USA > Iowa > O'Brien County > Past and present of O'Brien and Osceola counties, Iowa, Vol. II > Part 28
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Mr. Jones was born April 1, 1846, on a farm in Jackson county, Ohio. His father was Griffith J. Jones and his mother was Elizabeth Rowland Jones, both natives of Argylshire, North Wales. They emigrated to Ohio
Rejones
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from their native land and there settled on a farm. They later moved to Wisconsin and lived on a farmstead thirty-six miles west of Madison. They sold out their Wisconsin holdings in 1871 and moved to Clay county, Iowa, where they bought a farm and resided until death took them in 1894. They were the parents of the following children: Mrs. Helen Pond: Mrs. Jane Pond : William R., who gave his life in defense of the Union during the great Rebellion; Griffith R., of Minnesota, who was also a Union soldier : Rob- ert P.
During the Civil War it was necessary for Robert P. to remain at home and assist in the support of the family. In the year 1870 he left Wisconsin for the oil regions of Pennsylvania and was located in the vicinity of Sham- berg for four years, operating in the oil fields. In 1874 he traveled to the Black Hills section of South Dakota, where he followed mining for one year. He returned to Clay county in 1875, but was again overtaken with wander- lust and went back to the Pennsylvania oil region to try his fortunes. He followed the exciting life of the oil operator with its various vicissitudes and varying fortunes until 1880, when he went to Arkansas and prospected for gold in the mountains. He was successful in his mining operations, dis- covered and developed a fine claim which he sold and invested in eighty acres of land in Clay county. In 1886 he sold out and came to O'Brien county, locating on the southwest quarter of section 13, in Dale township. Here he built a "shack" and homesteaded on railroad land. He was a "squatter" on land claimed by the Sioux City & St. Paul railroad. He broke up his land and planted a portion of it to crops. The railroad company sent parties to sell him out and his "squatter" holdings were disposed of to outside parties. Many "squatters" suffered eviction and dispossession through the power wielded by the railroads, but they eventually organized themselves into what is known in history as the Taxpayers' Association, of which Mr. Jones was made president. The circuit or district judge decided against then at Primghar when their cases were called for trial and gave possession of the lands to the railway. The cases were appealed to the supreme court of the state of Jowa and the squatters were eventually given possession of the lands. The full history of this remarkable controversy is given in the pages of this O'Brien county annals. The agents of the railway tried repeatedly to coerce or bribe Mr. Jones to abandon the fight in behalf of his constituents and promised him immunity, possession of his land and monetary rewards, but he resisted their blandishments and cast his lot with the inen who had trusted him with their fortunes. Mr. Jones tilled his fine farm in Dale town-
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ship until 1908, when he removed to Primghar, where he engaged in business and is very active in lodge affairs. It is recorded of him in the squatter litigation history that Mr. Jones replied to the charges of the railway agents as follows : "I do not care so much for myself, but I am working for the settlers." Through his personal integrity and with the assistance of several famous and able attorneys, thousands of acres of rich land were saved for the settlers and wrested from the grasp of the railroads. D. M. Mullen (now deceased) was the secretary of the association.
Mr. Jones has led an adventurous and exciting life, the details of which would make interesting reading. While in Arkansas, he served as a Pinker- ton detective. He has ever evinced qualities of leadership among his fellow men, been prominent in Republican politics and has held all township offices. He has attended many state conventions as a delegate and has always taken an active and leading part in behalf of Republican policies. He is a promi- nent member of the Odd Fellows lodge, of which fraternal body he is the efficient secretary. . All members of his family are identified with the Baptist church.
Mr. Jones was married in 1867 to Emily Pond, who was born in 1845. No children have blessed this union, but they have attempted to satisfy the child hunger by adopting and rearing as their own five orphaned children as follows: Mrs. Ella Culberson, of Primghar; Arthur Selma, of South Dakota ; Mrs. Belle Henderson Thayer, of Montana; Mrs. Ethel Mckay Gurney, of Omaha ; Charley Jenkins, a resident of Clay county.
Further mention of this respected character is made in the chapter de- voted to the squatter litigation as written by the historian of this volume. The details of the litigation in which he was such a prominent and influential figure are fully and completely given. The foregoing review is intended as an appreciation of his manly qualities and as a permanent record of his life.
