USA > Iowa > Winneshiek County > Past and present of Winneshiek county, Iowa; a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 35
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In 1866 Mr. Banning was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Mahala Oxley and they became the parents of eight children: Addie, the eldest, has passed away. Alma is the wife of Fred Winn, of Ossian. Herbert is a resident of South Dakota, is married and has three children, Lilia, Lloyd and Orval. Grace married H. Webster, of Ossian. Lulu makes her home in
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JOHN W. BANNING AND FAMILY
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Ossian. Neva first married W. Draves, who died, and she is now Mrs. Chas. S. Dewey, the wife of a contractor of West Union, Iowa. She has one child by her first marriage, Wayne Harris, born September 11, 1907. Calla is the wife of George Wilchen, of Mason City, and has a daughter, Rosebud. Vernon, who completes the family, resides at home.
Mr. Banning is a member of the United Brethren church and politically affiliates with the republican party, giving his aid and cooperation always to progressive public movements. His life has been one of well directed activity and intelligent effort, resulting in the attainment of a gratifying measure . of success, and wherever he is known he is highly esteemed and respected by reason of his genuine personal worth and excellent qualities of character.
JOSEPH WHALEN.
A highly improved tract of four hundred acres in Burr Oak township, known as the Silver Creek Stock Farm, is owned and conducted by Joseph Whalen. He is a native of County Waterford, Ireland, born February 15, 1844, a son of Morris and Johanna (Colbert) Whalen, who were likewise natives of County Waterford. In 1849 the father emigrated to America with his family, at that time consisting of a wife and three children. Their first location was in Dutchess county, New York, where they spent three years. They then journeyed to the middle west, spending four years in Chicago, while in 1856 a permanent home was established on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, located in Fremont town- ship, Winneshiek county. The father purchased this land from the government and in due course of time broke the sod and prepared the land for cultivation, divided his acreage into fields of convenient size, erected substantial buildings and made it one of the well improved farms of this section of the state. Here the father engaged in farming throughout his remaining days. He passed away April 22, 1869, at the age of fifty-three years, while his wife lived to an advanced age, departing this life in 1895, when seventy-eight years of age. In their family were six children, as follows: Joseph, of this review; Thomas, who resides in Fremont township; Catharine, the deceased wife of Martin Ryan; Morris, who died in September, 1906, leaving a widow and thirteen children; Mary Ann, the widow of John Knox of Burr Oak : and Nell, who became the wife of Thomas Flynn, and passed away in Lake county, South Dakota.
Joseph Whalen was a little lad of five years when brought by his parents to the new world, and he was a lad of twelve when the removal was made to Winne- shiek county. He was trained to work on the home farm and remained under the parental roof until he had reached the age of twenty-two years, but in the meantime he farmed on his own account. In 1866 he purchased a quarter section of land on the state line, which constitutes a part of his present holdings and he has since added to his acreage until he now owns four hundred acres on sections 7 and 18. Burr Oak township. This land with the exception of some that is devoted to pasturage, is all under cultivation and has been improved with sub- stantial farm buildings for the shelter of grain and stock and is one of the valuable farm properties of his section of Winneshiek county. In addition to general
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farming, Mr. Whalen is also engaged in breeding and raising stock. hi 1886 he imported five Percheron stallions, one Percheron mare, one Clydesdale stallion, and one Clydesdale mare, and has since been engaged in breeding stock. In 1892 he purchased shorthorn cattle and also breeds and raises Poland China and Jersey red hogs. He handles only the best grades of stock and takes a deep. interest in his stock-raising. He is a man of sound business judgment and is meeting with success in both branches of his work.
Mr. Whalen was married in 1878 to Jane Daugherty, who was born in Howard coanty, Iowa, in 1860. Unto this union were born ten children: Morris, of Cresco, Iowa; Patrick, of Granada, Minnesota ; Mary, the wife of Frank Brady, also of Granada : Loretta, the wife of John Cashman, also of that place: Joe of Butte county, South Dakota ; Alice. the wife of William Gaul, a resident of Burr Oak township : Urban, also of Butte county ; Lenus and Paul, both at home ; and Agnes. The wife and mother departed this life in 1898, and in 19oo Mr. Whalen was married a second time, this union being with Miss Maggie Brady, a native of Illinois.
