USA > Iowa > Winneshiek County > Past and present of Winneshiek county, Iowa; a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 41
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WILLIAM HEADINGTON.
William Headington is the owner of a well improved farm on section 32, Canoe township, but only twenty acres of the place had been cleared when it came into his possession. Its present condition is visible evidence of his labor, untiring industry and perseverance having led to the substantial results now seen. He is quite extensively engaged in general farming, owning one hundred and forty acres in addition to which he operates two hundred and forty acres for his mother and another tract of eighty-five acres which he rents. He was born near Mount Vernon, Ohio, August 27, 1858, and is a son of Jacob and Martha Jane ( Powelson ) Headington, who were also natives of Knox county, Ohio. They started overland with teams for Iowa when their son William was but three weeks old. The journey progressed by slow stages until after six weeks spent upon the road they reached their destination. The family home was estab- lished in Canoe township, Winneshiek county, where the father engaged in farming for many years, or until he retired from active business life and removed to Decorah, where his death occurred July 12, 1907. He was then seventy- four years of age, for the 18th of March, 1833, was his natal day. His widow, who was born July 15, 1838, is still a resident of Decorah. Mr. Headington was the owner of two hundred and forty acres of land in Canoe township and had fifty acres in Decorah township. He made a specialty of raising horses and sold some of the best horses ever seen in the county. He was an excellent judge of horse flesh, his opinion being seldom if ever at fault concerning the good points of a horse, and his friends and neighbors often sought his counsel in regard to a purchase. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Headington were born four children : William; John, living in Canada: Frank, whose home is in Decorah ; and Elizabeth, known as Dot, now the wife of A. J. Sharp, of Canoe township.
Practically throughout his entire life William Headington has been a resi- dent of Canoe township, where he follows farming. He was reared to the occupation which he makes his life work, and as the years have gone by prac- tical experience and his increasing knowledge have made his labors effective
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forces in the attainment of substantial success. Ambitious to own property, he has invested his earnings in one hundred and forty acres on sections 28 and 32, Canoe township, in addition to which he has the management of the old homestead belonging to his mother, and also cultivates eighty-five acres which he rents. He raises cattle, hogs and horses and is well known as a breeder of shorthorn cattle. His farm is today well improved, Only twenty acres were clear when it came into his possession, but he has cut down the timber, grubbed out the stumps and tilled the fields until now substantial harvests reward his labors and his farm is in excellent condition.
On the 9th of December, 1884, Mr. Headington was married to Miss Ellen Sharp, who was born in Canoe township in 1863, a daughter of William and Sarah Sharp. The four children of this marriage are: May, the wife of Theodore McClain, of Canoe township; and Bessie, Wallace and Paul, all at home.
In politics Mr. Headington is a democrat. Active in support of the party and serving at the present writing, in 1913, as one of the committeemen. He is prominent in Masonic circles, holding membership in Decorah Lodge, No. 181, A. F. & A. M., of which he is master; in King Solomon Chapter, No. 35, R. A. M., of Decorah ; and in Beauseant Commandery, K. T., of Decorah. In the chapter he is high priest. He is most loyal to the teachings of the craft, exemplifying in his life its beneficent spirit and endeavoring to follow its teachings concerning mutual helpfulness and brotherly kindness.
ADOLPH S. GUNDERSON.
Among the important industrial enterprises of Calmar is the Calmar Bottling Works, owned and operated by Adolph S. Gunderson, one of the enterprising residents of this community. Born in Springfield township, he is a native of- Winneshiek county, Iowa, his birth occurring on April 19, 1872. His parents are Peter and Margaret ( Hanson ) Gunderson, natives of Norway, the father coming to America in 1864, and locating in Springfield township, Winneshiek county, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land at the rate of thirty dollars per acre. He immediately began to clear and improve his land and has operated the same ever since with increasing success. Although he is now seventy-one years of age, he is still hale and hearty and active at his occupation. The mother is also living at the age of sixty-seven.
