USA > Iowa > Winneshiek County > Past and present of Winneshiek county, Iowa; a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 13
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of the same to his brother, who is still operating the mills in association with his sons. George Bernatz then embarked in the grocery business at the corner of Mill and Water streets and has been engaged therein to the present time, enjoy- ing an extensive and well merited patronage. He owns the store building and carries a large and well selected line of staple and fancy groceries. He is also an engineer by profession and formerly made a specialty of dam building, con- structing dams all over the country, including two at Decorah, which were built in an early day and are still in use. His dams have been very effective in check- ing floods and have proved far superior to others, which incurred damage to the amount of one or two thousand dollars annually. In 1863, when a youth of but fifteen, Mr. Bernatz enlisted in the Union army and served in the commissary department for five months. At the end of that time he contracted smallpox and was obliged to return home.
In June, 1873, Mr. Bernatz was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Shook, her parents being Jacob and Mary Shook, natives of Germany. They emigrated to the United States in an early day and located at Brownsville, Minnesota, where Mr. Shook conducted a hotel for three years. On the expiration of that period he sold out and went to La Crosse, Wisconsin, where he-also conducted a hotel for some years and then removed to Riceford, Minnesota, purchasing a farm and hotel. Several years later he went to Hokah, Minnesota, and was there engaged in the hotel business during the remainder of his life. His demise occurred in 1881, while his wife passed away in South Dakota, in 1886. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bernatz were born eight children, as follows: Nellie, who is the wife of Henry Gisen and resides at Calmar, Iowa; George, who is engaged in the milling business at Eldorado, Iowa: Bert, a railroad man who makes his home at Cal- mar; Frank, who is associated in business with his father; Mabel, the wife of Dr. Henry Diely, of Emery, South Dakota; Albert, at home; and two, who died in infancy. The wife and mother was called to her final rest on January 14, 1888, and since that time Mr. Bernatz has lived above his store, having sold his residence.
Politically Mr. Bernatz is a republican. He served as a member of the city council for three terms and also acted as a school director at Fort Atkinson, proving an able public servant in both connections. He was reared in the Cath- olic faith but is not connected with any church. His acquaintance is wide and all who know him speak of him in warm terms of praise and admiration by rea- son of his business ability and his attractive personal qualities.
CYRUS F. BARFOOT.
Cyrus F. Barfoot, who for the past nineteen years has operated his father's property of three hundred and fifty acres on sections 19 and 30, Madison town- ship, was born in Decorah in 1858, a son of Benjamin T. and Jane (Dougherty) Barfoot, natives of Ohio. The father went to Freeport, Illinois, from that state and worked at the carpenter's trade for two years, moving to Decorah, Iowa, in 1855. He there resumed his former occupation and continued at it for a num- ber of years, turning his attention to general farming in 1867. In that year he
MR. AND MRS. CYRUS F. BARFOOT
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took up his residence upon one hundred and sixty acres of land in the north- east quarter of section 30, Madison township, a property to which he had entered claim January 15, 1856. This he set about improving and developing and also the quarter section adjoining, which he had entered July 16, 1861. He after- ward bought more land and became an extensive property holder, owning at one time four hundred and thirty acres. This fine tract he continued to oper- ate until 1894, when he retired from active life and moved to Decorah, where he resided until his death, which occurred April 2, 1912. He had survived his wife only a few weeks, her death having occurred on the 12th of March of the same year.
Cyrus F. Barfoot was reared at home and educated in district schools and the public schools of Decorah. He afterward took a course in a business college at Burlington, Iowa, and after completing it returned to his native city, where he served for four years as deputy in the county treasurer's office. At the end of that time he entered his father's employ and aided in the operation of the home- stead from 18SS until 1895, in which year he bought his father's stock and machinery and rented the farm, upon which he has since resided. During the nineteen years he has operated this property success has steadily attended his well directed efforts and it is now a well improved place, upon which is a neat residence, together with substantial outbuildings and all the equipment of a model farming property. He owns in addition one hundred and sixty acres of land in western Nebraska.
