The pioneer history of Pocahontas County, Iowa, from the time of its earliest settlement to the present time, Part 45

Author: Flickinger, Robert Elliott, b. 1846
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: Fonda, Iowa, G. Sanborn
Number of Pages: 1058

USA > Iowa > Pocahontas County > The pioneer history of Pocahontas County, Iowa, from the time of its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 45

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moved to Lake township, and five years later to Kansas. His eldest son, of the school board, the first justice of Charles H. Hallock, in 1870 located a the peace and first clerk of the town- homestead on the NW} Sec. 34, and ship. The latter about 1882, moved to improved it. In April, 1873, his house, Havelock and engaged in the drug which had a thatch roof, or was filled business. After the loss of the store with hay as a- protection overhead, by fire he moved to California. He

, caught fire while he was away from was one of the first trustees of the home and his wife was outside the township.

building. She rushed in to save her

Peter Ellison, of Sweden, accompa- child, asleep in the cradle. She saved nied by his wife, who was a sister of the child, but her own clothing caught John Lawson, in 1873, secured a home- fire and though she extinguished the stead of 40 acres on the NW} Sec. 20. flanes in a slough near at hand, she He has added 80 acres to the home- died soon after a neighbor came to her stead and still occupies it. Their fam- relief. Charles is now living in Kan-

ily consists of three children-Annie, sas. who is married, Christine and Ed- ward.

Niels Hanson, a native of Denmark, (born Aug. 24, 1839) came to Bellville

Aaron Erickson, of Sweden, in Sep- township with Win. Bell in March, tember, 1869, entered a homestead on 1869, and in June following filed his Sec. 20, built a cabin on it and the homestead claim for the W} NE} Sec. next year was joined by his wife and 10, for which he received the patent family. In 1872 this claim was relin- quished in favor of Martin McAuliff, who still owns it, and Erickson bought a farm on the SW} Sec. 18, which he still owns and occupies, He has raised a large family,

Oct. 30, 1874. Two years later, (1876) owing to the frequent and successive losses sustained from the ravages of the grasshoppers he lost his homestead and purchased 40 acres adjoining on

343

BELLVILLE TOWNSHIP.

the northeast corner of the same sec- except this sod house. In 1877 they tion which he still owns and occupies. bought a small house and later en- In 1893 he bought the SE} Sec. 3 ad- larged it, but in 1890 they dispensed joining it on the north so that he has with it and erected a fine large resi- now a fine farm of 200 acres, improved dence that would be a source of pride with a beautiful grove, fruit-bearing in any community. He has also orchard and good buildings. After erected a large barn, granary, cribs living two years in the sod house and and other outbuildings. In 1883 and twenty-three in its successor, a frame 1890 he secured additions to his farm 12x16 feet, he erected (1894) the large making it now 225 acres. He has been and comfortable house he now occu- a successful stockraiser and aims to pies. He was one of the first and is keep sufficient of it to eat all the pro- now the oldest resident of the town- ceeds of the farm. In comparing the ship. His wife, Lena Loding, is a na- present time with former days he sees tive of Norway. Their family has a great contrast. He happened to lo- consisted of four sons and two daugh- cate his sod house on a high place in ters. Ilans, the eldest, in 1894, mar- the center of a slough where there was ried Mary Hanson and they live on plenty of tall grass for fuel. At that her father's farm on Sec. 8, Colfax time the only things that could be township. They have a family of two raised abundantly were slough grass children, Minnie and Mabel. Hannah, and water, but now these are the the eldest daughter, in 1893, became hardest to find. Their family con- the wife of Anton Larson and they sists of three children, Charles W., lived on his father's farm in Bellville Jennie and Oscar E., who are at home township until the fall of 1899, when on the farm. they became proprietors of the first

Michael McAlpin and family, of hotel in Palmer. Martin, Niels, Min- Canada, in 1871 located on a home- nie and Edward (18) are at home. Mr. stead on Sec. 8. His wife died in 1872 Hanson served as a trustee of the and was buried in the Lizard Catho- township during the years 1887-88. lic cemetery. About 1895, he mar- In August 1899 the new town of ried again and later moved to Fort Palmer, first called Hanson, was lo- Dodge, where he now resides. To the cated on his farm, and his daughter homestead he added 40 acres on the Minnie, who was engaged in teaching same section and 80 acres on Sec. 17. public school, was appointed post- The old homestead is now occupied mistress, when the postoffice was es- by his son James McAlpin, who mar- tablished in January, 1900.