Adolph S. Gunderson was reared at home and in the acquirement of his educa- tion attended district school and also public school at Calmar and the Brecken- ridge Institute of Decorah. After completing his education he assisted his father with the work on the farm until twenty-five years of age and then embarked in railroad work for the Minneapolis & St. Louis Railroad, running out of Minne- apolis, Minnesota, and being so occupied for one year. In 1910 Mr. Gunderson bought the Calmar Bottling Works and has ever since operated the same, equipping its plant with all modern improvements and doing a large and profitable business. He travels in the interest of his firm and the present flourishing condition of the same is entirely due to his unceasing efforts.
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On June 16, 1897. Mr. Gunderson was united in marriage to Miss Helena Halverson, a daughter of John and Mary ( Queal ) Halverson. The father came to this country at an early day and for a number of years engaged in agricultural pursuits. He is now employed by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul in their car shops at Calmar. Mr. and Mrs. Gunderson have one daughter, Hazel MI., aged fifteen.
Politically Mr. Gunderson is a republican, giving his stanch support to the measures and candidates of that party, and his religious faith is that of the Lui- theran church. He holds membership in the local lodge of the Modern Woodmen of America. Since becoming connected with the industrial life of Calmar he has made rapid progress toward prosperity and has quickly become recognized as one of the foremost citizens of the town, in the commercial life of which he occupies a position which entitles him to trust and confidence. Fully realizing the obliga- tions of citizenship, he stands ever ready to promote all worthy public enterprises and there is no more loyal son residing in Calmar township than Adolph S. Gunderson.
JOHN J. HUGOS.
Among the prosperous agriculturists of Highland township, Winneshiek county, is John J. Hugos, who farms fifty-six acres on section 23, deriving a substantial income from his undertaking. Moreover, Mr. Hugos is interested in public affairs, serving at present as township clerk and having also done valuable work in promoting educational facilities as president of the township school board. A native of Norway, he was born August 25. 1871, his parents being Jacob C. and Carrie ( Svenson) Hugos, also born in the land of the midnight sun. The date of the father's birth was in March, 1847, and the mother was born in 1850. They emigrated to the United States in 1875, coming directly to Decorah and bringing with them their two children. They located in Canoe township and resided there for about ten years before removing to Frankville township, where they made their home for eight years, when they proceeded northward to Toronto, Deuel county, South Dakota, where they now reside on their farm. The father for many years followed agricultural pursuits and is still so engaged. In their family were the following children: John J., of this review; Dora, who passed away in 1901 ; Samuel, of Froid, Montana ; Julia, who married Albert Sather, of Grano, North Dakota ; and Christina, who married Iver T. Singsaas, of Hendricks, Minnesota.
John J. Hugos was reared under the parental roof, gaining such education as the neighboring schools afforded and studying for two years at the Decoral Institute, and remained with his parents until his marriage. He then began his independent career, engaging in agricultural pursuits in Highland township. He rented for three years, at the end of which time he bought his present place. . which comprises fifty-six acres and is situated on section 23. Diversified farming and stock-raising are his chief occupations and as the years have passed he has gained success along both lines of endeavor. His buildings are kept in
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good repair and are substantial and his fields evidence the thorough labor of an efficient agriculturist.
In 1898 Mr. Hugos married Miss Mary Shuros, who was born in Norway on September 12, 1866. She came to America with her sister and brother in 1886. Mr. Hugos is a public-spirited man, interested in the welfare of the township, and at present serves in the office of township clerk. He gives his allegiance to the republican party. He has also for one year served as president of the township school board. A member of the Big Canoe Lutheran church, he has served as trustee for two years. Such success as has come to him is the result of his own efforts and highly merited. He enjoys the confidence and esteem of all who know him, and while he has attained to individual prosperity, has done much toward raising agricultural standards and has contributed by his labor toward making this one of the most prosperous farming sections of the state.
ALBERT LUDWIG.