In his political belief Mr. Whalen is a democrat, and he is a communicant of St. Agnes Catholic church at Plymouth Rock. He has led a busy, active and useful life and his sound business judgment and well directed labors have brought him well merited success, so that today he is numbered among the well-to-do and substantial citizens of Winneshiek county.
ROBERT HEUSER.
Robert Heuser is extensively engaged in agricultural pursuits in Summer and Calmar townships, holding title not only to the home place but also to a valuable farm of three hundred and sixty acres which he purchased and to the cultivation of both farms he gives his entire attention. His land is highly improved with substantial buildings, including a comfortable residence. All modern equipments can be found upon the places and Mr. Heuser ever follows the best methods of farming and has attained to prosperity as the years have passed.
A native of Sumner township, Winneshiek county, he was born September 14, 1863, and is a son of Godfrey and Fredericka ( Fogel) Henser, both natives of Switzerland, who in 1856 came to Winneshiek county, being among its early pioneers. The father located near Fort Atkinson and there followed agricul- tural pursuits for many years, his labors resulting in a comfortable competence. Both he and his wife are now living in Decorah. To them were born six chil- dren : Robert, of this review ; Fredericka, the wife of Albert Rordorf, of Sum- ner township; Frederick, of Spillville ; Maggie, the wife of Fred Herold, of Oel- wein, Iowa; Henry, of Minnesota: and Bertha, who married Carl Frey, of Sumner township.
Robert Heuser was reared upon the home place and later took over the property. A few years afterward he bought three hundred and sixty acres of land, all of his property being located in Sumner and Calmar townships. He engages in general farming and stock-raising and has made many notable improve- ments since he has taken charge of the farm. His house is thoroughly modern.
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two stories in height and conveniently arranged. His barns and outbuildings are substantially erected. He has a silo and follows the most approved methods in raising and feeding his stock.
On November 26, 1891, Mr. Heuser was united in marriage to Miss Annie Frey and by this union were born four children, Gustave, Elsie, Lydia and Paul, all at home. Politically Mr. Heuser is a republican and fraternally a Woodman. He holds membership in the Congregational church of Spillville, taking an active interest in its work. There is much that is commendable in the career of Mir. Heuser, who by diligent labor and energy has become one of the substantial agriculturists of his district and, more than that, in the course of years he has won the esteem and regard of his fellow citizens.
JESSE J. LIMBECK.
Jesse J. Limbeck, one of the most prominent and successful of Winneshiek county's native sons, was born in Military township, on the 22d of January, 1883. He is a son of John and Agnes ( Hallman) Limbeck, the former of whom engaged in farming all during his active life, dying when the subject of this review was one year and a half old. The mother afterward married her first husband's brother, Edward Limbeck, and to their union were born two children : Agnes and Leslie, who live at home. The family is one of the oldest in this section of Iowa, having been founded here in pioneer times by the paternal grandfather of the subject of this review, who took up six hundred and forty acres of land in Military township.
Jesse J. Limbeck attended public school in Military township and afterward took a course in business college. Upon completing his education he turned his attention to farming, developing a fine tract of land and gaining for himself a position among the township's progressive and substantial agriculturists. He has recently sold his holdings and is contemplating engaging in other business.
On the 22d of January, 1912, Mr. Limbeck was united in marriage to Miss Sadie M. Dinger. He is a republican in his political beliefs and a member of the Methodist church. He is interested in everything that pertains to the community advancement and development and in the section where he was born and where his entire life has been spent holds the respect, esteem and confidence of all who know him.
JOSEPH BALK.
Joseph Balk, who owns and operates a fine farm of one hundred and seventy acres on section 28, Washington township, is a native of Germany, born on the 15th of April, 1870. He is a son of John and Elizabeth ( Felkel) Balk, also natives of the fatherland, where they still reside. In their family were six children : Rosie, deceased; Joseph, of this review; Mary, John and Annie, residents of Germany ; and one child who died in infancy.