LYMAN F. WILSON.
All credit is due a man who wins success and by persistency and energy gains a competence and a position of honor as a man and citizen. The record of the subject of this sketch is that of such a man, for he came to O'Brien county in the day of her rapid growth and here worked out his way to definite success and independence. He quickly adapted himself to the conditions which he found here and has labored so consecutively and effectively that he
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is now held in high regard by all who know him, having here maintained his home since 1882.
Lyman F. Wilson, a prominent farmer and stockman of Omega town- ship, O'Brien county, Iowa, was born April 8, 1857, in Delaware county, Iowa, and is the son of Nicholas and Jemima ( Martin) Wilson. Nicholas Wilson was born in 1820 in Clarion comity, Pennsylvania, and remained there until he was nineteen years of age and then went west and settled in Ogle county, Illinois, near Palo, where he farmed until the year 1852. Then he moved to Delaware county, lowa, and purchased two hundred and forty acres of government land and lived upon it until a few years before his death. He then moved to Delhi, Iowa, where he resided until his death on March 30, 1906. Nicholas Wilson and Jemima Martin were married September 29. 1846, and to this union were born seven children: Mary Jane, deceased ; Rebecca, of Delhi, Iowa; Sarah, deceased; Jolin, a farmer of Delaware conn- ty, Iowa; Robert, deceased ; Lyman F., whose life history is here briefly pre- sented, and one who died in infancy.
Lyman F. Wilson received a good common school education and then finished with a three-year course at Lenox College. He then assisted his father on the farm until he was twenty-six years of age. In 1882 he bought one hundred and sixty acres of unimproved land in O'Brien county and in the year of 1885 he worked the entire winter for seventeen dollars and twen- ty-five cents. This was their family's first year upon the farm and probably the most severe winter through which they ever passed. Fuel was very scarce and they were compelled to burn hay and flax in order to keep from freezing to death, but after the first winter prosperity began to smile upon them and in a few years they were free from all troubles and cares. Mr. Wilson made extensive improvements on his farm and soon became one of the largest stock raisers of the township. He made a specialty of Galloway cattle and added not a little to his annual income by the sale of cattle. He was one of the organizers of the Hartley Lumber Company and is now a di- rector in that company. He is also president and manager of the O'Brien County Rural Telephone Company.
Mr. Wilson was married in 1885 to Sarah J. Dawson, who was born in Cedar county, Iowa, in 1861. To this marriage have been born five chil- dren, Lew H., a farmer of O'Brien county ; Cora Bell, who is a school teach- er in this county, and three who died in infancy.
Mr. Wilson is prominently identified with the Republican party and at different times has held township offices in Omega township. At the present time he is assessor of Omega township and is filling that important office in a
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very satisfactory manner. In all of his official positions he has shown marked administrative ability, so that he is one of the most efficient officials the township has ever had. He and his family are loyal members of the Methodist Episcopal church and are interested in all the activities of that denomination. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Imbued with the deepest and most helpful public spirit, Mr. Wilson is well set in his opinion as to matters of public policy and gives of his best to the serving of good government. His personal relations with his fellow men have been ever mutually pleasant and agreeable and he is regarded highly by everyone with whom he has been associated in the county.
JOHN W. JEPSEN.
Among the prosperous business men of Moneta. O'Brien county, Iowa. is John W. Jepsen, a hardware merchant and the present postmaster of the town. His whole life has been spent in business and with a success which is commensurate with his efforts. He was born in 1875 in Davenport, Iowa. and is the son of Hans and Christina ( Nagel ) Jepsen.
Hans Jepsen was born in Germany in 1843 and followed the occupation of a gardener in his native land. In 1866 he came across the ocean and set- tled in Davenport, lowa, where he followed gardening for fifteen years. In 1889 he moved to Clay county, Iowa, and bought one hundred and sixty acres of land, on which he lived for several years. He improved the land and then sold it at a good profit, after which he retired to Davenport, Iowa, where he is now living. His wife, Christina, was born in Germany in 1849 and to this union were born nine children : Frank, deceased: Katherine, of Davenport. Iowa : George, a farmer of Clay county : Jacob, a druggist of Davenport and a graduate of Highland Park College of Des Moines; Mrs. Paullina Soehren of Minnesota : Harry, a partner in the hardware business with John W. : Mar- garet. of Davenport : Louisa, of Davenport, and John W., with whom this narrative deals.