Albert Ludwig, who now operates part of the farm upon which his parents settled many years ago, is one of the prosperous agriculturists of Winneshiek county. He owns one hundred and ninety-five acres on section 26, Sumner township, and there he was born on May 20, 1875, a son of John and Mary ( Mikota) Ludwig. The father was born in Germany and the mother in Bohemia. The father followed agricultural pursuits during all his life and passed away on November 26, 1908, his wife still surviving. She now makes her home with our subject. The father came to America in 1848, locating in Indiana, where he remained for five years, at the end of which period he came to this county. At his death he left three hundred and forty-seven acres of highly cultivated land. For several years he served as assessor of Sumner township and enjoyed in full measure the confidence of his fellow citizens. He and his wife had ten children: John H., of Sumner township; Mary, who married J. P. Kuhn, also of that township; Barbara, the wife of J. F. Bosta, of Washington township; Mathias, or Howard county, this state; Anna, the wife of Anton Kuhn ; Albert, of this review; Frank, still on the home place; and three who died in infancy.
Albert Ludwig received his education in the country schools near the father's farm and early took up agricultural labors, assisting in the work on the home farm until twenty-six years of age, when he began his independent career. After the father's death he came in possession of part of the home farm and now owns one hundred and ninety-five acres. He engages in general farming and stock-raising, attaining to prosperity along both lines by employing thorough methods and incessantly giving his sole attention to the improvement of his land and his stock. His fields are in a state of high cultivation, his buildings are kept in good repair and he has installed the most modern implements and machinery.
On October 4, 1898, Mr. Ludwig married Miss Anna Shimek, and to them have been born five children : Celia, Agnes, Martin, Edward and Joseph.
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Mr. Ludwig gives his support to the democratic party and is now serving in the capacity of school director in his township. He is a devout member of the Catholic church and belongs to the organization of the Catholic Workmen. He shows good judgment in the cultivation of his lands and always stands for progress and advancement, not only attaining success for himself but being a factor in the general prosperity that Winneshiek county enjoys.
PHILIP WAGNER.
Philip Wagner, proprietor of the Grand View Stock Farm, a fine property of two hundred and forty acres, lying on section 4. Military township, was born in Wisconsin on the 17th of October, 1853, and is a son of Peter and Mary (Schroeder) Wagner, natives of Germany. They came to America in 1848 and located in Wisconsin where they resided for a number of years, removing from that state to Winneshiek county in 1865. During the greater portion of his life the father followed farming, but in his later years lived retired in Dubuque, where his death occurred on the 20th of March, 1910. He had survived his wife only a few years, her death occurring July 1, 1907. To their union were born four children: Nicholas, who resides in Fort Atkinson, Iowa; Philip, of this review ; Catherine, the wife of Philip Schwebach of Minnesota; and John B., who lives in Fort Atkinson.
Philip Wagner was twelve years of age when he came with his parents to Winneshiek county and he has made his home in this part of lowa since that time. He acquired an education in a parochial school and at twenty-one turned his attention to mercantile pursuits, following this line of occupation for eight years thereafter. In 1883 he purchased one hundred and twenty acres in Military township and began the development of this property along modern and practical lines, steadily carrying forward the work of cultivation for fifteen years and making it by his own well directed labors a valuable and productive farm. Eventually he sold eighty acres of this tract and bought two hundred acres on section 4 and upon this property he resides at the present time. The farm, called the Grand View Stock Farm, is fully equipped and splendidly improved and in all respects is worthy of comparison with the best agricultural properties in the state. Upon it Mr. Wagner engages in general farming and stock- raising, both branches of his activities being important sources of income to him. His business interests are carefully and conservatively conducted and have brought him a gratifying measure of success, which places him today in the front ranks of the township's progressive farmers and substantial business men.
Mr. Wagner married Miss Mary Schwebach and to their union were born thirteen children: Peter F., who resides in South Dakota; Mary, the wife of Nick Etteldorf, also of South Dakota; James, a physician and surgeon in Granville, lowa ; Catherine, the wife of Henry Rahe of Dyersville, Iowa ; John, who is attending college in Los Angeles, California; Helen, who is a trained nurse at La Crosse, Wisconsin ; a son who died in infancy ; Frances, who is still with her parents; Clara, who makes her home in Granville; a daughter who
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died in infancy; Edward and Theodore, who live at home; and Virginia, who died in infancy.