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Joseph Balk acquired his education in the public schools of his native country and at the age of seventeen crossed the Atlantic to America, locating first near St. Lucas, Iowa, on a farm. After one year and a half he returned to Germany and served one year in the regular army, after which he remained in his native country for two years, returning to America at the end of that time. He spent a short period in Buffalo, New York, and came from there to Winneshiek county, where he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. In 1901 he purchased ninety acres of land in Fayette county, but after holding it for one year sold it and bought another farm of eighty acres. At the end of three years he returned to Winneshiek county and bought one hundred and twenty acres of land, continu- ing its development and improvement for eight years thereafter. When he sold that property he purchased one hundred and seventy acres on section 28, Wash- ington township, and has since carefully carried on the work of its development, so that it now presents an attractive appearance. He is building a modern two- story residence upon the property and the barns and outbuildings are all in good repair, the owner constantly putting forth well directed efforts along lines of progress and improvement. He engages in general farming and stock-raising and in the community is recognized as a man of good business ability, whose judgment is sound and whose enterprise is unfaltering.
Mr. Balk was married on the 2d of June, 1896, to Miss Marguerita Hengstl, and to their union have been born four children, Lizzie, John, Mary and Joseph. Mr. Balk is a member of the Catholic church and has always voted the democratic ticket, although he prefers to do his public service as a private citizen rather than as an office holder. Ile has been in America for twenty-six years-years of earnest and well directed work-and he deserves all the credit which is due a man who wins his success by honorable and persistent labor.
EVEN E. LOMEN.
Even E. Lomen is one of the active and progressive farmers and stock-raisers of Springfield township and is conducting his business interests on a fine property lying on section 3. The farm's neat and attractive appearance indicates his care- ful supervision and his practical methods and he is justly accounted one of the leading agriculturalists of his native county. He was born on the 6th of January, 1861, and is a son of Erick and Olena Lomen, of whom further mention is made elsewhere in this work in connection with the sketch of Henry Lomen.
Even E. Lomen was reared and educated upon his father's farm in Decorah township and attended district school. later becoming a student at the Brecken- ridge Institute. From his childhood he was familiar with the details of farm operation, having learned them by practical experience upon his father's property, and he remained at home until 1896, when he moved to one of his father's farms lying on section 3, Springfield township, upon which he now resides. The place had but slight improvements and he began further to develop and cultivate it. crecting fine barns and outbuildings and installing the necessary equipment. In addition to general farming he engages in stock-raising and is a shareholder in the Farmers Ilog Company of Decorah.
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In December, 1896, Mr. Lomen was united in marriage to Miss Anna G. Eide, a daughter of Gudmund and Ingeborg Eide, natives of Norway, where the father engaged in farming. He died in his native country in 1907 and his wife survives him. Mr. and Mrs. Lomen became the parents of two children : Olena, aged sixteen ; and Emma, aged fourteen.
Politically Mr. Lomen gives his allegiance to the republican party and his religious views are in accord with the doctrines of the Lutheran church. Ile is one of Winneshiek county's most active and progressive native sons and holds a high place in the respect and esteem of the community where his entire life has been spent.
MARTIN WOLDUM.
The steps in the orderly progression of Martin Woldum are easily discernible. He has worked his way steadily upward, wisely using his time and opportunities, and the success which he has achieved is the direct result of earnest, persistent and indefatigable effort. Like many of the leading and valuable citizens of Win- neshiek county he is a native of Norway, born July 11, 1870, his parents being Halvor and Ranvai (Gram) Woldum. It was in 1885 that the family left Nor- way, crossed the Atlantic and made their way direct to Glenwood township, Win- neshiek county, Iowa. The parents resided upon a farm until three years ago, when in 1910 they took up their abode in Decorah, where they now reside. The father was a prominent horse buyer and shipper in the old country and was the owner of two good farms there, but lost all and sought to retrive his fortunes in the United States. Here he engaged in farming and his earnest labor at length brought him a measure of success that now enables him to live retired. Unto him and his wife were born seven children : Mary, the wife of Fred Sanden, of Seattle, Washington ; Christie, the wife of H. Nassett, of Alberta, Canada ; Ole, also liv- ing in Alberta ; Martin, of this review; Nels, likewise a resident of Alberta ; John, of Decorah ; and Halvor H., who is in partnership with his brother Martin under the name of the Woldum Produce Company, and they also own a produce business at Preston, Minnesota.
