Past and present of Shelby County, Iowa, Vol. 2, Part 31

Author: White, Edward Speer, 1871-
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 874


USA > Iowa > Shelby County > Past and present of Shelby County, Iowa, Vol. 2 > Part 31


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EARL RYAN.


One of the most progressive young men of Shelby county today is Earl Ryan, who is a member of the stockbreeding firm of Escher & Ryan. Ile has shown a knowledge of the stock breeding business which places him . among the first rank of stock breeders in the country, and in fact, he is regarded as one of the best judges of cattle in the United States. The (45)


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Aberdeen Angus Stock Farm. now owned by Messrs. Escher & Ryan, has not only a national but an international reputation for its cattle.


Earl Ryan, the son of Thomas J. and Mary .A. (Grant) Ryan, was born on August 23, 1884. on the farm where he is now living. His father was born on February 15. 1852. near Rochester, New York, and is the son of Jeffrey and Sarah ( Clark) Ryan. His mother was born on October 28. 1855, in Vietor, Iowa, and is the daughter of Henry and Helen ( 1laggard) Grant. Thomas J. Ryan is one of the largest land holders of the county and at present is the mayor of Irwin. Iowa. His history appears elsewhere in this volume and the reader is referred to it for further information con- cerning his career.


Earl Ryan was educated in the schools of this county and then took a business course at Omaha, Nebraska. When he was seventeen years of age his parents moved to Irwin, where he remained until he was married in 1907. He then moved back to the old home place and became a partner with Charles Escher in the management of the Aberdeen-Angus Stock Farm. This farm is known as the "Pleasant View" farm, and is one of the most interesting farms to be found in the state of lowa. Among one of the many notable newspaper and magazine accounts which have appeared concern- ing this farm, the following paragraph from the "Review and Album" of the International Live Stock Exposition is here given in full :


"Picking the grand championship was no difficult task this year. The crowd on the board walks overhead had made the award in a popular sense long before it was officially confirmed. The cattle had barely been penned before it was apparent that it would clearly be an Angus year, and that these master breeders and feeders. Charles Escher. Jr .. and Earl Ryan, had left little room for competition. Of thirty-one loads shown from all over the United States, they had seven of the best."


This statement, which appeared in the 1913 International Stock Show Review, gives some indication of the wide reputation of this firm. They. keep from five hundred to seven hundred head of full-blooded Aberdeen- Angus cattle the year round. The farm consists of fourteen hundred acres of land in Greeley and Douglas townships and is well adapted to the purpose for which it is tised.


Earl Ryan was married on January 22, 1907, to Bertha M. Sessions, who was born September 27. 1886, in Mt. Vernon, Iowa, the daughter of Edward and Hulda ( Richardson) Sessions, natives of New York state. They came to Iowa about 1879 and were married after coming to this state.


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In 1900 they moved to Shelby county and located in Polk township, where they lived until 1907, when they moved to Wyoming. In 1911 they moved to California, where they are now living. Mr. and Mrs. Sessions are the parents of four children : Mrs. Grace Dobler. of Beverton, Wyoming : Mrs. Georgiana Purcell, of Irwin, Iowa: Edward. of Los Angeles. California, and Bertha, the wife of Earl Ryan. Mr. and Mrs. Ryan have two children : Charles Thomas, born October 17, 1908, and Myrtle Grace, born January 12, 1910. Mr. Ryan has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for several years. Politically, he is a Democrat but the demands of business have prevented him from taking an active part in political affairs. Mr. Ryan is still a young man with a promising future before him and the success which has attended his efforts in the past bespeak for him a more successful future.


WILLIAM M. YOUNG.


A citizen of Shelby county, Iowa, who has spent forty-five years in this county has lived throughout practically the whole of its history. Will- iam M. Young, the present postmaster of Defiance. came to this county with his parents in 1870 and has spent the remainder of his life within the limits of this county, and more than a quarter of a century in the town of De- fiance. He is essentially a self-made man, having been compelled to fight his own battles from boyhood to the present time. He farmed for a few years after his marriage and then worked for a grain elevator in Defiance, having lived in that place since 1887. Being recognized by the citizens as a capable man he was recommended for the position of postmaster and has held that responsible place for the past five years. He is a man who is in every way worthy of the respect and high esteem in which he is held by his fellow citizens.