Mr. Wagner is a member of the Roman Catholic church and fraternally is connected with the Knights of Columbus and the Order of Foresters. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party and he has ever been stanch in his support of its principles and policies both as an office holder and as a private citizen. He has served as township trustee and road supervisor and in this and many other ways has promoted the interests of the community in which he has so long resided and to the agricultural and general business develop- ment of which he has made such substantial and tangible contributions.
OLE MARTIN SELNES.
Not only is Ole Martin Selnes well known as one of the prosperous farmers of Hesper township but he also owns a valuable half section in Moore county, Texas, and has achieved success in the real-estate business, buying and selling farm lands. He is a native of Winneshiek county, his birth having occurred in Frankville township on June 30, 1870. His parents were Raffel and Anne ( Michelson) Kokos, natives of Norway, the former born on September 14, 1832, and the latter on December 26, 1827. The father came to the United States in 1861 and the mother in 1865. Their marriage took place in Glenwood township, this country, in 1869. They spent their lives since on farms in Winne- shiek and Allamakee counties, the father passing away on January 31, 1908, and the mother about one year later, on January 2, 1909. The mother had been previously married and of that union were born six children, of whom four are now living. To her marriage with Raffel Selnes were born two children: one who died in infancy ; and Ole Martin, of this review.
Ole M. Selnes has made his home in Winneshiek and Allamakee counties all his life and ever since laying aside his schoolbooks has followed agricultural pursuits. He has resided in Hesper township for nineteen years and for nine years has been located on his present farm. He owns one hundred and seven- teen acres on section 25, Hesper township, and his place is well improved, most of the buildings have been placed thereon by our subject. He is a breeder of Poland China hogs and also raises high-grade cattle and horses. He also has made the real-estate business a profitable source of income, buying and selling farm lands. In later years he made an investment in Texas, acquiring a half section of land in Moore county.
In 1893 Mr. Selnes marries Miss Anna Brenna, who was born in Norway in 1864 and came to the United States in 1891. She is a daughter of Elias and Lorenza Brenna, who also crossed the Atlantic and now reside in Fillmore county, Minnesota. Mr. and Mrs. Selnes became the parents of seven children: Edwin Robert, who died in infancy; Edwin Robert ( second of the name), a student at Luther College in the class of 1916; and Alma Louise, Arnold, John Edgar, Alfred Melvin and Selmer Philip.
Mr. Selnes is a republican and for two terms or six years served as county commissioner. For a similar period of time he acted as township assessor and
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for eight years was secretary of the district school board. He was road super- visor for one term. Both he and his wife are members of the United Norwegian Lutheran church of Hesper. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, belonging to Hesper Lodge, and also belongs to the Elks and Owls of Decorah. Mr. Selnes is one of those agriculturists who have done much toward promoting the development of Winneshiek county. He is public-spirited and gives an example of what should constitute American citizenship. He has attained success because he has ever applied himself arduously and intelligently to any task he has undertaken, and such prosperity as has come to him is but the natural outcome of labor well applied. He enjoys in a high degree the respect and esteem of the neighborhood and is ever interested in measures which make for better living conditions or promote the people's welfare along material, moral and intellectual lines.
WILLIAM DOERR.
Many of the finest farms in Winneshiek county at the present time are owned and operated by the sons of the pioneers in this part of Iowa, who in their development and further improvement of the old family homesteads are ably carrying forward the work begun by their fathers in early times. To this class belongs William Doerr who is carrying on general farming and stock-raising on a fine property of one hundred and eighty acres on section 18, Military township, constituting the farm upon which he was born and reared.