On the 27th of February, 1895, Mr. Barfoot was united in marriage to Miss Carrie Yarwood, a daughter of George W. and Maria (Lee) Yarwood, the former a native of England and the latter of Wisconsin. When the father came to America he settled first in New York and in 1855 moved to Winneshiek county, Iowa, where he purchased and improved a farm in Calmar township, operating this property until his death in the fall of 1901. His wife survived him a few years, dying November 28, 1908.
Mr. Barfoot gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has always taken an active part in public affairs. He served as secretary of the school board for twelve years and is now in the seventeenth consecutive year of his service as township clerk, a position to which he has been elected nine times. He is a progressive business man and a practical farmer, who seems to recognize the value of every situation and to make the most of his opportunities. Through well directed and untiring efforts he has developed a model farm, which in its neat and attractive appearance is indicative of his life of industry and thrift.
T. H. ANSTEN.
One of the successful farmers and stock-raisers and progressive business men of Madison township is T. H. Ansten, who is living on section II. There he owns and cultivates a fine farm of one hundred and ninety-five acres which is constantly increasing in value because of the care and labor he bestows upon it. He is a native of this township and county, born September 27, 1857, his Vol. II-7
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parents being Herbrand and Engric ( Kapson) Ansten, natives of Norway. The father came to America and after remaining for a short time in Wisconsin, where he first located. came to Winneshiek county, Iowa. He bought a tract of timber land in Madison township and with characteristic energy turned his at- tention to clearing and developing this property, making it before his death, in 1890, a well improved and valuable farm. His wife survived him some years, dying in 1900.
T. H. Ansten was reared and educated in Madison township and before his father's death bought the homestead, which he has since developed and im- proved. It contains one hundred and ninety-five acres of valuable land on sec- tions 2, 11 and 14, Madison township, and upon it he has made substantial im- provements, erecting modern barns and outbuildings and installing the necessary equipment. Mr. Ansten is a stockholder in the Farmers Creamery Company and the Farmers Hog Buying Company of Decorah, and his ability is widely recog- nized in business circles.
In October, 1886, Mr. Ansten was united in marriage to Mary Jacobson Skare, a daughter of Jacob and Aase Skare, natives of Norway, who never came to America. Mr. and Mrs. Ansten have a son, Henry 1., who was born January 3, 1889.
Mr. Ansten is a devout member of the Lutheran church and he guides his honorable and upright life by its doctrines. \ stanch republican, he has never sought to figure prominently in public life, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs, and as the years have passed he has won a creditable measure of success, his diligence constituting an important element in his pros- perity.
JOHANNES B. WIST.
Johannes B. Wist has a wide acquaintance, especially in the middle west, as an editor of Norwegian-American papers, and since 1906 has been Norwegian vice consul for the state of Iowa. Ile is now editor-in-chief of the Decorah Posten and is likewise one of the publishers and editors of the Symra, a Nor- wegian-American magazine. He was born April 6, 1864, in the district of Trondhjem, Norway, his parents being Benjamin and Magdalene Wist, the former a country merchant. He acquired a good education in high schools and academies of his native country and for two years was a private tutor in the district of Osterdalen, this covering the years 1882 and 1883. While there he began writ- ing for newspapers and became correspondent to a number of publications. He also acted as reporter at many political meetings in those stormy days of Norwegian politics. In 1884 he came to the United States and throughout the intervening period to the present has been connected with the publication of Norwegian-American papers in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Glenwood and Granite Falls, Minnesota, and at Madison, Wisconsin. He entered upon active connec- tion with the Decorah Posten in 1900 and since 1901 has been its chief editor. It is a newsy, entertaining paper of national importance and with forty thousand subscribers and devoted to the interests of the Norwegian-American population
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of the United States. It is lacking in none of those things which go to make up the attractive type of modern journalism. Mr. Wist is also one of the pub- lishers and editors of the Symra, a Norwegian-American magazine, which was established in 1905, and is now treasurer of the Symra Company, which took over the publication in January, 1913. He has been much interested in Nor- wegian-American history and has done some work in that field. He has also written some poems for papers and magazines, aside from many editorials which he has penned.
