USA > Iowa > Winneshiek County > Past and present of Winneshiek county, Iowa; a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 24
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his wife became the parents of three children: Eber, who is engaged in farming in Springfield township; Charles, deceased ; and Walker of this review.
Walker De Cou was reared upon the family homestead in Military township and acquired his education in the district schools. From his early boyhood he assisted with the work of the farm and thus he early became familiar with the details of farm operation, gaining an experience and knowledge which has been invaluable to him in later years. He has never left the homestead, which he now owns and operates, giving his attention to farming and stock-raising, and success has steadily attended his well directed and practical labors. He is today in control of one of the finest agricultural properties in this part of lowa, well managed and substantially improved and reflecting in its neat and attractive appearance the careful supervision of its owner.
Walker De Cou married Mrs. Cornelia ( Rusling) McWade, the widow of George McWade, by whom she had two daughters: Lelia, the wife of Arthur Soell, a chemist in La Crosse, Wisconsin; and Marie, who married Harry Alexander, accountant with the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad at Chicago, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. De Cou have a son, Oliver, who lives at home.
Fraternally Mr. De Cou is identified with the Masonic order and the Modern Woodmen of America, and his religious views are in accord with the doctrines of the Episcopal church. Like his father, he is a stanch democrat and interested in the welfare and growth of the party, although he never seeks office for him- self. His record is a credit to his name, which has long been an honored one in this part of Iowa, and he commands the respect and confidence of all who are in any way associated with him.
OLE GULLIKSON.
Ole Gullikson, who since 1897 has been prominently connected with agri- cultural interests of Lincoln township, owning and operating his present farm of eighty acres on section 16, was born in this part of Winneshiek county, March 21, IS61. He is a son of Gullik Thompson and Sarah (Olson) Gullikson, of whom further mention is made elsewhere in this work in connection with the sketch of Theodore Gullikson.
Ole Gullikson remained at home until he was seventeen years of age and then went to South Dakota, where he remained for about two months. He then spent eight months in North Dakota and in the spring moved to Minnesota. After a short stay in that state he returned to Winneshiek county and at the end of eight years went again to Minnesota, where he spent two years in the Red River country. However, his property was destroyed at the time of the floods in that district and he returned home. Here he farmed on rented land for three years but in 1897 purchased the eighty acre tract upon which he has since resided. This property has been improved with substantial barns and outbuildings and Mr. Gullikson has neglected nothing that would add to its attractive appearance or its value. He engages in general farming and stock-raising and as the years have gone by his energy, industry and capable management have brought to him well earned and justly merited success. For the past thirty years he has oper-
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ated a threshing machine for himself and his neighbors, and this branch of his activities has proven very profitable.
On the 2d of February, 1885, Mr. Gullikson was united in marriage to Miss Dena Botner, a daughter of Erick and Maren Botner, natives of Norway, both of whom have passed away. Mr. and Mrs. Gullikson have become the parents of six children: Aha, who is the wife of Bert Butz, of Ridgeway; Edna, of North Dakota: Alfred, whose home is in Saskatchewan, Canada; Lillian, at home ; Gleora, also residing in North Dakota ; and Henry, at home.
Mr. Gullikson gives his political allegiance to the republican party and is a devout member of the Lutheran church. One of the successful farmers and business men of Lincoln township, he is well known throughout Winneshiek county. During his life he has carefully noted and utilized his opportunities, making each moment count, and his example of unremitting industry and per- severance is one well worthy of emulation.
HENRY J. FRETHEIM.
Agricultural and stock-raising interests of Madison township find a pro- gressive and worthy representative in Henry J. Fretheim, who owns two hun- dred and forty acres of fine land on sections 20 and 28. He is one of Winne- shiek county's progressive and successful native sons, his birth having occurred August 1, 18;2. His parents, Jens and Asa ( Hellen) Fretheim, were born in Norway and the father came to America and located in Wisconsin at a very carly date. AAfter a short time spent in that state he moved to Allamakee county, where he lived a year or two, and then came to Winneshiek county, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Madison township, improving and developing this fine property until his death, which occurred in 1887. His wife survived him for a number of years, dying in March, 1912.
