USA > Iowa > Woodbury County > Sioux City > Past and present of Sioux City and Woodbury County, Iowa > Part 14
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CHRISTEN ANDREAS LUND OLSON.
The students of American history who watch the trend of events and the signs of the times and who have watched with interest the work of different nationalities in the new world, all unite in bearing evidence to the value of the people of Norway as an element in our Ameri- can citizenship. The great northwest has largely been peopled by the representatives of the land of the midnight sun-men of sturdy, honest race, who have wrought a marvelous develop- ment in this portion of the country, promoting
its material, intellectual and moral welfare. To this class belongs Mr. Olson, who, coming to this country empty-handed, has steadily worked his way upward through energy and perseverance and at the same time has ever fully performed his part as a loyal and pro- gressive citizen of the community in which he resides.
Mr. Olson was born in the city of Skein, Norway, December 1, 1838, and is descended from the Norse vikings. He was only about seven years of age at the time of his parents' death and he and his five brothers were thus orphaned. He was the second in order of birth. Four of the sons are now in this country: An- ton, who is in the employ of the government at Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Martin, who is treas- urer of Polk county, Wisconsin; John P., who follows farming near Sloan, Woodbury county, and has served as supervisor; and Christen A. L. Olson. Two brothers remain in the old country. One is a sea captain and harbor mas- ter in Skein, and the youngest brother is now one of the leading physicians of Norway. When a boy he went to live with an uncle, an old sea captain, who gave him his name-Ingobred Holm. He established a great summer resort where there were three springs, which he dis- covered possessed excellent medicinal quali- ties if used for bathing purposes. The springs were given him that he might build and furnish bathhouses there. This he did and has also established a great bathing place at Christiana.
C. A. L. Olson, leaving school at the age of fourteen years, went to sea, making his first trip in 1852. He afterward studied naviga- tion and completed his course by graduation in the spring of 1858. It was in June, 1860, that he came to the United States, locating in Mil- waukee, Wisconsin, where he continued his seafaring life as a sailor on the lakes until 1867. He then came to Iowa, settling in Fair- view township, Monona county, where he pur- chased a tract of land and developed a farm, continuing its cultivation and improvement
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until 1851, when he took up his abode in Sloan, in Des Moines; Carrie and Clarence, both of Woodbury county. There he engaged in gen- this city; Edwin, who is associated with his brother Carl in the grocery business and is also in Everest's coal office as bookkeeper: Robert and Dora, at home on the farm. eral merchandising, also dealing in farm im- plements and grain, but when elected county auditor he sold his store and came to Sioux City. His first official service had been that Mr. and Mrs. Olson are members of the Nor- wegian Lutheran church but attend services at the English Lutheran church in Sioux City. They have a fine home at 2111 Douglas street and his property interests are indieative of his life of thrift, industry and able management of his business affairs. His course in America has always been such as to command for him the respect and good will of his fellow men, and in Woodbury county he is numbered as a foremost citizen, whose labors have been of value in community affairs. of school director, to which position he was elected for a term of two years while living in Fairview township. He was also assessor there for one term and while in Sloan served as school director, acting as president of the board for six years. He was also elected councilman when the town was incorporated and was ap- pointed fire chief and organized the Sloan fire department. In 1892 he was elected auditor of Woodbury county and in January, 1893, removed to Sioux City and entered upon the discharge of the duties of the office, in which he was continued for three terms, being twice re-elected-a fact which indicates that he was a most capable official, discharging his duties F. M. DOVE. with promptness and fidelity. He was elected alderman at large in 1900 and again in 1902, his second term expiring in the spring of 1904. Ilis political support has always been given the Republican party. During his residence in Sioux City he has also been identified with business interests here. He was at one time owner of the business conducted under the name of the Hawkeye Fuel Supply Company, but sold out in 1903. Six years ago he pur- chased a farm of two hundred acres, and to its supervision he devotes his time and attention.
