USA > Iowa > Winneshiek County > Past and present of Winneshiek county, Iowa; a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 14
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Erick Anderson passed away on June 23, 1906, after an illness which lasted three months, having attained the age of seventy-nine years, five months and three days. Being one of the early pioneers of the county and a man active in its development, he enjoyed the good-will and confidence of all who knew him and his passing caused deep and widespread regret. Many of the older settlers still retain his memory, which they hold in veneration as that of a man who by his own efforts attained success-one who was as considerate of the interests of others as of his own promotion. Public-spirited and progressive, Mr. Ander- son always gave his support to worthy public enterprises and could ever be found in the front ranks of those who had at heart the public welfare. His son C. Melvin, who now operates the home farm, worthily follows in the footsteps of his father and has become recognized as one of the most progressive agriculturists of his section. He was married to Miss Josephine Thulin, of Burlington, Iowa, on December 28, 1909, she being a daughter of C. J. and Hannah (Larson) Thulin, natives of Sweden. Mr. Anderson is also a stockholder in the Nordness Creamery Company. He is prominent fraternally, being a member of the Inde-
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pendent Order of Odd Fellows, and in politics supports the democratic party. His religious faith is that of the Methodist church. He received an excellent education, being a graduate of the Decorah high school with the class of 1900 and from Purdue University in 1904 as mechanical engineer. He has ever remained a student of life and conditions, being also a discriminate reader. He takes loving care of his mother, who is now seventy-six years of age, and enjoys the respect and confidence of all with whom he comes in contact.
RICHARD E. BUCKNELL.
Although Richard E. Bucknell is but twenty-one years of age he occupies the important position of assistant cashier of the Citizens Savings Bank. A native son of Decorah, Iowa, he was born October 5, 1891, his parents being Richard and Rose ( Rima) Bucknell, natives of Iowa. The father conducts a prosperous barber shop in Decorah, having come to this city at an early day, since which time he has been identified with its business interests.
Richard E. Bucknell attended the public schools of Decorah in the acquire- ment of his education and he complemented his course by attending Valder Busi- ness College, from which he was graduated with the class of 1908. Launching out upon his business career he accepted a position of stenographer with the Citizens Savings Bank, which he held for a year and a half. He then was pro- moted to bookkeeper, serving in that capacity until January 1, 1913, when he became assistant cashier, his ability and conscientious work being greatly appre- ciated by his superior officers.
Mr. Bucknell makes his home with his parents on West Water street, where the family home has been located for many years. Fraternally he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Elks. Upon attaining his majority he affiliated with the republican party, being most attracted to that organization which is dominated by Lincoln's spirit. Capable, earnest and conscientious in the performance of his duties, it may safely be prophesied for Mr. Bucknell that a successful career will follow his auspicious beginning in the business world.
ELLIS J. HOOK.
There is much that is remarkable in the life record of Ellis J. Hook who since 1912 has been a representative of the legal profession in Decorah as a mem- ber of the firm of Boice & Hook. For many years he was successful as a school teacher and for over nine years served efficiently as superintendent of the Winneshiek county schools, doing valuable work in promoting the cause of edu- cation in this county. His work along that line can hardly be overestimated and it must be readily conceded that thereby he has done as much as any other one individual to promote advancement along intellectual and moral lines.
Born in Tazewell county, Illinois, on December 5, 1870, Mr. Hook is a son of George W. and Catherine ( Manker ) Hook, the former a native of Highland
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county, Ohio, of Irish and English descent, and the latter born near Hillsboro, Ohio, of German, English and Welsh ancestry. The parents were married in Ohio and went to Illinois in 1855, but later returned to the Buckeye state where Mr. Hook enlisted for service in the Civil war as a member of Company D, Eleventh Ohio Cavalry, remaining with that command for three years and six months or until the close of the war, when he returned to Ohio and took his family to Tazewell county, Illinois, in the spring of 1866. There he successfully followed agricultural pursuits until 1892, when removal was made to Grundy county, Iowa, where he remained in the pursuit of his occupation until 1907, removing in that year to Grundy Center, Iowa. In that city his wife passed away on October 3, 1912, but Mr. Hook is still living, being venerated and hon- ored by all who know him. In their family were eleven children of whom seven are living, as follows : Charles V., a carpenter of Bowman, North Dakota ; Luella, the wife of W. E. Kerr, a farmer of Cohasset, Minnesota ; John W., engaged in agricultural pursuits at Grundy Center, Iowa; Jennie, who married J. M. Ireland, a farmer residing near Oskaloosa, Iowa ; Ellis J., of this review ; Roy E., engaged in farming at Grand Meadow, Minnesota; and Sanford L., an employe of the Iowa Telephone Company of Des Moines, Iowa.
