, but has spent the greater part of her life in Fayette county, Iowa, in her girlhood and young womanhood having been among the most popular members of the social circle in which she moved. She was reared under religious influences and is now an honored member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Alpha and deeply interested in the good work of the same, as well as in other charitable and benevolent enterprises. Three children have come to brighten the home and gladden the domestic life of Mr. and Mrs. Brace, viz: Lloyd L., Lida I. and Donald M.
THOMAS L. HANSON. 1
The subject of this sketch, who is mayor of Oelwein, president of the First National Bank of that city, and a successful farmer, was born at Keig- ley, Yorkshire, England, and is a son of Thomas and Ellen (Smith) Han- son. Thomas Hanson was an early settler of Jefferson township, Fayette county, coming here in 1858. He was the son of Joseph and Shinoarn (Wood) Hanson and was born December 9, 1823, at Keigley. His parents also were natives of Yorkshire, the father born April 1. 1787, and the mother February 23, 1790. Thomas Hanson, the subject's father, was a stonemason in his younger days, after being a successful contractor and builder. On June 21, 1845, he married Ellen Smith, who was born in York- shire, the daughter of John and Jane Smith. Four children were born to them in England, namely : Thomas L., the subject ; Isaac; Sarah A., who be- came the wife of J. W. Drayton; and Joseph. Three other children were born to these parents after their arrival in Fayette county, namely : John W .; Alfred, who is cashier of the First National Bank at Oelwein; Martha Alice. The Hanson family lived in Keighley, England, untill 1855, when, his father, a farmer, having died in 1854, Thomas Hanson moved his family to the home- stead farm and there followed farming for two years. He then brought his family to the United States, locating in Iowa, where he purchased eight acres of land, located one mile northwest of what is now the prosperous town of Oelwein. The country at that time was wild and but sparsely settled and many kinds of wild game was to be found about them, and amid these con-
THOMAS L. HANSON.
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ditions the Hanson boys were reared to manhood. After paying for his land, he was without means with which to buy a team and he was compelled to hire his first ten acres plowed, paying for it partly in cash and partly in work. The following spring he borrowed some money and bought a yoke of two- year-old steers, to which he hitched a home-made sled, which was his sole substitute for a wagon. However, with these primitive arrangements he managed to get through the year and after that was in easier financial cir- cumstances. He was industrious and a good manager and met with splendid success in his operations, so that in time he became the owner of over six hundred acres of valuable land. He took an active interest in public affairs and served eight years as trustee of Jefferson township.
This brief recital shows the conditions under which Thomas L. Hanson was reared to manhood and which moulded his character. His mother, Ellen (Smith) Hanson, who had shared with her husband the hardships and vicissitudes of the pioneer life, lived to see her children grow to useful and respected manhood and womanhood. She died on February 6, 1884, and subsequently her husband married Eliza Mary Hanson, by whom was born one son, George L.
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