On the 28th of December, 1885, at Glenwood, Minnesota, Mr. Wist was united in marriage to Miss Josephine Aasve, a daughter of Ole A. Aasve, one of the early settlers of Winneshiek county, who removed from Iowa to Kansas and later to Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Wist have four children, Clara, Benjamin, Annie and Joseph. In politics Mr. Wist is a progressive republican. He has never sought political office, but in 1906 he was appointed Norwegian vice consul for the state of Iowa and has since continued in that position. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Norwegian Lutheran Synod. Since 1912 he has been president of the Norwegian Press Association of America, and is one of the directors of the Norwegian Society of America. He has also been president of the Symra Literary Society and "Det Norske Selskab," of Decorah. He has great influence among his fellow countrymen and through the journal- istic field has labored earnestly and faithfully to promote the welfare of people of his nationality, seeking not only their material but also their intellectual and moral advancement.
TOLLEF T. ISTAD.
Tollef T. Istad, carrying on general farming and stock-raising upon eighty acres on section 22, Madison township, is one of the many industrious and suc- cessful citizens whom Norway has given to Iowa, his birth having occurred in that country, July 21, 1859. He is a son of Tollef and Engrid (Vik) Istad, also natives of that country, who came from there to Winneshiek county in 1869. They settled in Madison township, where the father rented land which he oper- ated until 1876, in which year he purchased a farm. The crops in that section of the state failing disastrously, however, he sold his property after one year and for six years thereafter farmed as a renter. At the end of that time he bought one hundred and sixty acres on sections 22, 23, 26 and 27, Madison township and improved and operated this property for seven years, selling it finally and forming a partnership with his two sons, Tollef T. and Andrew T. They purchased two hundred and forty acres of land on sections 22, 23, 26 and 27, Madison township, but the father was never active in the operation of this property. He now makes his home with A. T. Istad and is in the seventy- seventh year of his age. His wife has passed away, her death having occurred in 1902.
Tollef T. Istad was ten years of age when his parents crossed the Atlantic and he completed an education begun in Norway in the district schools of Win- neshiek county and in the Breckenridge Institute at Decorah. When he was
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twenty-one years of age he went to work as a farm hand, spending two summers in this occupation, and at the end of that time he formed the above-mentioned partnership with his father and brother, aiding in the operation of the two hundred and forty acres in Madison township. They operated this place to- gether for one year but at the end of that time Mr. Istad of this review rented out his share and became a tenant of another farm which he operated for a short time, eventually returning to the homestead. His holdings now comprise eighty acres on section 22 and the farm is well improved with substantial barns and out- buildings, all of which Mr. Istad erected. Understanding farming in principle and detail, he has made a success of his agricultural operations and is today one of the most progressive and substantial farmers in this locality.
In May, 1892, Mr. Istad was united in marriage to Miss Kjerste Bjerke, a daughter of Andrew and Sarah ( Haukedal) Bjerke, natives of Norway, who came to America at an early date and located in Winneshiek county, Iowa, where the father engaged in farming during the remainder of his life. Mrs. Istad passed away after a long illness on March 2, 1907, leaving a son, Theo- dore, who is twenty years of age.
Mr. Istad is a member of the Lutheran church and gives his political allegi- ance to the progressive party, serving for two years as treasurer of the school board. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Creamery Company and the Farm- ers Hog Buying Company of Decorah. In the township where he has made his home for so many years his life has commanded the respect and esteem of all who have come in contact with him and his success has placed him in the front ranks of progressive agriculturists.
FRED BIERMANN.
Fred Biermann, proprietor and editor of The Decorah Journal, is represen- tative of the modern, aggressive newspaper man of the times, one whose suc- cess is based upon innate ability and most careful education and preparation. Although yet a young man-or just because he is a young man-he occupies a position of importance in Decorah and Winneshiek county and again justifies the modern idea of the young man who proves his ability by the result he obtains along lines of a progressive policy. Not only is he foremost, however, in local newspaperdom but he has become a powerful factor in democratic politics, dem- onstrating his ability along that line in such a way that he not only plays a pre- eminent role in the district but even in the state.