His birth occurred on the 9th of December, 1855. his parents being William and Annie ( Drufner ) Doerr, natives of Germany. The father came to America when he was about eighteen years of age and settled in Pennsylvania, where he remained seven or eight years before removing to Winneshiek county, Iowa, where he purchased land. His entire active life was devoted to agricultural pur- suits and he gradually attained a position of prominence and importance in farming circles of Military township where he made his home until his death on the 17th of September, 1886. As a progressive and public-spirited citizen he took an active part in local affairs and held various important official positions including that of school director. His wife survived him some time, dying in 1909. To them were born ten children: Helen, the wife of Joseph Emil of Calmar, Iowa ; Elizabeth and Mary, deceased; William of this review ; Annie, Caroline, Julia and Rosalie, who have passed away ; Catherine, a nun in a convent at La Crosse, Wisconsin ; and a daughter who died in infancy.
William Doerr was reared upon the family homestead in Military township and from his childhood assisted with the work of its cultivation, becoming at an early age thoroughly familiar with the best methods of cultivating the fields and caring for the stock and grain. When he was twenty-two years of age lie rented the property from his father and cultivated it for three years, after which he purchased one hundred and twenty acres on section 33, Military township, and turned his attention to its development and improvement. At the end of five years he disposed of this property and bought the old homestead of one hundred and eighty acres, which he still owns. He engages in general farming
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and stock-raising and has been very successful, prosperity steadily attending his . practical and well directed labors.
On the 13th of November, 1877, Mr. Doerr was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Untereiner, a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth ( Bouillon) Untereiner, natives of France. They came to America in 1852 and settled in Winneshiek county, Iowa, where at first the father followed the blacksmith's trade, engaging later in farming in Washington township. Mr. and Mrs. Doerr have become the parents of nine children: William, deceased; Julia, the wife of Bernard Einck ; Theodore, who resides in Winneshiek county; Catherine, the wife of Antone Einck of Charles City, Iowa: Joseph, who lives at home; Helen and John, who are also at home; Clemence, deceased; and Wilhelmina, at home.
The family are members of the Roman Catholic church, and politically Mr. Doerr gives his allegiance to the democratic party. The cause of education finds in him a stanch supporter and an ardent champion and for twenty years he has been a member of the school board, accomplishing during that time a great deal of constructive and capable work. Fraternally he is connected with the Order of Foresters but beyond this has no affiliations of this character. He prefers rather to concentrate his attention upon the development of his farm, and his business interests are all capably conducted, bringing him a gratifying measure of prosperity.
I. H. A. MEYER.
One of Bloomfield township's most progressive business men and public- spirited citizens is H. H. A. Meyer, whose fine farm of one hundred and ninety- six acres lies on section 28 and is a well managed and productive property, reflecting everywhere the owner's careful supervision and practical methods. Mr. Meyer was born in Clayton county, Iowa, on the Ist of October, 1865, and is a son of Carl and Elizabeth ( Wildrod ) Meyer, natives of Germany, who came to America in 1858 and located in Clayton county. There the father turned his attention to general farming and continued to engage in that occupation until his death, which occurred on the 26th day of March, 1913. He and his wife became the parents of thirteen children: Emma, who married Joseph Wickler, of Clayton county ; Henry and William, of the same section; H. H. A., of this review ; August, who resides in Clayton : Lizzie, the wife of August Tangarman, also of Clayton county ; Birdie, deceased ; Charles, Theodore and Amelia, all of Clayton county ; Mamie, who married Fred Drehn, a farmer in Clayton county ; Carrie, who married John Meyer; and Dalia, the wife of James Forne, of Clayton county.
H. H. A. Meyer was reared upon his father's farm and acquired his educa- tion in the district schools of his native community, dividing his time during his childhood between his studies and work upon the homestead. He remained with his parents until his marriage, after which he engaged in agricultural pursuits for himself, remaining in Clayton county until 1903. In that year he moved to Winneshiek county and purchased one hundred seventy-two and a half acres on section 28, Bloomfield township, to which he has since added, the Vol. IT-21
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ยท farm now comprising one hundred and ninety-six acres. This he has improved with a modern two story residence, a substantial barn and the necessary out- buildings and he has installed labor-saving machinery to facilitate the work of the fields. Everything about the place is kept in excellent condition, the soil is well cultivated, the buildings adequate, and the entire property is entitled to rank with the model farms in this county.
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