John W. Jepsen received a good common school education and helped his father on the farm until he was twenty-six years of age. He then became interested in the hardware business at Spencer, Iowa, where he learned the intricacies of the business by serving as a clerk for one year. In 1902 lie came to Moneta, in O'Brien county, where he and his brother, Harry, pur- chased the hardware stock of E. E. Dodge & Company, and they have been in
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charge of this store for the past twelve years. They have built up a large and lucrative trade in Moneta and the surrounding country. The brothers carry three thousand dollars worth of stock the year round. In addition to their hardware interests, they have a share in the Farmers Elevator Company of Moneta. Mr. Jepsen is also manager of the telephone company at Moneta and is a stockholder in the company. He owns five acres of lots in Moneta in addition to his handsome residence.
Mr. Jepsen was married in 1905 to Marguerite E. Unangst. at Spencer. lowa, and to this union have been born four children, who are still with their parents, Lulu, Laura. John and Jacob. Politically, Mr. Jepsen is a Demo- crat, but his business interests have kept him from taking an active part in politics. He and his family are earnest members of the German Lutheran church and subscribe liberally to its support. Mr. Jepsen is a self-made man and owes his present success to the fact that he has been diligent in his vari- ous undertakings. As a graduate of the Davenport Business College he was able to do administrative work in any line and consequently makes an efficient manager of the telephone company. He has a large number of friends and acquaintances in Moneta and the surrounding country who admire him for his many good qualities.
OMER L. LIGHTER.
O. L. Lighter was born in 1884 in Grundy county, Iowa, and is the son of George and Jennie (Wilhelm) Lighter. George Lighter was born in Carroll county, Illinois, and after his marriage became a prosperous farmer of Grundy county, Iowa. In 1888 he moved to O'Brien county and pur- chased one hundred and sixty acres of unimproved land. He improved the farm and in 1902 he sold it at a good profit and purchased two hundred acres, which he still owns. Since purchasing his last farm, he has placed six thousand dollars worth of improvements upon it. George Lighter and wife are the parents of four children: Clinton, who is farming the home place ; Gladys, Clyde, and Omer L., whose life history is here briefly set forth.
After leaving college Omer L. Lighter was first made manager of the Fleete Lumber Company and in 1908 he came to Moneta to manage the lum- ber yard of the same concern. He owns a share in the lumber company as well as a residence and three acres in Moneta.
Mr. Lighter was married in 1909 to Estella Jones. Politically. Mr. Lighter is a Republican, but has never taken an active part in politics. Fra-
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ternally. he is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and the Knights of Pythias. Mr. Lighter is still a young man and has a long and useful life vet before him. His success in his forepart of life indicates that he will become one of the substantial business men of the county in the years to come.
OLE F. OLSON.
Among the substantial business men of Hartley, O'Brien county, Iowa. whose labor and influence has given aid to the material welfare of the city, is Ole F. Olson, the proprietor of a prosperous clothing business in that city. His whole life has been filled with hard work and by industry and close atten- tion to business he has risen to his present place of prominence in the busi- ness world. He was born November 22, 1871, in Albert Lea, Minnesota, and is the son of Theo and Mary ( Helle) Olson, both of whom were born in Norway. Theo Olson was a farmer in his native land and after coming to this country he settled in Minnesota and engaged in farming until his death in 1875. He was born in 1841 and his wife was born in 1838. There were two children born to Theo Olson and wife, Mary, deceased, and Ole F .. whose history is here briefly portrayed.