Ellis J. Hook attended public school in Tazewell county, Illinois, graduating from the Hopedale high school in 1890. Making good use of his educational opportunities he made himself master of what was taught him and in the fall of 1890 engaged in teaching, being so occupied in Illinois for two years. Making removal with his family to Grundy county, Iowa, in 1892, he there taught for one year and then came to Decorah with the intention of augmenting his knowl- edge. Entering the Decorah Insitute he graduated therefrom in the fall of 1894 but did not sever his connection at once, remaining for two years as teacher of the commercial department of that school. He then retrned to Grundy county where he again taught for one year, removing from there to Fort Atkinson, Winneshiek county, in the fall of 1896, becoming principal of the public schools of that city. Mr. Hook then returned to Decorah as principal of the fifth ward school on the west side and taught in this city until the fall of 1899, when he resigned in order to enter upon the duties as county superintendent of schools. His wide and varied experience and his excellent preparation for the profession well fitted him for this position, and his service was of such conspicuous benefit to the cause of education in the county that he was twice reelected, serving in all for nine years and three months in this most important office. Mr. Hook then accepted a position as traveling salesman for a Chicago supply house but after only eight months discontinued this connection to enter at last the pro- fession in which he has already established a fair reputation. He entered the law office of Clayton S. Boice in Decorah in the fall of 1909 but after one year of preliminary office work and study matriculated in the College of Law at Iowa City, graduating in June, 1912. He then became a member of the firm of Boice & Hook and was admitted to general practice by the Iowa state supreme court in 1912. A deep student of human nature, he has come in contact with many different characters as an educator and makes use of this experience as lawyer, and has quickly become recognized as one of the progressive and rising attorneys of the county. While advancement at the bar is proverbially slow no dreary novitiate awaited him as he soon demonstrated his ability. He handles the
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most intricate and important law problems with skill and ability, and although but a year in the profession, his practice is extensive and of an important character. "In all this world the thing supremely worth having is the opportunity, coupled with the capacity. to do well and worthily a piece of work, the doing of which shall be of vital significance to mankind." This maxim seems to have moved Mr. Hook when as educator he tried to the best of his ability to instruct youth and it accompanies him on his legal career and no doubt will guide him to a position where he will accomplish significant work.
In 1898 Mr. Hook was married to Miss Minnie M. Reed, a daughter of Daniel A. and Mary L. Reed, of Decorah. The parents were pioneer settlers in this part of the state and here the father died January 24, 1911. The mother is living in Decorah, and is the oldest resident of Winneshiek county.
Mr. Hook supports the republican party, keeping well informed upon the issues affecting the public. Fraternally he is a member of Winneshiek Lodge, No. 58, I. O. O. F., of Decorah, and also of the Knights of Pythias lodge. He was one of the organizers and is still a stockholder and a director of the State Bank of Decorah. For ten years he was a prominent member of the Iowa State Teachers Association and in that connection did much to stimulate the interest of its members in their vocation.
WILLIAM DRESSELHAUS.
William Dresselhaus needs no introduction to the readers of a history of Winneshiek county, for he is a representative of one of the oldest families in this section of the state and his name has been well known and honored here since pioneer times. He himself is well worthy of the honor and esteem in which it is held, for his record has only added to its luster, he standing today among the most representative and able agriculturists and most progressive and public-spirited citizens of his native township. He owns a fine farm of two hundred and thir- teen acres on section 35 and in its cultivation has met with that success which always rewards earnest and persistent labor.