Henry J. Fretheim was reared and educated in Madison township and after completing the course in the district schools attended Valder's Business College at Decorah. After his father's death the homestead came into his possession but he did not immediately take up his residence upon it, renting the land and going to Decorah, where he resided for nine years thereafter. At the end of that time he came back to the farm, turning his attention to its operation, and since that time he has made his home upon the property, which under his able manage- ment has become profitable and productive. The land lies on sections 20 and 28, Madison township, and Mr. Fretheim has added to the original tract until his holdings now comprise two hundred and forty acres.
On the 17th of March, 1807. Mr. Fretheim was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Hove, a daughter of Knut and Cornelia ( Fendring) Hove, natives of Norway, who located in Winneshiek county and moved from there to Dakota, where the father took up land, which he is still operating. His wife passed away in the fall of 1912. Mr. and Mrs. Fretheim have become the parents of seven children : Joel : Glora ; Herman ; Clarissa ; Lloyd ; Parnell ; and Evelyn, who died in 1899.
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Mr. Fretheim owns a fine home on Franklin street in Decorah and is a stock- holder in the Farmers Hog Buying Company of that city. His political allegi- ance is given to the republican party and he is a devout member of the Lutheran church. He stands high in both a business and a social sense and well deserves mention as one of the representative agriculturists of Winneshiek county.
GUSTAVE JOHNSON.
Gustave Johnson makes his home an section 21, Glenwood township, where he owns and operates a tract of land of one hundred and forty-seven acres. He began farming twenty-six years ago, previous to which time he had been iden- tified with journalistic and publishing interests. He started out in life on his own account when but twelve years of age and whatever success he has achieved has come to him as the merited reward of his industry, perseverance and capable management. He was born near Christiania, Norway, October 18, 1855. and is a son of Andrew and Anna Johnson, who in the year 1864 crossed the Atlantic and became residents of Madison, Wisconsin, where their remaining days were passed. The father was a merchant tailor and conducted a store in Madison, also owning a farm near that city. He likewise was the leader of two bands in Madison, the Lake City Cornet Band and the Governor's Guard Band. In early life he had spent four years in Berlin as a musician and had led bands in Norway. He possessed much natural musical talent which he cultivated through continuous study and practice. He was married in Norway and in that country three of his children were born two of whom died in Norway in early life. Four others born in the United States who have passed away are: Julia, who died in Chicago in 1912: Emma and Clara, who died of diphtheria when sixteen and eighteen years of age respectively; and Carl, a jeweler who died at the age of twenty-one years. The surviving members of the family are Gustave and Mrs. Bertha Muggy, of Seattle, Washington.
Gustave Johnson resided with his parents in Wisconsin until fifteen years of age but in the meantime began earning his living as an employe in a printing house. He worked on Norwegian papers in Madison and at Marshall, Wisconsin, and remained in the newspaper field for twenty years, being employed in several states, including Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota. He also worked for nine years in a publishing house in Decorah but twenty-six years ago turned his attention to general agricultural pursuits, settling on his present farm of one hundred and forty-seven acres on section 21, Glenwood township. It is an excellent property and most of the improvements have been made by him. He makes stock-raising the principal feature of the place, feeding all of the grain raised to his stock. He has led a busy and useful life and his success is the legitimate outcome of his earnest and intelligently directed labors.
In 1881 Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Henrietta Sander, who was born in Winneshiek county in 1861, a daughter of Brede B. and Karen Sander, who were natives of Norway and came to the United States in 1851, arriving in Winneshiek county when Decorah contained but three houses. They continued to reside upon the farm in this county throughout their remaining
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days. The mother, who was born January 20, 1821. died in Madison township, August 2, 1868. The father, who was born January 12, 1822, passed away October 9, 1905. He was a pioneer farmer of both fowa and Dakota. He entered land here when Winneshiek county was upon the frontier and afterward secured claims in Dakota, but later returned to this county where he continued to reside until called to his final rest. It was in 1871 that he took up his abode upon the farm which is now owned and occupied by Mr. Johnson. Mr. and Mrs. Sander were the parents of seven children: Jane, the wife of C. M. Hanson, of Lincoln township: Brede, who died in South Dakota; Anton, who won the degree of Ph. D. and was a professor in the Flushing Institute of New York but is now deceased ; Anna, the wife of Rev. C. N. Peterson, of Hibbing, Minnesota ; Ellen. the widow of O. E. Bakke, of Frankville township: Henrietta, now Mrs. John- son ; and Bernt, of Glenwood township.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have been born nine children: George, who was an electrical engineer but is now deceased; Charles: Emma, the wife of C. D. Hexom, of Allamakee county ; Mabel, who died at the age of ten years; Lily ; Esther ; Anna ; William ; and Arthur.