William M. Young, the son of William and Mary A. ( Marshall) Young, was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, on June 2, 1857. His parents were natives of the same county and lived there until several years after their marriage. William Young, Sr., was a shoemaker by trade. followed this ocenpation while living in Pennsylvania and also for two years after he settled in Des Moines county, lowa. In 1870 William Young, Sr., brought his family to Shelby county and located near Kirkman, where he bought a farm of one hundred and twenty acres. He lived upon this farm until ten years ago, when he retired to Harlan, where he is now living.


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William Young, Sr., and wife were the parents of eight children, Elizabeth. Jackson, Catherine, Hannah, William, Robert, Wilson and Effie.


William M. Young received most of his education in the schools of this county and worked on the farm with his father until he was grown to manhood. He then hired out to work by the day upon farms in this county and worked this way for several years. In 1887 he moved to Defiance and became an employe of the grain firm of Hancock, Tibbals & Company and worked for this company for twenty-two years. He resigned his position upon his appointment to the postmastership of Defiance, on December 2, 1909, and has since been conducting the affairs of this office in a manner which has proven entirely satisfactory to all the citizens of the community.


William M. Young was married on December 16, 1880, to Charlotte L. Hannon, the daughter of Thomas J. and Elizabeth Hannon, and to this union have been born nine children. Melvin, Earl, Lee, Fred, Kate, William, Harris, Ella and Burns. Melvin married Maude Ballard and has two chil- dren, Maxine and Irene. Lee married Estella Ferguson. Kate is the wife of E. J. Hulsebus and has two children, Lois and Charlotte. Ella is the wife of Rudolph Hulsebus. Earl and Harris are deceased, while the rest of the children are unmarried and living with their parents.


Politically, Mr. Young classes himself with the independent voters, pre- ferring to cast his ballot at all times for men rather than for platforms. He has always taken an active part in the civic life of Defiance and has held various official positions. He has been school director for thirteen years.


MARIUS MICKELSON.


Every nation on the earth has contributed its quota to the population of the United States, and no nation has furnished better citizens for our country than has the little kingdom of Denmark. Thousands of the best citizens of that country have come to the United States and have become the most substantial citizens of the various localities in which they have settled. Fortunate, indeed, is the locality which has Danish descendants numbered among its citizens, for wherever they are found, they are always among the most substantial people of the community. The habits of thrift and frugality which they inherited from their ancestors always makes them val- uable assets to the community at large. It is unquestioned that the example set by thrifty Danish citizens has been very beneficial not only to our native


SHELBY COUNTY, IOWA.


Americans, but to the citizens of other countries as well. Among the citi- zens of Danish extraction who are now substantial men of the county there is no one who has attained more definite success than Marius Mickelson. a successful farmer of Douglas township.


Marius Mickelson, the son of Christian and Marie ( Peterson) Mickel- son, was born on March 4, 1853, in Denmark. His father was a miller by trade, his mill being operated by wind power. In 1865 Christian Mickelson came to the United States with his family and located in Nebraska City, Nebraska. For some years he was a day laborer and then started a brick yard, which he operated for several years. He then engaged in the grocery business in Nebraska City, but three years later was unfortunate enough to lose everything he had by fire. He had small insurance and consequently was left almost penniless, having invested all of his money in his store. Ile continued to live in Nebraska City until his death, October 13, 1880. Christ- ian Mickelson and wife were the parents of three children, Anna, who mar- ried Andrew Jensen, and lives in Terre Haute, Indiana: Jennie, who died soon after the family came to the United States, and Marius, whose history is here presented.


Marius Mickelson was about twelve years of age when his parents came to this country, and consequently received most of his education in his native land. He remained at home until he was twenty-one years of age and then went to Avoca. Iowa. where he clerked in a store for Messrs. Uhden & Nelson, remaining with this firm for fourteen years. In 1889 he moved to a one hundred and sixty-acre farm in section 12, Douglas township in this county, which he and his wife had previously purchased with their savings. He had never been on a farm before and knew absolutely nothing about farming. His first experiences as a farmer he now recalls with a great deal of amusement. When they first started to plow, his wife led the horses and he tried to handle the plow. He planted potatoes but planted them so deep that they never came up. Things were very discouraging for the first year or two until they found out how to carry on the simplest kind of farming. However, they persevered with true Danish courage and in the course ot time were the owners of four hundred acres of excellent land, all of which was paid for. At the marriage of their son they gave him eighty acres, and have since sold one hundred and twenty acres more. They still have two hundred acres of land, which is highly improved and one of the most pro- ductive farms of the county. He raises Shorthorn cattle and a good grade of hogs and horses.