Mr. Olson was married in Milwaukee, Wis- consin, December 11, 1867, to Miss Alvikde Claudia Rasmussen, who was born in Rudk- jobing, Langeland, Denmark, December 19, 1846, a daughter of Carl Flamarion and Doris (Matzen) Rasmussen. She came to America in 1864, and by her marriage has become the mother of ten children : Sarah, who is now in the county auditor's office; Ella, who is teach- ing in a seminary in Halifax, Nova Scotia: John A .; Carl, who is a member of the firm of Olson Brothers, grocers of Sioux City; Osear,
For fifteen years this gentleman has made his home in Woodbury county and has been actively identified with the business interests of Dan- bury, where he now makes his home. He was born in northwestern Kentucky on the 15th of November, 1845, and is a son of John and Susan ( Develin) Dove. The father died before the birth of our subject and he was only six years old when his mother passed away. Dur- ing the Civil war he espoused the Union cause and in 1863 enlisted in the Seventeenth Illinois Cavalry, with which he served for two years and eight months, being discharged at Spring- field, Illinois, in 1865.
The following year Mr. Dove came to Iowa and has since made his home in this state. IIe was married in 1872 to Miss Sarah Jane Taft, a native of Illinois, whose parents came from New York state. Three children blessed this union, namely: Mrs. Anna Weir, Mrs. Odie E. Rumple and Frank .1. The older daughter is now engaged in the confectionery business in Danbury and also deals in bakery goods and
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groceries, while Mr. Dove now devotes his at- tention to the real-estate and exchange business.
Fraternally, Mr. Dove is an honored member of the Grand Army of the Republie and politi- cally he is identified with the Democratic party. He has been a strong Bryan man and in 1904 advocated the nomination of Mr. Hearst for president. He has held local offices and his official duties were always capably and satisfac- torily performed.
LUTHER C. SANBORN.
Luther C. Sanborn, honored and respected as one of the most successful business men of Sioux City, was a pioneer lumber merchant and manufacturer of this portion of the country, and as a member of the firm of Sanborn & Fol- lett established many lumber mills and thus promoted an industrial activity that proved of the greatest benefit to the region. Business en- terprise is the handmaiden of civilization, for the establishment of commercial and industrial interests is always closely followed by the in- troduction of all the improvements and advan- tages known to an advanced civilization, and as the pioneer in the lumber business of north- western Iowa Mr. Sanborn did much toward laying the foundation for the present progress and prosperity of his adopted city and state.
Mr. Sanborn was a young man of twenty- nine years when, in 1856, he arrived in Sioux City. His birth occurred in Chester. New Hampshire, April 28, 1827, his parents being Rufus and Betsey (Fitz) Sanborn, both of whem were natives of New Hampshire. The father spent his entire life in that state and thronghont his business eareer engaged in farm- ing. His widow, coming to the west, died at the home of her son in Tabor, Iowa. There were six children in the family, of whom two are living: Dr. J. F. Sanborn, formerly a dent- ist of Tabor, Iowa, and later of Huntington, Indiana, and Frank Sanborn, of Colorado.
Those deceased are: Luther C .; Fannie, wife of John Green; Mrs. Mary Cox, who lived in Colorado; and J. R., who was mayor and a very prominent citizen of Yankton, South Dakota, where he died.
After attending the common schools of Ches- ter, New Hampshire, Luther C. Sanborn be- came a student in a college in New Hamp- shire, from which he was graduated. He began teaching in his native state and fol- lowed that profession in many small towns of New Hampshire prior to his removal to the west. A mental review of the possibilities and opportunities afforded by the east and the west determined him that he might enjoy superior advantages in Iowa, which was then rapidly developing, so making his way to Sioux City he kept pace in his business career with its rapid progress, developing a business in propor- tion to the increase of the town and also extend- ing his efforts into other districts. He entered into partnership with Judson Follett, a sketch and picture of whom are given elsewhere in this volume. They established a lumber business in Sioux City and built mills here and in many other places, becoming known as pioneer lum- bermen and the most extensive dealers in their line in this part of the country. Mr. Sanborn continued in active connection with the business until his death, and his sound business judg- ment, foresight, energy and recognition of possi- ibilities were among the strong elements in the suceess which attended the firm. The business relations of the partners were most harmonious, and the labors of the one ably supplemented the efforts of the other, thus constituting a strong firm. The house bore an unassailable reputa- tion in trade circles and the volume of business constantly increased but Mr. Sanborn never al- lowed the accumulation of wealth to affect in any way his actions toward those who were less fortunate finaneially. He stood in his later years, when surrounded by a handsome eom- petence, just where he stood when a young man with few pecuniary resources-for all that is
L. C. San born
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ennobling and uplifting in life and for honor- county's most valuable citizens. Mrs. Sanborn able, straightforward dealings and actions be- tween man and man.