William Dresselhaus was born in Pleasant township, Winneshiek county. August 26, 1865, and is a son of Bernhard and Diedrike ( Albers) Dresselhaus. natives of Germany. The father was born at Schale, province of Westphalia. on the 6th of January, 1837, and spent his early childhood in his native country. When he was sixteen years of age he came to America and lived for a number of years in the vicinity of Chicago, Illinois. In the year 1859 he moved to Pleasant township and turned his attention to farming, developing from a raw tract of land which he acquired in pioneer times a fine homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, which he continued to improve and operate until his death. He owned also another tract of eighty acres. In 1873 he joined the German Meth- odist Episcopal church, of which he was a faithful member until his death. He was one of the first members of the congregation in Canoe township and took an active part in its organization, serving for many years as a faithful trustee. He gave stanch allegiance to the republican party, taking an active part in public affairs and becoming a loyal and public-spirited citizen. He died at the home of
WILLIAM DRESSELHAUS AND FAMILY
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his son in Canoe township, November 12, 1910, at the age of seventy-three, hav- ing survived his wife since 1904. In their family were three children. Amelia is the wife of Louis Bender, of Decorah. Emma was born April 21, 1863, and became the wife of Henry Graham. She died October 18, 1903, leaving two daughters. The third and youngest member of this family is the subject of this review.
William Dresselhaus grew to manhood upon his father's farm in Pleasant township, becoming at an early age a prosperous and progressive agriculturist. He continued to reside in Pleasant township until 1904, when he moved to his present farm on section 35, Canoe township, whereon he has since resided. He owns two hundred and thirteen acres of fine land and upon it engages in general farming and stock-raising, both branches of his activities proving under his able management profitable and important. The homestead is well improved, Mr. Dresselhaus having erected a fine modern home, good barns and outbuildings, and having installed the necessary labor-saving machinery. It is one of the finest properties in this part of the state and reflects everywhere the constant and care- ful supervision of its owner.
In 1888 Mr. Dresselhaus was united in marriage to Miss Emma Ida Deters, who was born in Allamakee county, on the 26th of January, 1867, a daughter of Bernard Henry and Anna Maria ( Bucholtz) Deters, the former a native of Ger- many, born in Schale, February 2, 1830. At the age of twenty-one he came to America, landing after several weeks' voyage at New Orleans, whence he boarded a steamboat and sailed up the Mississippi to St. Louis and from there up the Illi- nois river to La Salle, where he was transferred to a canal boat and landed in Chicago on June 9, 1851. At the time of his arrival his earthly possessions amounted to just seven dollars, but he soon procured work with his brother-in- law. Henry Franzen, at Addison, Illinois, where he labored for the greater part of the time in an oil mill until the fall of 1855. Two years previously he had purchased some government land in Union City township, Allamakee county. Iowa, and in 1855 he established a home on this farin, marrying in that year Miss Anna Maria Bucholtz, who was born in Chicago, October 5, 1836. The journey into Iowa was made under hard conditions. As far as Dubuque they traveled by rail but from there they were obliged to make their way to their new home in a wagon drawn by a yoke of oxen. On the 20th of October they reached the farm, which was entirely unimproved, and the father set to work felling trees and erecting a log cabin. During the first six weeks he and his wife made their home in an old forsaken log hut without floor, windows or doors, and cut hazel brush served as their bed. In the beginning of December they moved into the log cabin which Mr. Deters and Mr. Gerling had erected on Mr. Gerling's premises and here the two families lived for one and a half years, cooking upon one stove. which had to serve for this and for heating purposes. Deer and other wild game furnished their principal rations for the first winter. In the spring of 1856 they set about breaking the virgin soil and it was soon evident that it was rich in pro- ductiveness. The two families remained together until the following year, when Mr. Deters erected a log cabin upon his own premises, and upon that property continued to reside until their deaths. Success steadily rewarded their well directed labors, Mr. Deters becoming finally one of the most prosperous and suc- cessful farmers in the section to which he came as a pioneer. He acquired exten-
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sive landed holdings and continued active in the management of his property until 1897, when he turned over the homestead to his son Louis and retired, living thus until his death, which occurred in 1911. Ile and his wife were imbued with a religious zeal and this manifested itself in active cooperation with religious work in Winneshiek county. In the early days, when a few other German fam- ilies had settled in the community, religious services were held alternately in the various homes until 1860, when Mr. Deters was instrumental in organizing the German Evangelical congregation at Eitzen. He was a stanch supporter of the republican party and he took an active interest in everything relating to com- munity growth and upbuilding, although he never sought public office for himself.