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Mr. Mickelson was married February 29. 18So, to Olina Erickson, who was born March 26, 1852. in LaSalle county, Illinois, the daughter of Erick and Esther (Olson) Erickson, natives of Norway and early settlers of Ili- nois, coming to that state in 1849. Mr. and Mrs. Erickson were the parents of eleven children, three of whom are now living. Erick, Jr., Mrs. Martha Jolinson and Olina. the wife of Mr. Mickelson. The deceased children are Martha, Henry, Erick. Ole, Nicholas and three who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Mickelson have one son, Carl Marion, of their own and one adopted child. Carl M. was born August 14, 1881. married Mary Ethel Reynolds and has two children. Normal and Ralph: Esther Elizabeth, the adopted child of Mr. and Mrs. Mickelson, was born September 7. 1900, and is still living with her foster parents.


Mr. and Mrs. Mickelson are not active members of any church. although Mrs. Mickelson was brought up in the Methodist church and he in the Lutheran faith. Fraternally, he is a member of the Ancient Free and Ac- cepted Masons at Irwin, while both he and his wife are members of the Order of Eastern Star. He has also taken the Chapter degree and is a mem- ber of the Royal Arch, Olivet Chapter, No. 107. In politics Mr. Mickelson is a Republican but has never held any office other than that of school director.


JOSEPH WOODS.


The United States is the most cosmopolitan nation of the earth. Her citizens are drawn from every country and clime, and a residence of a few years in this country so imbues them with the American spirit that they become among our best citizens. No nation has furnished better or more patriotic citizens to this country than has the little island of Ireland. From the Emerald Isle has come many a family which has won an honored place in the community in which they chose to settle. Among the many families of Irish descent two have come to Shelby county, Iowa, there is none who is more loyal to this country than the Woods family.


Joseph Woods, the son of Peter and Agnes ( Walker) Woods, was born May 23. 1866, in county Down, Ireland. Peter Woods was a farmer by occupation and owned a small farm in Ireland before coming to the United States. In 1881 he came to this country and settled in Illinois with his family, where he lived for one year. He then moved to Mitchellville, Iowa, where he remained two years and then in the spring of 1884 permanently


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located in Shelby county. He rented land for several years and then pur- chased eighty acres of land in section 36 of Greeley township. Here he lived for three years, when he purchased three hundred and twelve acres of land in partnership with his two sons, James and Joseph. This land was in section I, of Douglas township, and on this farm he lived until his death in December, 1906. at the age of seventy-five. Peter Woods and wife were the parents of nine children, six of whom are living. the other three having died in the old country.


Joseph Woods was thirteen years of age when his parents came to this country and consequently received part of his education in his native land and completed it in Greely township in this county. He assisted his father on the home farm and remained with his parents until he was married in 1897. when he built a house on a part of the three hundred and twelve acres of land which he owned in partnership with his father and brother, taking one hun- dred and four acres for his share. He has since bought one hundred and four acres of land in section 2, of Douglas township, and fifty-two acres of his father's estate, making a total of two hundred and fifty-six acres of good land. His buildings are all of the best quality, and he has a system of piping the water over his buildings which is a model of ingenuity as well as con- venience. His farm buildings are also lighted with gas lights. He has always done general farming and stock raising, and keeps full blooded Short- horn cattle on his farm at all times. He feeds from six to eight car loads of cattle for the market each year. In the fall of 1914. Mr. Woods erected a granary and corn crib combined, thirty-four by forty-eight by sixteen feet. with a high cement foundation. It will hold seven thousand bushels of ear corn. There are seven bins in the second story, each ten feet deep.


Mr. Woods was married April 7, 1897, to Effie V. Bigler, who was born January 1, 1877, in Poweshiek county, Iowa, and is the daughter of Edward and Maggie (Grant ) Bigler. natives of Ohio and of German and Scotch descent, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Bigler were the parents of five children, of whom Effie is the oldest. Mr. and Mrs. Woods have four children living : Lester L., born October 1. 1899: Bernice MI., born June 19, 1903: Walter Glen. born February 11, 1907 and Robert J., born June 3, 1911. The oldest child, Ethel G., born March 9, 1898, died at the age of one month.