Mr. Sanborn was married in Somerville, Massachusetts, to Miss Augusta Frances Wood- bury, of Boston, Massachusetts, who died in Sioux City. She was a daughter of Thomas and Martha Woodbury. There were two chil- dren of that marriage: Helen Augusta, who died in 1873, at the age of eight years, and Woodbury, a prominent business man of Sioux City of the firm of Woodbury Sanborn, dealer in coal, wood, lime, cement and other building materials. In 1879 Mr. Sanborn was again married, his second wife being Miss Mary Hel- en Green, a native of Waltham, Massachusetts, and a daughter of George and Mary Il. (Dix) Green, who were also born in that state. Iler father was a member of the Boston Manufac- turing Company, dealers in eloth in Boston, and both he and his wife died in the east. Unto Mr. Sanborn and his second wife was born a son, Arthur Green, who died at the age of five months.
Mr. Sanborn passed away December 22, 1901. There were many traits in his character which endeared him to those with whom he came in contact, which won him the respect of his business associates and the confidence of his employes and made him a man among men, whose life record is worthy of emulation. In the early days he was a member of the city conneil of Sioux City and he always took a deep and helpful interest in her welfare and upbuilding. For ten years he served on the school board and he gave to the Democracy his politieal allegiance. He was a member of St. Thomas Episcopal church, to which his widow belongs, and he took great interest in church work and the extension of its influence. As the years went by he not only grew in wealth, but in character and in the regard of his fellow men, and when death eame his host of friends, as well as his immediate family, felt that they were bidding adieu to one of Woodbur:
owns and occupies a beautiful residence at No. 1401 Pierce street and will continue to make her home in the city where she is so well and favorably known.
S. H. SANTEE.
S. H. Santee, one of Woodbury county's most prominent and prosperous young farmers and stock-raisers, was born on the 15th of February, 1871, in Monongalia county, West Virginia, and is a son of A. J. and Lou (Shriver) Santee, also natives of that county, the former of French and the latter of German descent. The father was born in 1828 and continued to make his home in West Virginia until 1885, which year witnessed his arrival in Woodbury county, lowa. On the 31st of January, 1889, he organ- ized the Danbury State Bank, of which he is now vice-president, and his son, I. B., is cashier. In early life he made farming his principal ocenpation and in his business undertakings has met with most gratifying success. He is a rep- resentative Virginian, of the old-school style of gentleman, and although he is now seventy- six years of age, he is still hale and hearty and able to attend to his business affairs, but leaves the active management of the farm and bank to his sons. His career has ever been such as to command the respect and confidence of the busi- ness world and he is held in the highest regard by all who know him. He lives with our sub- ject upon the home farm, his wife having died in 1889 at the age of fifty-five years. In their family were three sons but one is now deceased, those living being I. B., of Danbury ; and S. HI., of this review.
S. H. Santce came with his parents to this county and has spent his entire life upon the old homestead west of Danbury, which is one of the best appointed stock farms in Woodbury county. It consists of four hundred acres of splendid bottom and hill land, well improved with good and substantial buildings, which can
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be seen for miles around. Besides the barns and died at the age of seventy-two years. He was other outbuildings there are cattle-sheds and the elder of two children and was only twelve years of age at the time of his father's death, whereby he was thrown upon his own resources, so that whatever success he achieved was the direct result of his own labor. three large feeding-pens, for here stock-raising is carried on quite extensively, there being about four hundred and fifty head of fine cattle upon the place. Mr. Santee shipped sixteen carloads in the spring of 1903 and ten carloads in the fall of the same year. There are few young men in the county that have had as ex- tended a business experience as he and have met with such success, for he attends to all the de- tails of the large stock business in which he is interested, herding, feeding, shipping and sell- ing all the cattle raised upon the farm.
On the 28th of September, 1893, Mr. Santee was united in marriage to Miss Mary Virtue, a daughter of John Virtue, who was a soldier of the Civil war and was one of the many citi- zens that the Keystone state has furnished to Iowa. Three children bless this union: Louis H .; I. Benton, who was named for his illustri- ous unele, Colonel I. B. Santee, of Danbury; and John. In his social relations our subject is a Royal Arch Mason. The family to which he belongs has been one of prominence in the community for many years, its members stand- ing high both in business and social circles.