Mr. and Mrs. Dresselhaus became the parents of five children : Lilly. who was born September 20, 1880; Luella, born March 23, 1891; Eddie, whose birth occurred January 26, 1893; Willard, born November 11, 1899: and Elmer, born October 31, 1002. Mr. Dresselhaus is a devout member of the Methodist Epis- copal church and guides his honorable and upright life by its doctrines. A stanch republican, he has supported the principles of this party since casting his first vote and has been always more or less active in public life in his native section, being now in the third term of his able service as township trustee. He is a man loyal in citizenship, reliable in business, at all times public-spirited and progressive and his life measures up to the full standard of honorable manhood, his record being a credit to a name that has been known and honored in this part of lowa since pioneer times.
JAMES O. GROVES.
A native son of Decorah, James O. Groves, as owner of the Decorah Drug Company, has attained a success of which he may well be proud and is con- ducting a business which is a credit to himself and to the community. Born in Decorah in June, 1877, in the house in which he now lives, James O. Groves is a son of Andrew and Juliette ( Christopher ) Groves, natives of Norway, both of whom came to this country in their childhood with their respective parents. The father, after having reached manhood, engaged in the implement business in Decorah and conducted an establishment of this kind for several years. He eventually sold out and became connected with life insurance, being so engaged until his death, which occurred in 1908. The mother survived until November, 1911. The former also has a distinguished military record to his credit, having enlisted at Decorah, in the Twelfth Iowa Infantry, for service in the Civil war. He participated in a number of the more important battles and skirmishes and was captured at Pittsburg Landing, being held prisoner for some time before he was exchanged, when he came home. Brave and courageous, he always could be found in the front ranks of those fighting for the unity of their country and during the campaign so impaired his health that he ever after was a sufferer from the hardship which he had endured.
James O. Groves was reared under the parental roof, being grounded by his parents in the virtues of industry and honesty and educated in the city schools until he entered the School of Pharmacy of Northwestern University
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at Chicago, in order to prepare himself for a career as druggist, graduating from that institution with the class of 1901. Returning to Decorah, he worked in a local drug store for six months and then proceeded to Kansas, where he was connected with his line of business for three years, at the end of that period removing to Minnesota, where for a year and a half he acted as manager of a similar establishment. Returning to Decorah, he then worked in the drug store of R. A. Engbertson for six years and, having accumulated by thrift and industry the means, then bought the Decorah Drug Company, which he has since conducted with ever increasing success. Well prepared theoretically and practically, he gives particular attention to his prescription department, which he safeguarded in such a way that mistakes are practically impossible. All the medicines and drugs on hand are of the best kind and strictly fresh and Mr. Groves also has installed in his store a well selected line of sundries such as are usually carried in an establishment of this kind. The store is well kept, clean, modern and of such an attractive and inviting appearance that it is a distinct advantage to the city, and while Mr. Groves is attaining personal pros- perity, he contributes by means of his establishment to the expansion of the commercial life of Decorah.
In September, 1905, Mr. Groves was united in marriage to Miss Harriet Ryan, a daughter of Joseph and Clara (Lapham) Ryan, natives of Indiana and New York respectively, who now reside in Clay Center, Kansas, where the father is engaged in farming. Mr. and Mrs. Groves have three children : Elizabeth, aged six years; Leonore, aged three; and Donald, aged two.