Politically. Mr. Woods is a Republican. He was school director of his township for several terms and favored every measure which would benefit the schools in any way. Fraternally, he is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons at Irwin, and he and his wife are both members


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of the Order of the Eastern Star. Mr. Woods was reared in the Presby- terian church, but he and his family are now loyal members of the Methodist Episcopal church and take an active part in all church and Sunday school work. Mr. Woods is a stockholder in the Farmers Mutual Telephone Com- pany of this county. In 1912 he made a trip to Ireland to visit his old home and returned with many interesting mementoes of his native land. He is held in high esteem by every one with whom he has been connected in any way, and he is a man of sterling honesty and high character. .


NICHOLAS LANGENFELD.


This land of ours owes a debt of gratitude to the stalwart and sturdy : European races whose sons have come in large numbers, especially during the past half century, when there was a crying need of sterling men to assist in the work of winning and developing the western states from their primi- tive wildness. The people of Germany have formed a large contingent and have ever been most welcome owing to their willingness to give their best efforts to this work. Almost without exception they have been industrious, law abiding, willing to upbuild and support our institutions and while hold- ing their native land in grateful remembrance, yet at the same time they cherish their adopted country. Among the hundreds of German citizens who have made Shelby county, Iowa, their permanent home, there is no one more worthy of mention than Nicholas Langenfeld, one of the most sub- stantial farmers of Shelby county.


Nicholas Langenfeld, the proprietor of five hundred acres of farming land in Union township, was born January 20, 1855, in Germany. He is a son of Christian and Johanna ( Eckes) Langenfeld and received all of his education in his native land. Christian Langenfeld farmed with his father until he was married and then his father gave him a small tract of land, which, in addition to a farm which he bought, made him a very respectable tract. He continued farming successfully in his native country until 1869, when he felt that he would be able to give his children much better oppor- tunities in the United States than they could ever receive in their native land. At that time there were hundreds and thousands of Germans coming to the United States, and a great majority of them at that time were settling in Wisconsin. Accordingly, in that year, Christian Langenfeld came to this country and settled in Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, where he purchased


NICHOLAS LANGENFELD AND FAMILY


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a farm of eighty acres, and here he lived until 1885, when he moved to Shelby county, lowa, and located in Lincoln township. He bought a farm here of eighty acres and lived upon it until all of his children were married. He then retired from the active labor of the farm and moved to Earling, where he lived until his death. in 1906, his widow surviving him until 1909. Christian Langenfeld and wife were the parents of nine children: Kate, the wife of Joseph Goeser : Jacob, who married Katherine Leffelman : Annie, the wife of Fred Loehr: Nicholas, whose history is here presented : August, who married Katherine Freund: Katherine. who became the wife of John Schimeroski: John, who married Mary Wieland; Michael, who married Joseph Lackman. and Mary, the wife of F. W. Wilwerding.


Nicholas Langenfeld attended school in his native land and when his parents came to the United States, in 1869, was fourteen years of age. He worked upon the farm of his father in Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, until 1881, and then went to North Dakota, where he worked for two years. In 1883 he came to Shelby county, Iowa, and rented a farm, living upon it for four years. He then purchased one hundred and sixty acres, on which he is now living, and by frugal and thrifty habits, has increased his land holdings until he now has five hundred acres of fine farming land in this county. He has two large barns, erected in 1891 and 1898. In 1905 he built a modern residence, at a cost of six thousand dollars, of twelve rooms. with hot water, bath room, gas and every modern convenience. He raises large crops of all kinds of grain common to this section of the state. and makes heavy shipments of live stock each year.


Mr. Langenfeld was married on February 19, 1884. in Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, to Katherine Krupp, the daughter of John and Clare . Krupp, and to this union have been born ten children: Casper. Clara (died at the age of six and one-half years). George, John, Dora, William, Wil- helmina, Francis, Frederick and Odelia. Casper married Annie Petsche, and has two children, Felix and Alma ; George J. married Anna Schmitz, and has one son, Leo. The reader is referred to the sketch of George J. Langenfeld, which is found elsewhere in this volume. The rest of the children are still unmarried and living with their parents. The Krupp family was also a German family and came to this country and settled in Calumet county. Wisconsin, in the early sixties. They lived there the re- mainder of their lives, rearing a family of five children: Bernard, Casper, Jacob. John and Katherine, the wife of Mr. Langenfeld.