Mr. Johnson has been quite prominent in local affairs and his influence is ever on the side of right, progress and improvement. For the past sixteen years he has served as township clerk and for many years was president of the town- ship school board. For a decade he has been the president of the Glenwood Farmers Telephone Company and in this and other directions has aided in the material development of the district. Moral progress is also a matter of interest to him as is indicated by the fact that he was secretary of the First Lutheran Church of Glenwood for eleven years and has been treasurer for the past six years. His political allegiance was formerly given to the republican party but he is now allied with the progressives. He believes in advancement in all things, political as well as otherwise, and his progressive spirit is manifest in what he has accomplished in the business world, working his way steadily upward from the age of twelve years.
JOHN J. DREW.
John J. Drew, who for many years has been influentially associated with farm- ing and stock-raising interests of Madison township, owning four hundred and forty acres of land on section 27, was born in Glenwood township, this county. in February, 1857, and is a son of James and Catherine ( O'Malley) Drew, of whom extended mention is made elsewhere in this work.
John J. Drew was reared at home and acquired his education in the district schools, remaining with his parents until he was twenty-seven years of age. Having from his early childhood assisted his father with the work of the home- stead, he was at that time a practical and progressive agriculturist and excellently trained for his independent career. He began it by assuming full charge of the home property, which he operated for three years thereafter, or until 1888, when his father gave him one hundred and sixty acres on section 27, Madison township. This he has improved and operated since that time, adding to his
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holdings as his financial resources permitted until he now owns four hundred and forty acres, well improved and highly cultivated.
In February, 1888, Mr. Drew was united in marriage to Miss Bridget Car- olan, a daughter of John and Johanna (Casey) Carolan, natives of Ireland. The father was a farmer in that country and when he came to America and located in Ohio turned his attention to his former occupation. He eventually came to Winneshiek county and bought and improved a fine tract of land in Bluffton township, whereon he is now residing. He has survived his wife since 1905. Mr. and Mrs. Drew have become the parents of six children, Katie, Mamie, Rose, Josephine, Florence and Emmett. Mr. Drew's political allegiance is given to the democratic party and his religious views are in accord with the doctrines of the Roman Catholic church. He bears an unsullied reputation for business integrity as well as an enterprising spirit and his success is well merited, for he is capable in management and displays untiring industry in carrying forward his interests.
PHILIP SCHMIDT.
For twenty-three years Philip Schmidt has lived upon his farm of two hun- dred acres on sections 8 and 17, Lincoln township, and during that time has carried forward the work of its development along progressive and modern lines until today he is the owner of one of the finest agricultural properties in this vicinity. He was born in Franklin county, Indiana, July 9, 1854, and is a son of Andrew and Margaret (Speise) Schmidt, natives of Germany. The father came to America in 1851 and located in Indiana, where he remained until 1860. when he moved to Winneshiek county. He purchased land in Lincoln township and there resided until 1902, when he retired from active life and moved to Cresco, where his death occurred May 20, 1913. He had survived his wife many years, her death taking place July 14, 1881. To their union were born ten children : Philip, of this review; Jacob, of Cass county, Iowa: Christian and Henry, who reside in Howard county ; William, who makes his home in Huron, South Dakota; Andrew, of Howard county; John, who is cashier of a bank in Elliott, Iowa; Margaret, who married John Huff, of Tenney, Minnesota; Han- nah, the wife of Albert Carvelli, also of that city; and Barbara, who married Alfred Peters, of Lincoln township.