ried a daughter of Henry Kreul, and

Aaron Himan, a native of Sweden, has a small family. His sisters, Bridg- (born May 21, 1835) came to America et and Margaret, (the latter married) in 1868 and on Aug. 12, 1869, in Illinois, are living together in Minnesota. married Matilda Solomonson. In Maria, married to Bernard Kreul, April, 1870, they came to Bellville lives at Pocahontas.

township and, selecting a homestead Martin McAuliff, of Canada, in a homestead of 80 acres on N SW} Sec. 2, began its April, 1878 secured improvement by the erection of a sod originally entered by Aaron Erickson house 10x12 feet, that lasted them on section 20 and improved it. He is seven years. They preferred to live in now the owner of a good residence in this humble dwelling rather than to Pomeroy, where he now resides, and occupy a frame building with a lien 320 acres of land in Bellville township. upon it. In the fall of 1871 the prai- He came very near winning matri- ric fire burned everything on the farm monial honors on one occasion, but

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PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

induced to change his mind, he is still family still reside. His successor, Samuel H. Gill, secured the patent

enjoying single blessedness.

Thomas McAuliff, of Canada, an for this homestead and was occupying elder brother, in December 1871 se- it in 1878, when he sustained the loss cured the homestead first entered by of all his buildings and also of his Wm. Brownlee on section 18 and lived wife by the cyclone of April 21st, that upon it about eight years. He still year.

owns it, but lives in Colorado.

Gustave Peterson, a native of Swed-

Philip Myers, accompanied by his en (b. 1841) and wife (Solomonson) wife and two sons, in March 1869 en- came to Pocahontas county in 1870 tered a homestead claim on section with Aaron Himan, his brother in- 28. After the lapse of some years he law, and located a homestead on the sold it to Patrick Quinn and moved to S}NW} Sec. 2, Bellville township. Kansas. He was a member of the They built a sod house and occupied 112th Illinois infantry during the it till 1871 when they bought and Civil War.

moved to the S¿SW Sec. 35, Lincoln

Bernard Niehouse, of Germany, in township where they still reside. Oct. 1869, secured a homestead on the They still own the old homestead SW≥ Sec. 6, which he improved and and an additional eighty acres adjoin- occupied until 1876. His wife, who ing it on the same section. They are was a sister of Bernard Fisher, died a now in good circunstances, and have few years ago and he is now living a family of five children; Henry, Al- with his son-in-law, John Lampe. bert, Ida, Minnie and Paul.

Andrew Norman and family in 1876 Swan Peterson, a native of Sweden, secured a homestead on NW} Sec. 6, on May 26, 1876 entered the EJSW}, which he still owns, and his only son, Sec 36, 80 acres, as a timber claim. John Norman, owns and occupies a This land had originally been entered good farm on section 1.

by F. Carlson in 1868, and by Johanna Peterson in 1871 as a homestead, and

James O'Kiefe and his two sons, John W. and Daniel O'Kiefe, in Aug- the latter occupied it several years.

ust, 1869, entered and began to im-

Peter Peterson, a native of Den- prove three homesteads of 80 acres mark (b. 1827), in 1871 secured a home- each on the N} Sec. 12. Daniel mar- stead of eighty acres on the SzSW} ried about the year 1877, and his fath- Sec. 2, which be improved and occu- er. who was a widower, died at his pied until the time of his death in

home in 1881. The two brothers soon 1893.

His first wife died in the old thereafter moved to Lake township, country leaving one son George, and where Daniel still resides, the happy his second wife died in 1890 leaving owner of 240 acres on Sec. 31. John two sons John P. and Christian Peter- W. is married, lives at Rolfe (1899) son. These three sons are now living and still owns the NEJ Sec. 12, Bellville in Bellville township and all of them township. James O'Kiefe at the own good farms. time of his death and for five years George Peterson (b. 1843, Denmark) previous, was treasurer of the school married Augusta, daughter of Frede- board of Bellville township, and John rick Weigert, and they have a family W. was secretary in 1876.

of small children.

They are the

William R. Owen, of Canada, in owners and occupants of 280 acres on April, 1870, entered a homestead sections 10 and 15. He came to this claim on the SW} Sec. 18, and occu- country in 1883.

John P. Peterson homesteaded the

pied it till 1873, when he moved to Ft. Wayne, Indiana, where he and his NW#SW} Sec, 12 which had previous-

SWAN NELSON County Supervisor 1885-90.