Born in Rochester, Minnesota, on March 20, 1884, he is a son of Ewald Elliott and Martha Christina (Christopher ) Biermann, both of full-blooded Viking stock. The father was born in Christiania, Norway, on January 1, 1853, and was a son of Carl Henrik and Anne Mathea ( Olson ) Biermann. The mother of Fred Biermann was born in Springfield township, Winneshiek county, lowa, in 1854, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jens Christopher. The father was edu- cated at Nissen's school in Christiania and in 1870, with about fifty other young Norwegians, enlisted as a volunteer in the French army in the Franco-Prussian war. In the same year he came to America and a few years subsequent to that
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event became deputy county auditor of Olmsted county, Minnesota, under his brother Adolph. Subsequently he was, under his brother, deputy internal rev- enue collector during Cleveland's first administration and in 1890, when Adolph Biermann was elected state auditor-the first democrat ever elected to a state office in Minnesota-Ewald E. Biermann became his deputy. The father died in St. Paul on August 13, 1893. His wife was a student in the Decorah public schools and the University of Wisconsin. She preceded him in death, passing away in Decorah on September 1, 1889.
When a boy of but five years Fred Biermann came from St. Paul to Decorah and found a second mother in his aunt, Mary Christopher, with whom he has ever since made his home. Mr. Biermann enjoyed the best educational advan- tages obtainable. He graduated from the Decorah high school in 1901, attended the University of Minnesota from 1901 to 1904, then entered Columbia Univer- sity of New York city, from which he graduated in 1905 with the degree of B. A., attended Valder Business College of Decorah during the winter of 1905- 6 and studied law at Harvard University during 1907 and 1908. In August. 1908, he entered the employ of Myers & Holmes, proprietors of The Decorah Journal, and one month later, on September 8, 1908, bought out the interest of Mr. Myers, continuing in partnership with Mr. Holmes until March 1, 1911, when he bought out the latter and has since been sole proprietor of the Journal. The newspaper is a powerful instrument for good and progress in the com- munity, its editorials being clearly set forth and couched in such language as to leave no doubt in regard to the policy of the paper. The Journal is widely read and popular in Winneshiek county and as its circulation list grows its advertis- ing columns have increased, it now being considered one of the most valuable mediums of publicity by the commercial and mercantile fraternity of the section. The news columns of The Decorah Journal are carefully prepared and contain the important items of interest and it gives particular attention to local events and such occurrences as affect the advancement and development of the com- munity. From every point of view it is an up-to-date paper, one of the best representing the country press in Iowa, loyal in its policy to the section and honest in its opinions.
The political record of Mr. Biermann is most noteworthy for one of his years and foremost be it said that he is a democrat, and as he would express it himself, not a Bryan democrat or a progressive democrat or a conservative democrat, but just an ordinary, plain democrat. In 1908 Mr. Biermann aided in the organization of the Johnson Club of Harvard University to give support to the auspicious and conspicuously favoring pretensions of the governor of Min- nesota toward the democratic nomination for the presidency. Through the courtesy of George Fred Williams of Boston he went to the democratic state convention of Massachusetts in 1908, at Faneuil Hall, Boston, as proxy for the Fall River delegate. In the campaigns of 1908, 1910 and 1912 he took active part through the medium of his paper and in 1910 and 1912 was democratic county chairman. In the pre-convention campaign of 1912 he was fourth dis- trict manager for the Iowa Wilson League and attended the democratic national conventions of 1904, 1908, 1912 and the Iowa conventions of 1910 and 1912. To give an idea of the earnestness of his purpose it may be stated that in 1906
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he drove twelve miles to Dog Tooth postoffice in North Dakota to vote for John Burke, then first elected governor of the state. In 1912 Mr. Biermann was also secretary of the Burlington convention. Although he does not carry mem- bership in any religious society or organization, he frequently attends the Meth- odist church. As member of the Decorah Norske Selskab he upholds the tradi- tions of the family and as member of the Harvard Iowa Club keeps alive the spirit of his alma mater. While at the University of Minnesota he was a member of the Scandinavian Literary Society and the University Liberal Club and at Harvard belonged to the Edda Club, the Choate Law Club and the Dem- ocratic Club. Fraternally he affiliates with the Masons, the Knights of Pythias and the Elks. Recognizing the era of prosperity that would set in over the great northwest. Mr. Biermann, in November. 1905, filed on a claim in southern Morton county, North Dakota, fifty miles from Mandan, that state, the nearest railroad point, and in May, 1906, took up his residence there with only one neighbor in sight and proved up his land in February. 1907, still holding title to his one hundred and sixty acres. Standing but on the threshold of his career, Fred Biermann has attained already such conspicuous success that great things may be expected of him. his contemporaries and fellowmen readily conceding that he is gifted with qualities of mind and character which will guide him to a distinguished position. His conspicuous and eminently resultant political activity has been recognized and rewarded by the present administration, for on the 2d of June, 1913. Mr. Biermann received from the president the appointment of postmaster of Decorah, taking over the office on June 16. There is no doubt that in the discharge of his new duties he will not only prove highly efficient but will find occasion to make many new friends.