JOHN BECK.
John Beck, connected with the industrial in- terests of Sioux City as a contractor and build- er, has made his home in this city for more than four decades, and his operations along con- structive lines have resulted in public benefit as well as individual prosperity. He was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, in 1833, a son of Nicholas and Margaret Beck, both of whom came from Germany in 1832 and locat- ed in Pennsylvania. The father was a farmer by occupation and throughout his remaining days devoted his attention to agricultural pur- suits in the Keystone state. He passed away in 1879, in his eightieth year, and his wife
John Beck, reared and educated in Penn- sylvania, left home in the spring of 1857. He had previously learned the carpenter's trade in his native state, and on emigrating westward he took up his abode in the embryo county seat of Woodbury county and has since been a fac- tor in the building operations in Sioux City. He built many of the original homes and has erected some of the prominent public buildings, including the Academy of Music, at the corner of Fourth and Pearl streets, the E. R. Kirk's residence in 1867; the Shewline building, at the corner of Pearce and Fourth streets; the row of buildings from Douglas street to the alley on Fourth street; the Gilman block; the residence and business block of Daniel Hedges ; the elevator at the city mills; the Wales block and others. At one time he operated the plan- . ing mill known as the Sparks planing mill, now called the Curtis Sash & Door Company, of which he became owner in 1871. He was alone in the business for two years and then sold out to Andrews & Fletcher. Early build- ing operations and industrial interests were greatly promoted by him and he did much in behalf of his city.
In 1857 Mr. Beck was united in marriage to Miss Nancy Culbertson, of Somerset county, Pennsylvania, and their children are Irene, Maggie, Eva and William Edwin. The family attend the Presbyterian church, of which Mr. Beek has been a member since 1859, and in its different branches of activity he has taken a deep interest. While also actively interested in community affairs and desirous for the ad- vancement of the city along material, social, intellectual and moral lines, he has never sought or desired political office, although at one time he was a member of the city council.
MRS. JOHN BECK.
JOHN BECK.
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JOHN A. WOOD.
John A. Wood is one of the most enterprising and progressive citizens in his section of Wood- bury county. Ile is engaged in merchandising in Rock Branch as proprietor of a grocery store, where he has carried on business for the past twenty-four years. He is also identified with many other interests of a commercial and in- dustrial nature and the activity of the village is largely promoted through his efforts.
Mr. Wood is a native son of Iowa, his birth having occurred in Tama county on the 11th of April, 1858. His father, Alfred Wood, was a native of Massachusetts and in that state was reared. When a young man he made his way to the west, settling in Michigan, and about 1854 or 1855 he came to Iowa, locating in Tama county, where he secured a traet of new land and developed a farm. It was there he reared his family. He was twice married, his second wife being Sevena Bevan, whom he married in Iowa City, while serving on the jury at that place. She was a native of England and came to the United States when a young lady of seventeen years with an aunt and some Mormon emigrants. She left the company, however, and married Mr. Wood in Iowa City. There were eight sons and one daughter born of this marriage, namely: John A., of this re- view, who is the eldest; Lorenzo, of Tama county; Sherman, who resides in Minnesota ; Albert, of Calhoun county, Iowa; Arthur, of Tama county: Beatrice, the wife of Roland Witwer, of Tama county; and Fred, of Tama county. There is also a half brother, Charles Wood, of Tama county, who is engaged in the real-estate business. The other members of the family have passed away.
John A. Wood had but limited school privi- leges, for at an early age he began to earn his own living. When a lad of thirteen years he entered a printing office, serving a regular ap- prenticeship at that trade, and his experience there gained added so greatly to the knowledge that he had acquired in school that he was quali-
fied for teaching and for several terms followed that profession in Tama and in Woodbury coun- ties. He arrived in this county in 1878 and dur- ing the summer months he engaged at farm labor, while in the winter seasons he taught school. In 1880 he built a business house in Rock Branch and opened a stock of groceries, continuing in that trade in or near his present location for ahnost a quarter of a century. He has secured a good patronage by honorable methods, reasonable prices and an earnest de- sire to please his customers. Mr. Wood is also a natural mechanic and about 1890 he built a - blacksmith and repair shop adjacent to his store and with the assistance of two sons he conducts business in that way. Hle likewise has a job printing press in his store and also does work in that line. In connection with A. W. Hat- field and his son Wesley he was one of the pro- moters of the rural telephone exchange, put in a number of miles of line and many telephones. This has become an important enterprise to the rural community. Mr. Wood is indeed a suc- cessful, all-around business man, well informed concerning the stock market. He possesses a retentive memory and has a broad fund of gen- eral information.