Philip Schmidt left home at the age of sixteen years and since that time has been continuously identified with agricultural pursuits. In 1882 he rented one hundred and sixty acres of land in Howard county and after developing this for three years rented the two hundred acre tract in Lincoln township, known as the John Kohnan farm. In 1890 he purchased this property which he now operates and here for almost a quarter of a century has ably carried forward the work of development. erecting a fine two-story residence, good barns and outbuildings and fencing his property into fields of convenient size. His general farming and stock-raising interests are extensive and ably conducted, bringing him a gratifying measure of success.
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On the 9th of February, 1882, Mr. Schmidt was united in marriage to Miss Augusta Knuth and they became the parents of four children: Clara, who clerks in a store at Cresco, Iowa ; and William, Elsie and Esther, at home. On the 20th of April, 1912, Mrs. Schmidt passed away and was buried at the Methodist cemetery in Lincoln township, and since then Elsie and Esther are keeping house for their father. Mr. Schmidt is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and is a republican in his political beliefs, having served for nine years as school director. He is a man of high moral character, industrious and enterprising, and his honesty and uprightness have merited him the confidence and respect of his neighbors.
CHRISTIAN J. SIVESIND.
Among the worthy and representative citizens that Norway has furnished to Winneshiek county is numbered Christian J. Sivesind, who was born in the land of the midnight sun, December 28, 1846, his parents being Johannes and Olina Sivesind, who in the year 1853 came to the United States and settled upon the farm where their son Christian now resides, spending their remaining days there. Both reached a good age, for the father, who was born February 19, 1805, passed away April 29, 1885, when in the eighty-first year of his age; and the mother, who was born March 6, 1817, died March 23, 1895. Mr. Sivesind had followed shoemaking in his native country, five men working under him. They tanned the leather, which they would take to the farmers' homes and there make shoes for different members of the family, according to the custom of the times. In 1882 Christian J. Sivesind returned to Norway and talked with many of his father's old friends, who spoke of him as a fine workman who had made wedding shoes for many of them.
After coming to the new world Johannes Sivesind turned his attention to agricultural pursuits and stock-raising, to which he devoted his remaining days, becoming owner of two hundred acres of land, which he carefully and success- fully cultivated. After becoming a naturalized American citizen he cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1860 and was thereafter a republican, never falter- ing in his allegiance to the party. He was an active and helpful member of the Lutheran church and subscribed to the building of Luther College in Decorah. Unto him and his wife were born nine children: Maria, now living in Min- neapolis ; Johanna, the wife of George Anderson, of Frankville township; Johan, who was a pioneer of both the Dakotas and Montana and died in 1911; Chris- tian J. : Mina, who died at the age of nineteen years ; Emma, the wife of the Rev. J. A. Blilie, of Flandreau, South Dakota; Ole, who died in infancy ; Olena, of Charleston, North Dakota, who is the widow of J. J. Worley, who was a school teacher and merchant and also postmaster there, but died in 1910: and Julianna. who married Barrd Hulverson, but both are now deceased.
Six decades have come and gone since Christian J. Sivesind took up his abode upon the farm which is now his home. He today owns one hundred and twenty acres of well improved land on section 26, Glenwood township, and is one of the progressive farmers of the district. His only absence from the home
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MR. AND MRS. JOHANNES SIVESIND
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place occurred when he was a student in Luther College at Decorah, in which he spent two and a half years. He has worked diligently and persistently to bring his land under a high state of cultivation, and he has upon his place good farm machinery and modern equipments.
On the 19th of December, 1901, Mr. Sivesind was married to Miss Christina Evenrud, who was born in Glenwood township and is a daughter of Andrew and Carenna Evenrud, of whom mention is made on another page of this volume in connection with the sketch of Nels A. Evenrud.
In politics Mr. Sivesind has always been a republican, stanchly supporting the principles of the party. He has held all of the township offices, save that of justice of the peace, to which he has been elected on four different occasions but would never qualify. He was postmaster at Woodville until the office was dis- continned, and in 1900 he was census enumerator. He holds membership in the First Lutheran church, in which he has filled various official positions, and at all times his life has been actuated by high and honorable principles in harmony with his professions as a member of the church. He was a little lad of but six years when brought by his parents to the new world, and since that time he has resided continuously in Winneshiek county, always identified with its agricul- tural interests, and the record which he has made is a commendable one.