Ole F. Olson received a good practical education in the schools of Min- nesota and when fifteen years of age he began clerking in a clothing store. He worked there for eight years and, although other clerks came and went, he always retained his position. In those days it was a disgrace to lose a position of this kind. In order that he might be secure in his clerkship he applied himself with unusual energy to his daily tasks. Considered as an excellent clerk. he received better wages than those who worked by him. In 1894. when only twenty-three years of age, he came to Oelwein, Iowa, and purchased a clothing store known as the Hawkeye Clothing Company. He operated this store for eleven years and did a prosperous business. Most of his trade was with the railroad men, since Oelwein was a division point on the Chicago & Great Western Railway. In 1905 he sold out and moved to Hart- ley, where he purchased an interest in the firm of Broders, Tagge & Com- pany. He became the manager of the company and continued in this ca- pacity until September 24, 1913, when he purchased the entire interest of the other members of the firm. He now carries the largest stock of goods in this city. His courteous treatment of his customers and his honesty in all of his transactions have won him the confidence of a large circle of people in Hart- ley and the surrounding community.
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Mr. Olson was married January 15, 1900, in Chicago, to Clara Duncan and to this union have been born two children, Thelma and Teddy, both of whom are still with their parents. Politically, Mr. Olson belongs to that large class of men who are classed as independent voters, preferring to cast his ballot for the best man irrespective of their politics, and in so doing he feels that he is serving the best interests of his community. He and his family are earnest members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and subscribe liberally to its support. Fraternally, he is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias. the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Foresters. Mr. Olson deserves a great deal of credit for the success which he has attained. In order to qualify himself for better and more efficient work he went to night school in Albert Lea, Minnesota, and later took a business course. He has worked hard for his present success and deserves a great deal of credit for the large business which he has built up in this city. He is a man of genial nature and a winning personality and has a large number of friends and ac- quaintances in Hartley and the surrounding community.
EDGAR WRIGHT.
The following is a sketch of a plain, honest man of affairs, who by cor- rect methods and a strict regard for the interests of his patrons has made his influence felt in Sanborn, Iowa, and won for himself distinctive prestige in the business circles of that city. He would be the last man to sit for romance or become the subject of fancy sketches, nevertheless his life presents much that is interesting and valuable and may be studied with profit by the young, whose careers are yet to be achieved. He is one of those whose integrity and strength of character must force them into an admirable notoriety which their modesty never seeks, who command the respect of their contemporaries and their posterity and leave the impress of their individuality deeply stamped upon their community.
Edgar Wright, a prosperous hardware merchant of Sanborn, was born in 1880, in Linn county, Iowa, the son of John and Catherine (McRay) Wright. John Wright was born in New York state and operated a farm there until he came to Summit township. O'Brien county, this state, in 1884. Upon arriving in this county he purchased land and farmed until his death in 1898. He was twice married and by his first marriage there were three chil-
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dren : Silas, a resident of Wisconsin; Ernest, a retired farmer of Sanborn. Iowa, and Ellis, deceased. Edgar is the only child by his second marriage to Catherine McRay.
Edgar Wright received his education in the common schools of O'Brien county, his father moving to this county when he was four years of age. He worked on his father's farm until he was twenty-seven years of age and in 1912 purchased a half interest in a hardware store in Sanborn, where he is now building up a large and increasing trade. He owns a share in the Farmers Elevator and Lumber Company, of Sanborn. a co-operative concern which is of great benefit to the farmers of the county.
Politically, Mr. Wright has always voted the Republican ticket since he reached his majority, but has been so busy that he has never had time to take a very active part in political affairs. He is an attendant of the Methodist Episcopal church and a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons at Sanborn. Mr. Wright is a young man who has the promise of a bright busi- ness career before him. Since buying an interest in the hardware store. he has increased its stock, while the trade of the store has been increased as a result. He is courteous in his treatment of his customers and because he is honest in all of his business transactions he has earned the confidence and esteem of all the people with whom he has been associated.
W. D. SHUTTLEWORTH.
One of the substantial business men of Sibley, who has always taken an active interest in the affairs of the city, is W. D. Shuttleworth, the presi- dent of the Shell Lumber Company and vice-president of the Sibley Cement Company. He is a man of rare business ability and integrity and, although he has only been connected with the business life of Sibley a comparatively short time, yet he has impressed his individuality upon all of those with whom he has been associated. He was born May 12. 1869, at Fennimore, Grant county. Wisconsin, and is the son of Craven and Nancy ( Kayley) Shuttle- worth.