Politically, Mr. Langenfeld is a member of the Democratic party and


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has always been more or less interested in local politics. He has served as township trustee and also on the school board of his township, giving uni- versal satisfaction in both capacities. Ile and his family are earnest mem- bers of the Catholic church, while Mr. Langenfeld holds membership in the Knights of Columbus.


PAUL K. PAULSEN.


The German immigrants to this country have been distinguished above all others for their thrift, economy and perseverance, qualities which have gained for them success almost without fail in whatever situation they have been placed. Our country can boast of no better or more law-abiding class of citizens than the great number of German people who have found homes within her borders. Though holding dear and sacred their beloved mother country they are none the less devoted to the fair country of their adoption. Wherever they settle they do their full share in the work of progress and their frugality and industry have often proven an incentive to less indus- trions citizens.


Paul K. Paulsen, son of Jens and Anna ( Boysen ) Paulsen, was born August 1, 1861, in Langenhorn, Germany. He was given a good educa- tion in the schools of his home country and when twenty-one years of age. decided to come to this country where he might find better opportunities for advancement. He at once located in Crawford county, lowa, and a year later came to Shelby county and worked at Irwin for about three months in the hardware store of Clinton Walrod. after which he started to work for Fred Cold in a general merchandise store. He worked here for about four and one-half years, and then succeeded him in the business in partnership with A. C. Allen. This partnership lasted for one year, when Peter Steen- husen bought out the interest of Mr. Allen. The firm of Paulsen & Steen- husen continued for the next five years, at which time Mr. Paulsen bought out the interest of his partner and took over the entire store, and has since 1893 managed it alone. He increased the stock in order to meet the rapidly growing demands of his trade, with the result that in 1900 he was compelled to erect a new building in order to care for his trade properly. Accordingly he put up a large twenty-five by ninety foot brick building with basement, and is now using this entire building for his stock of general merchandise. He carries a complete line of those goods which are usually handled in de- partment stores in towns of this size, and has a large trade in Irwin and the


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surrounding community. Mr. Paulsen has also invested in land in this county and now owns two hundred and seven acres of fine farming land in Polk and Jefferson townships. In 1893 he built a large, twelve-room, mod- ern house in Irwin, and in 1912 remodeled this home and made it one of the largest and most attractive homes in the city.


Mr. Paulsen was married February 26, 1888, to Marie Gorichs, who was born in Westphalia, Germany, on March 29. 1870. Iler parents, Andreas and Katrina ( Kampman ) Gorichs reared a family of eight children, George, Andreas (deceased ). William, August, Mrs. Lisette Fonken, Mrs. Dina Schwab and Carl. Mrs. Paulsen's father died in Germany in 18So, at the age of fifty-six. The Gorichs family with the exception of one son, Carl, came to the United States in 1883. The mother died in 1902 at the age of seventy-six. Mrs. Paulsen's father was a railroad man in Germany. George is living in Meriden, Kansas. Mrs. Fonken is living in Clark county, South Dakota. Mrs. Schwab makes her home in Harlan and Carl is still living in Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Paulsen are the parents of eight children, all of whom are still living with their parents but the oldest son. These children in the order of their birth are as follows: August, born March 22, 1889; Carl, born May 29, 1891; Anna, born December 25, 1892; William, born March 13, 1897; Elsie, born July 25, 1898: Alfred, born February 10. 1901 ; Theodore, born June II. 1903: Alice, born August 21, 1905. August, the eldest son, is a graduate of the civil engineering department of Ames Col- lege 1912, and is now working for the Iowa Highway Commission. Carl is a graduate of the Harlan high school 1910, took a course in the lowa Busi- ness College and is now assisting his father in the store. All of the other children are now in the public schools but Anna who is assisting in the store of her father. She is a graduate of the Harlan high school 1912 and has passed the teachers' examination in the state but has never taught school. Mr. and Mrs. Paulsen are justly proud of their interesting family of chil- dren and have given them every educational advantage.




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