Martin Woldum's start in life was an humble one. He first worked by the month as a farm hand and then spent a year and a half in railroading. While thus engaged he carefully saved his earnings and on the expiration of that period he joined his elder brother in the establishment of a mercantile business at Don- nan Junction, Fayette county, Iowa. After two years he sold out to his partner and came to Nasset, where he established a general mercantile enterprise in 1891. Later he admitted his brother-in-law, James Ramsey, to a partnership under the firm name of Woldum & Ramsey. the association being maintained for seven years, when Mr. Ramsey sold out to Halvor Woldum and the present firm of WVoldum Brothers was thus formed. Six years ago the brothers embarked in the produce business and in the spring of 1913 established a branch at Preston, Min- nesota. In 1912 they shipped sixty-four carloads of eggs and eight carloads of poultry from Decorah. They are also agents for the Ford automobile, and they have a forty-five horse power truck that they use to haul their goods, this taking
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the place of three teams. The Woldum Brothers are most enterprising, energetic and progressive business men, occupying a prominent position, in commercial circles and carrying forward to successful completion whatever they undertake. In addition to his other interests Martin Woldum is treasurer for the Glenwood Telephone Company.
In 1893 Martin Woldum was united in marriage to Miss Julia Ramsey, who was born in Glenwood township in 1872, a daughter of Mons O. and Ragnilda Ramsey, the former now deceased, while the latter is a resident of Glenwood township. Mr. and Mrs. Woldum have four living children, Morris, Ruth, Mil- ford and Myrtle, and they also lost four children in infancy, two being named Reuben, while one of the others was named Milford and the fourth Myrtle.
The Woldum family came to the United States in limited financial circum- stances, in fact they had hardly a dollar to their name, but father and sons worked energetically and have made steady progress. The eldest brother now has a splendid position with the International Harvester Company and is the owner of a large tract of land in Canada. Martin Woldum and his brother Halvor have become recognized as leading business men of Winneshiek county, and their efforts are of a character that contribute to public progress as well as to individual success. Martin Woldum gives his political allegiance to the republican party. He has filled the office of township clerk and is now one of the township trustees. lle is a member of the Lutheran Synod church and is well known in musical circles, being vice president of the Norwegian Singers Association of the State of Iowa and treasurer of the Winneshiek County Singers Association. He is interested in all the principal features of life in his adopted county and his influence is ever on the side of progress and improvement.
R. A. ENGBERTSON.
There is hardly a man in Decorah from whom the commercial growth of the city has received more impetus than R. A. Engbertson, who is the owner of one of the leading drug stores of the city and president of the Decorah State Bank, in the organization of which he was instrumental. While he is considered one of the most substantial men of the city and is accorded honor for what he has attained his activities have been equally beneficial in promoting the general welfare. Born in Christiania, Norway, on August 20, 1864, Mr. Engbertson is the son of Ole and Bertha ( Fredrickson) Engbertson, both natives of that country. The father was a tailor by trade. In the winter of 1864 the family inchiding their infant son made removal to the United States to partake of the advantages the new world held out to all newcomers. Locat- ing in Decorah, Mr. Engbertson was one of the early settlers here and engaged at his trade in this city for the remainder of his life. He and his wife are now deceased, the latter's death having occurred on February 1, 1894, in Decorah.