The religious faith of the family is that of the Methodist church and Mr. and Mrs. Groves give their earnest support to its work. Mr. Groves owns a handsome residence at No. 509 Jefferson street, where both he and his wife are often the center of pleasant circles of friends who like to gather at their hospitable fireside. Politically Mr. Groves is a progressive, his sympathies being in accord with the ideals of this new party, for the realization of which he incessantly works, although he is not a politician in the everyday sense of the word. An aggressive young man of modern tendencies, he has attained a success remarkable for one of his years and has become one of the important factors in the commercial life of Decorah, where he is highly respected and esteemed by all for the position which he has reached and his qualities of mind and character which have made possible his success.
P. J. BIDNE.
One of the successful and growing business enterprises of Winneshiek county is the Highlandville Creamery, of which P. J. Bidne is half owner and operator, in which connection he has built up a satisfactory business that returns to him a gratifying annual income. He is one of the county's native sons, his birth having occurred in Highland township, September 17, 1871, his parents being John and Susie (Opheim) Peterson, natives of Norway. The former was an early settler of Highland township and after working here for a few years he returned and brought the lady who later became his wife to the new world.
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They were married in Winneshiek county, and his remaining days were spent upon his farm in Highland township, his death occurring in 1882, when he was sixty years of age. Mrs. Peterson still resides with her son on the old home farm a half mile east of Highlandville. By a former marriage she had one child, Kate, now the wife of Peter S. Bidne, of Pleasant township. The nine children born unto Mr. and Mrs. John Peterson are: Louisa, the wife of Mons Askelson, of Highland township; Peter, who died in childhood: P. J., of this review : Ole, on the old home farm; Iver, who died in 1901, when about twenty years of age : Mary, the wife of Lars K. Bjorgo, of Highland township: Julia, of Chicago; Josie, at home ; and Mary, who died in childhood.
P. J. Bidne was reared under the parental roof and continued upon his father's farm until 1889, when he secured a position in the Highlandville Creamery. He was thus employed for five years, on the expiration of which period he joined L. K. Bjorgo and M. J. Akre in purchasing the creamery. Subsequently Mr. Bjorgo sold his interest to his partners, who have since remained together in the business, owning an equal interest. Mr. Bidne is the butter maker, and the product of the creamery in butter amounts to one hun- dred and sixty thousand pounds annually, all of which is shipped to Chicago, where it commands the highest market prices owing to its excellence. They work for quality and not quantity and theirs is a model creamery, conducted in the most cleanly and sanitary way and according to the most improved modern processes, so that the products thereof find a ready sale. Mr. Bidne devotes his entire attention to the creamery business and is a busy, energetic and enter- prising man.
In June, 1898, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Bidne and Miss Anna AAkre, who was born in Pleasant township in 1875, a daughter of John and Martha Akre. In politics Mr. Bidne is a republican but has never been an office seeker. For three years he was school treasurer of the independent district and he is a member of the Big Canoe Lutheran church of Pleasant township. His life is guided by straightforward, honorable principles and his record as a business man and citizen commends him to the warm regard and unqualified confidence of those with whom he is associated.
THOMAS ENGBRETSON.
Thomas Engbretson, living retired in Madison township, making his home with his cousin, Ole O. Hove, is known as one of the early settlers in this vicinity and has long been numbered among its most progressive and repre- sentative citizens. He was born in Norway, October 20, 1843, and is a son of Engbret and Gro Thorson, also natives of that country. the parents never having come to America.
Thomas Engbretson crossed the Atlantic with the llove family in 1866 and settled in Winneshiek county in June of that year. For a time he worked as a farm hand and then turned his attention to hauling cream, following that occupation for twenty-three years thereafter and becoming known as a reliable.
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enterprising and progressive business man. Eventually he retired from active life and has since made his home with his cousin, Ole O. Hove.
Mr. Engbretson gives his political allegiance to the republican party and is a member of the Lutheran church. Since pioneer times he has been an hon- ored and respected resident of this locality and the rest which he is now enjoy- ing rewards many years of active and honorable labor.
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