MRS. SWAN NELSON

CHARLES KEZER

MRS. CHARLES KEZER

Bellville Township.

RESIDENCE AND FAMILY OF RUDOLPH BENEKE. Bellville Township.

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BELLVILLE TOWNSHIP.

Mr. Beneke is a good illustration of a

ly been entered successively by Ira G. Vaughn, Andrew C. Williamson, and successful German farmer. He be- James F. Peterson (no realative). lieves in investing the annual income After improving this property he sold of the farm in farm lands, and seems it and is now the owner and occu- to have a special faculty for accumu- pant of the old homestead on section lating rural real estate. The record 2. In 1880 he married Maggie, a of his additional purchases has been daughter of James Nelson and they as follows: In 1882, 141 acres; 1885, nave a small family. He is now serv- 40 acres; 1887, 80 acres; 1890, 120 acres; ing his tenth year as a trustee of the 1893, 40 acres; and in 1897 sells 75 acres township and was assessor from 1883 and buys 320 acres, making him the to 1886.

present owner of 746 acres. He be-

Christian Peterson (b. 1855, Den- lieves in cropping and raising stock mark) is the owner and occupant of together; he is not a large feeder, but

the NE Sec. 14. About 1880 he mar- keeps about 25 cows for dairy purposes. ried a daughter of Hans Markeson He keeps a careful eye on everything who, coming with wife, two sons and and nothing is allowed to go to waste. four daughters, homesteaded and He believes in doing business on the until 1897 occupied the NÆNW} Sec. cash basis and has been unwilling to 12. Christian's wife died in

1892 go in debt. He has carefully avoided leaving a family of five small children. the payment of high rates of interest He came to Bellville in 1870.

and the worry of mortgages.

On January 1, 1877, after a residence

Rudolph Beneke, (b. Feb'y 23, 1850) of Bellville township, (Manson P. O.) of two years in this country, he mar- is a native of Germany. His parents ried Annie Smorkovski, (b. Dec. 4, were Henry and Mary Beneke, and at 1855) a daughter of Anton and Barbara the age of 18, in 1868, he came to Smorkovski. Their family consists of America with his elder brother, Died- five boys and three girls, all of whom eric, who now resides in Lincoln town- are at home and at work on the farm, ship. They located first in Scott namely: Henry, (b. Jan. 24, 1878), county, Iowa, and in 1871 Rudolph Rudolph, (b. Sept. 18, 1879), Barbara, visited Pocahontas county and bought (b. March 18, 1881), Earnest August, 80 acres on the SW≥ Sec. 4, Bellville (b. Aug. 30, 1882), "Anton, (b. Nov. 28, township. In 1875 he returned, lo- 1884). Anna Sophia (b. Aug. 16, 1886) cated upon this land, began the work Mary, (b. April 16, 1888) and Frank (b. July 9, 1893). Mr. Beneke served as a trustee of the township six years -1889-1894, and was president of the

of its improvement and has lived upon it ever since. He first built a small house but in 1880 and again in 1887, as his family and farm grew larger, he school board in 1890.

enlarged it so that it is now one of the largest houses in the township.

WILLIAM BROWNLEE.

William Brownlee, (b. March 1, 1838), The other improvements consist of a of Pomeroy, was a resident of Bell- large barn built in 1881, a cow barn ville township from the spring of 1869 and a number of other smaller build- until the fall of 1892, with the excep- ings. The beautiful grove, so nicely tion of the two years he served as arranged around the house as to give county treasurer, 1884-185, when he it a picturesque view, was planted in and his family lived at Pocahontas. 1875 and '76. In 1882 he planted an He is a native of Welland county, acre with plum, crab and apple trees Canada, and the son of Thomas and and they are now in good bearing con- Sarah Brownlee, both of whom were of Scotch-Irish descent, and came

dition,

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PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

from the county of Armaugh, Ireland. Indian bands were neighborly neigh On Nov. 3, 1861, he married Elizabeth bors, but everybody was glad when H. Owen and one year later, coming they left the community, for they to the United States, they located in were professional beggars of a treach- Walworth county Wis. During a res- erous character. The early settler, in idence of six years at this place he the interest of peace and to get them to found employment most of the time leave the premises as soon as possible, as a stage driver. In 1869, with a fam- usually felt it was better to give them ily of two children, they came to Po- all they wanted, so that many times cahontas county, Iowa, and located on

the larder was emptied in meeting a homestead on Sec. 18, Bellville town- their demands .*

ship. After three years they bought another farm on Sec. 8, which they improved and occupied until the time iam Allen (single) is engaged in the of their removal to Pomeroy in 1892.