Mr. Wood was married in Woodbury county, December 25, 1879, the lady of his choice being Miss Mary Wilcox, who was born in Clinton county, Iowa, and is a daughter of John Wil- cox, a native of Illinois, who when a young man came to this state and was married here to Ellen May. He removed from Clinton county to Woodbury county and here reared his family. Mr. and Mrs. Wood are the parents of seven children, six of whom are living: Walter, a me- chanie and horseshoer, who works in his father's blacksmith shop; Florence, the wife of George Bare, a resident farmer of Woodbury county, by whom she has a daughter, Effie; Wesley A., Pearl, Robert and Violet. They also lost one son, John, who died in infancy.
Mr. Wood has been a life-long Republican and takes quite an active part in polities. Ile was
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appointed postmaster at Rock Branch in 1880, and has since served the people in that capacity with the exception of a brief period of eleven months. He also was elected and served as township collector and as township clerk, was secretary of the school board and has been a delegate to a number of county conventions of his party. Mrs. Wood is a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church and Mr. Wood is a Mas- ter Mason, belonging to the lodge at Correction- ville. He is also connected with the Modern Woodmen of America. His activity in busi- ness, his capability along many lines and his strong and honorable purpose have been the sa- lient features in his career and have led to his prosperity. He is indeed well known as a lead- ing citizen of his part of the county and as such well deserves representation in this volume,
J. C. C. HOSKINS.
J. C. C. Hoskins was born under the west- ern shadow of the White mountains, at Lyman, Grafton county, New Hampshire, on the 18th day of January, 1820. His father was Samuel Hoskins, a reputable country physician of large practice and very small income. His mother was Harriet Byron, daughter of Caleb Cushing, of Orange, New Hampshire, who late in life removed to Charlestown, in Maine, where he died Angust 22, 1853. On both sides his ancestors were among the earliest settlers of Massachusetts, only one-a Scotch Presby- terian from Ireland-having arrived later than 1750, so that he is by descent a veritable Yan- kee of the Yankees. Of his ancestors in the direct line the Hoskins family were at Scituate in 1634, and the Cushings at Hingham in 1635, as were also the Hawke and the Lincoln families; the Reeds were in Weymouth in 1635; the Cobbs on Cape Cod before 1640; and John Drake came over with Winthrop; and his cousin Thomas Drake came to Wey- month in 1653; the Cottons were in Boston ;
the Sawyers at Lancaster and near Newbury- port ; the Wainwrights and Ambroses in Es- sex county before 1660; and after careful re- search he finds no progenitor except his great- grandfather, John Church, the Presbyterian elder from North Ireland, coming in 1752, and the Huguenot, Jacques Pineaux, the father of Dolly Pinneo, his great-great-grandmother, fa- mous to this day among her descendants for her personal beauty and her magnificent golden hair, that arrived in New England from the old world subsequent to the year 1690. Through these numerous families he inher- its a common blood with all New England peo- ple whose ancestors migrated from England previous to the Revolutionary war, and, wher- ever family histories have been preserved, he has no difficulty in tracing the blood relation- ship with all such, at least within the eighth degree, and finds them generally, like himself, proud of their descent.
William Hoskins, his ancestor in the seventh degree, was at Scituate in 1634, a freeman of Plymouth colony in 1638, was an esquire in 1642, and presumably, therefore, a respectable and religious man and well-to-do in the world. His son William, as well as William Reed and Thomas Drake, was a member of the colony that purchased Bristol county from the Indians and settled at Taunton, from which place his numerous descendants have spread far and wide over the northern and middle states. He came from Norfolkshire, in England, and was by trade a wheelwright. His descendants down to the grandfather of Mr. J. C. C. Hoskins (as tradition reports of his ancestors also), have been mechanies or farmers of the middle class. Few of them have been needy, fewer have been rich, few of them ignorant but not many of them college bred, very few merchants or lawyers and fewer clergymen or physicians, much dis- posed to have their own way, tolerably ready to hear argument and be led by reason, but quick to oppose any show of assumed author- ity ; in every conflict for individual freedom,
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