Craven Shuttleworth was born in Helsfield, Yorkshire, England, and came to America in 1856, first settling in Madison, Wisconsin, for two years and then went to Grant county, where he followed his trade as a cabinet- maker until his death, in February, 1903, at the age of seventy-eight years. Craven Shuttleworth and wife were the parents of eight children: Job, of
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Centralia, Illinois: Mrs. Ella McDougall, of Melvin, Osceola county, Iowa ; Farrand K., a lawyer of Madison, Wisconsin; Fred, of Idaho Falls, Idaho; W. D., whose history is here narrated : Craven, of Allendorf, Iowa; Ina D., a lawyer of Avoca, Iowa. and May, a teacher of music in Northfield. Minnesota.
W. D. Shuttleworth was educated in the public schools of Wisconsin and came to Iowa in the fall of 1890, when he was twenty-one years of age. and took employment in the Shell lumber yards and remained there for three years, learning the intricacies of the business. He then went to Minneapolis and took a business course, after which he located in Ocheyedan and operated a lumber yard for Armin & Shell. A little later he purchased an interest in the Ocheyedan lumber yards and remained there for the next fifteen years. In 1909 he came to Sibley and assisted in the organization of the Shell Lum- ber Company and the Sibley Cement Company. He is now president of the lumber company and vice-president of the cement company. The cement company was organized in 1903 for the purpose of manufacturing cement blocks and tile, making a specialty, however. of tile. The factory is located along the Rock Island railway and covers five acres of space. It does a large business in Sibley and the surrounding community and employs from fifteen to twenty men the year round.
Mr. Shuttleworth was married in 1896 to Blanche B. Sokol. the daugh- ter of F. J. and Anna Sokol. The reader is directed to the life history of George F. Sokol, which is found elsewhere in this volume. for the ancestral history of the Sokol family. Mr. and Mrs. Shuttleworth are the parents of two sons, Frank and Craven.
In addition to his interests in Sibley, Mr. Shuttleworth is vice-president of the Ocheyedan Savings Bank. Politically. he is an ardent Republican. but the affairs of his business have kept him from taking an active part in political affairs. He and his family are loyal members of the Congregational church and contribute liberally of their means to its support. Fraternally, he is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and has attained to the thirty-second degree, belonging to the consistory at Sioux City. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias. He is a self-made man and owes his large success solely to his own efforts. While intent on promoting his own interests, he has not been indifferent to the interests of his fellow citizens, as is indicated by the part he takes in advancing the material prosperity of the community and the zeal which he manifests in all enterprises having for their object the uplift of his fellow men.
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GEORGE HAKEMAN.
Among the successful, self-made men of a past century in O'Brien county, the late George Hakeman occupied a conspicuous place. A distin- guished veteran of the Civil War, he came to this county shortly after its close, starting in to make his home upon the broad prairies of Highland township. He arose, in time, to a prominent position in the agricultural and financial circles of his community. He realized early that there is a purpose in life, that there is no honor not founded on worth, no respect not found on accomplishment. With his death, there passed away one of the earliest pio- neers of this county and a man who contributed his full share to the present prosperous condition of the county.
George Hakeman was born in Lincolnshire, England, in 1841 and died February 15, 1913. He came to this country from his native land when a youth and settled in Iowa. At the outbreak of the Civil War he was seized with the same enthusiasm which inspired the native sons of the country and enlisted in the Union Army, August 5, 1862, at Tipton, Iowa, in Company C, Twenty-fourth Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He was in continuous service until his final discharge on August 4, 1865, at Davenport, Iowa. He saw hard fighting during his three years at the front and served his country in a distinguished and faithful manner.
Immediately after the close of the war he returned to Iowa and in 1872 came to O'Brien county, in this state, and homesteaded in Highland town- ship. He continued to reside on his farm until 1882, when he moved to Paullina, O'Brien county, and engaged in the lumber business. Four years later he retired from the lumber business and again began to farm near the town of Paullina. After operating his farm for the next four years he sold it and moved to Sanborn where he and his son Clare engaged in the grain and elevator business. They also managed a lumber yard with their other interests. He continued in active business until 1909 when he retired, and continued to reside in Sanborn until his death in 1913.
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