ERICK ANDERSON.
The name of the late Erick Anderson is closely connected with the early pioneer history of Winneshiek county, for he came here in 1850 and for the remainder of his life was connected with mercantile and agricultural pursuits, while he also held official positions of prominence. His memory is still fresh with his many friends and his name will go down as one who did much toward promoting advancement and general development. A native of Norway, Erick Anderson was born on January 20, 1827, and in 1839 emigrated with his parents to America, their first landing being made in Boston. They proceeded by rail and water to New York and thence by the Hudson river to Albany, and via the Erie canal to Buffalo, where they embarked on board a steamer for Chicago, Illinois. That city was then but a small town and there they located. remaining until 1845. when they removed to McHenry county, Illinois, where Mr. Ander- son worked at various occupations. For the first four years he held the posi- tion of errand boy and then worked for one season as cabin boy on a steamer plying between Chicago and St. Joseph, Michigan. He was afterward employed in a newspaper office for two years and then entered a seminary at Beloit, Wis- consin, in order to improve his education, remaining there for one year. In 1847 Mr. Anderson removed to Muskego, Wisconsin, where he found employment as
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ERICK ANDERSON
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a compositor in the office of the Nordlyset ( Northern Light), the first Nor- wegian paper published in the northwest. Mr. Anderson had the distinction of setting the type for the first issue. In 1848 he went to Madison, Dane county. Wisconsin, where he was employed as a clerk in a general store, and in 1850 he and his party made their advent in Winneshiek county, where he entered land in the southern part of Springfield township. However, he did not engage at once in its cultivation but accepted a position as clerk in a general store at Frankville and remained there two years. He then made his way to Ossian, where he established himself independently in the general merchandising busi- ness, and was so engaged for four years, at the end of which time he moved to his land, where he made his home until 1861, when he was elected to the position of sheriff of Winneshiek county. That he discharged his duties to the satisfac- tion of his constituents is evident from the fact that in 1862 he was reelected. At the expiration of his term he again moved to his farm, which contained two hundred and sixty-five acres, to the cultivation of which he gave his sole at- tention, making valuable improvements and erecting substantial buildings. As the years passed by he attained prosperity and his property enjoyed the reputation of being one of the most valuable in its district.
On November 6, 1851, Mr. Anderson was united in marriage to Miss Anna Holverson, who died about a year later. Of this union was born one daughter, Elizabeth A. Mr. Anderson was again married, the second union being with Miss Louisa Hanson, the ceremony taking place on July 15, 1856. Seven children were born of this union, Edgar. Albert, Henry. Lorenzo, William, Oscar, and Louisa. Mrs. Louisa Anderson passed away May 16, 1876, and on October 8. 1877, Mr. Anderson married Mrs. Mary (Opdahl ) Thompson, by whom he had one son. C. Melvin, who now operates the home farm of one hundred and ninety- two acres on section II, Springfield township. Mrs. Mary Anderson is a daughter of Knud and Marit ( Iveson ) Opdahl, natives of Norway. They came to Winne- shiek county in the early period of its history, the father engaging in agricultural pursuits for the remainder of his life upon the farm which Mrs. Anderson still owns. The father died at the age of sixty-nine years in March, 1875, his wife surviving until December 18, 1882.
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