R. A. Engbertson attended public school in Decorah and when yet a boy became connected with the line of business in which he later achieved such remarkable success by entering the employ of Rudolph & Son, druggists, as clerk. Ile left that position in order to accept a similar one in the drug store of
R. A. ENGBERTSON
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PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESIIEK COUNTY
B. I. Weiser, remaining with that firm for about four years and a half. Having decided to engage in the drug trade on his own account he entered Northwestern University, taking a course in pharmacy, and that his work was thorough and that he made himself complete master of all the scientific aspects of the pro- fession is evident from the fact that he received the first gold medal as the highest award of merit ever issued by that university in the pharmaceutical course of study, Mr. Engbertson completing his three-year course in ISSS, in which year he was graduated with honors, and returned to Decorah, again entering the employ of Mr. Weiser, with whom he remained for five months. The enterprise which characterized all his later transactions came to the fore when favoring opportunity offered in the form of a bankrupt stock of drugs which could be readily purchased and of which he took possession. He demon- strated his ability by taking over this run-down business and gradually devel- oped therefrom a large and profitable trade. Today his store is one of the leading ones in Decorah and in the completeness of its lines, its modern appoint- ments and its general impression easily rivals any metropolitan store. Drugs of only the best manufacture are handled and are always fresh on hand and the prescription department is safeguarded in such a manner as to practically preclude errors. In the store are also carried sundries such as usually can be found in establishments of this kind. The success of its founder is entirely due to his own efforts, his able management, his enterprise and his accurate knowledge of the professional side of the business. That prosperity has been the reward of his labors is but natural and that he should have reached out to other lines of business endeavor is quite in conformity with his enterprise and character. For a number of years he was prominently connected with the lumber industry in Minnesota but later sold out his interests. It was in the year 1906 that he became the prime mover in the organization of an establish- ment which has since proved of great benefit to the community and has grown to be one of the foremost of this kind in the city. It is the Decorah State Bank, one of the solid financial houses of Decorah and this part of the state today. Largely through his aid it was organized on November 11, 1906, with a capital stock of fifty thousand dollars, and its first board of directors consisted of R. A. Engbertson, E. P. Johnson, A. L. Haakanson, T. O. Storla and T. Stabo. The first board then elected the following officers: R. A. Engbertson, presi- dent : E. P. Johnson, vice president ; A. L. Haakanson, cashier ; and J. M. Thorson, assistant cashier. Facts being more convincing than words, it need but be mentioned in addition that at the meeting held January 7, 1913, the bank reported a surplus of seventy-five hundred dollars and enjoys a steady and wholesome growth.
On June 2, 1894, Mr. Engbertson married Miss Lottie Morton, a daughter of Peter and Hattie (Cooley) Morton, the former a native of Scotland and the latter of Massachusetts. They made removal to Decorah during Civil war days, locating on a farm in Orleans township where the father is still living, the mother having since passed away.
Mr. Engbertson is a member of the Norwegian Lutheran church, his wife giving her allegiance to the local organization of the Methodist Episcopal denomination. For many years he voted the republican ticket but is now con- nected with the progressive party. being convinced of the righteousness of the Vol. II-18
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principal planks in its platform. For one term he served efficiently as council- man from the first ward, ably representing his constituency in the city govern- ment and making a record which identified him with a progressive policy in regard to the city's affairs. The business record Mr. Engbertson has made is highly creditable, his course being marked by steady progress gained through ready utilization of every opportunity that has presented itself, and his suc- cess is such that his methods are of general interest, an analyzation of his life record showing that he has always based his actions upon rules of strict and unswerving integrity and unflagging enterprise. He is a business man of the modern type, shrewd, able, progressive and straightforward, careful of his own interests, considerate of those of others and influenced at all times by the thought of the broader effect which his work has on the growth of his com- munity.
HANS L. HANSON.
The record of many of Winneshiek county's worthy citizens reflected credit not only upon the state but also upon their native land of Norway. Such was the life history of Hans L. Hanson, who was born in the land of the midnight sun December 7, 1867, and passed away on his farm in Canoe township, April 26, 1907. His parents were Hans and Anna (Olson) Hanson, who in the year 1871 came to the United States, making their way direct to Winneshiek county. They settled first in Hesper township and afterward removed to Canoe township. The father was not long permitted to enjoy his new home, passing away in the year in which he arrived in the new world. The mother, however, survived until 1911. In their family were three children: Andrew and Hans, both of whom are residents of Canoe township; and Christine, the deceased wife of Jacob Budahl.
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