ANTON O. DAHLE.
Madison township numbers among its worthy and valued citizens Anton O. Dahle, who has worked diligently and persistently to develop his fine farm of three hundred and sixty-five acres on sections 12 and 13, and in so doing has won a place among representative and substantial agriculturists. He was born in Winneshiek county on July 28, 1866, and is a son of Ole and Aase (Hellen) Iverson Dahle, natives of Norway. The father came to America and located in Winneshiek county, Iowa, about the year 1855. He purchased a farm in Madison township and began improving and developing this property, operating it until his death in 1868. his wife surviving him many years, dying in 1911.
Anton O. Dahle was reared at home and acquired his education in the district schools of Madison township. He remained with his mother and operated the homestead until he was thirty years of age. At twenty-one he had purchased eighty acres of land and this he developed for nine years thereafter, while still residing at home. He then rented a place close to the eighty acres which he had bought and stayed there for three years. The next year after buying the eighty acres he came in for forty acres of the homestead and then also rented his brother's place of one hundred and twenty acres. He subsequently bought the eighty acres which is part of the farm on which he now lives, on sections 12 and 13. Madison township, and gradually added to this tract until he owns today three hundred and sixty-five acres of well improved_land, in the cultivation of which he is successful. He is in addition a stockholder in the Farmers Cream- ery Company and the Farmers Hog Buying Company of Decorah. His busi- ness interests are all carefully controlled, so that he has now reached a plane of affluence and is numbered among the representative citizens of his township.
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In March, 1895, Mr. Dahle was united in marriage to Miss Lizzie Vold, the adopted daughter of Elling and Mary Vold, natives of Norway. When the father came to America he turned his attention to farming in Winneshiek county, buying land which he operated until his death in tool. His wife survived him several years, passing away in 1909.
Mr. and Mrs. Dahle became the parents of seven children: Olaf, who was the first born, and died in 1896, when he was one month old; Odin, born May 14, 1897; Elmer, whose birthday was October 4, 1899; Arthur, whose natal day was October 30, 1901 ; Idella, born May 27. 1904: Lawrence, whose day of birth was AAugust 23, 1900; and Julia, born October 6, 1909.
Mr. Dahle gives his political allegiance to the progressive party. He is a member of the Lutheran church and his entire life has been characterized by devotion to manly purpose and honorable principles. In all his business deal- ings he is straightforward and reliable, and he enjoys to the fullest extent the confidence and good-will of those who know him.
JOHN REINHART.
Farming and stock-raising interests of Winneshiek county find a progressive and worthy representative in John Reinhart, whose attractive homestead lies on section 14, Lincoln township, and comprises one hundred and ten acres. He was born in Fayette county, this state July 9, 1868, and is a son of Samuel and Annie (Layman) Reinhart, natives of Switzerland. The father came to America when he was twenty-one years of age and located in Elgin, Iowa, where he resided for a number of years. He is now living in retirement in the vicinity of Cresco. He and his wife became the parents of thirteen children, those beside our subject being: Lena, who married Ford Smith, of Alta Vista ; Emma, the wife of Jacob Boutz, of Ridgeway: Albert, of Howard county, this state : Louis, residing in Alta Vista : Rosie. the wife of F. Heimerdinger, of Howard county; Louisa, deceased : Samuel, of Alta Vista ; William, a resident of Cresco : Fred, who makes his home in Alta Vista; AAnnie, the wife of August Omacht, of Cresco; Lydia, who married George Hackspear, of Alta Vista; and Celia. who died in childhood.
John Reinhart remained with his parents until he was twenty-one years of age and then moved to Ridgeway, where he worked at farm labor for three years. During this time he saved his money and at the expiration of the period rented two hundred acres in Chickasaw county. He remained upon this prop- erty for one year and then returned to Howard county, where he rented the homestead for five years. In 1808 he moved to Lincoln township and here bought one hundred and ten acres of land on section 14. Upon this property he has since resided, steadily carrying forward the work of improvement and development and making it by constant and well directed labor a productive and valuable farm.
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