Their family consisted of eight chil- dren, three of whom are dead. Will- grain and seed business at St. Paul;

Mr. Brownlee was very highly hon- Bert O., married to Harriet Swisher, ored by the citizens of Bellville, who is clerking in a store at Mallard; Bern recognized his excellent qualities of R. married to Mabel Joslyn, is located head and heart. He was enabled to on a farm in Calhoun county; Mary F. render many years of efficient service and Howard Lee are still at home.

Charles Kezer, (b. March 8, 1835) one of the pioneers of Bellville township,

in all the township offices that a good citizen is expected to fill. He was a trustee in 1872, clerk in 1873, a justice is a native of New Hampshire, and of the peace five years, president of the names of his parents were Graham the school board four years, secretary and Elvira Kezer. ' In 1856 he came to of it five years and treasurer of the Illinois and on August 12, 1862, at school fund three years. He was also Galva, Henry county, enlisted as a the first citizen of Bellville township member of the 112th Ill. regiment. to enjoy the honor of a seat on the Seven days later he married Sarah board of county supervisors (1876-1883). Jane Smith, (b. April 23, 1841) of Stark On Jan. 7, 1884, after eight years of county, Ill. After one year and two efficient service, he resigned his posi- months of service he was transferred tion as a member of this board, that to the invalid corps and two months he might accept the more responsible later was discharged for general de- office of county treasurer, to which he bility. His father-in-law and one of had been elected the previous fall. his sons wishing him to go with them

His estimable wife was one of the to the army, on January 25, 1865, he most efficient and popular of the early re-enlisted as a member of Co. G, of teachers of Bellville, and she joined the same regiment. On April 4, 1865, with her husband in making their at Goldsborough, N. C., he was de- home one of the most hospitable and tailed as an orderly and in June was entertaining in that section. Their transferred to the 65th Ill. regiment. home was situated a short distance He was

discharged July 13, 1865. south of the South branch of Lizard That fall he and his father-in-law and creek and also near the largest lake in their families came to Book Grove, the township. This locality proved to north of Webster City, where they be a favorite camping ground for the spent the winter, and then located in roving bands of Indians that annually Clear Lake township, Hamilton coun- frequented this section for the pur- ty, which they helped to organize. In pose of hunting and trapping in the the spring of 1870, he and his fam days of its early settlement. These

*See page 154.

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BELLVILLE TOWNSHIP.

ily of two children came to Bellville handed but willing to "go west" and township and located on a homestead find a place where they were on the SE Sec. 28. In 1873 and 1875 needed, by industry and the practice he experienced the loss of his crops by of economy they have become the the grasshoppers, and in 1881 two happy possessors of a fine farm of 280 of his daughters from cerebral men- acres of land as productive and valu- ingitis. In 1884 he moved to Sec. able as any in Bellville township. 22, Lincoln township; in 1893 became They improved it with fine buildings superintendent of the county poor protected by a beautiful grove, and farm and six years later moved to an- stocked it with the best of stock. other farm in that vicinity. Mr. Ke- Everything about the premises was so zer assisted in the organization of conveniently arranged and kept in Bellville township in 1870. He was such excellent order that labor was a chosen president of the school board at source of pleasure as well as profit. the time of its organization in 1871 The results, without including any

and filled that position again in 1874, '76-77. He was assessor four years, 1874-77; township clerk six years, 1877 -82; and secretary of the school board ten years, 1875 and 1878-86. Mr. and Mrs. Kezer have won the confidence

reference to the many years of public service rendered in the township and county, are a good illustration of what may be achieved by patience and perseverance.

Swan Nelson (b. Sept. 30, 1843) is a and esteem of their neighbors wher- native of Sandby.of Kristianstads l'an Sweden. Leaving the "home where his cradle had been rocked and the country where his forefathers had been dedicated back to dust," on the

ever they have lived. Of their family six children are still living. Edmund M., on Nov. 5, 1895, married Elizabeth, a daughter of John and Elizabeth Boyd; they reside at Rutland, where 4th day of May, 1869, at the age of 26 he is engaged in blacksmithing, and years, he arrived in Bellville town- have one child, Joyce Pearl. Anna ship on June 5th following, and be- Elvira, on Nov. 28, 1895, married Ar- gan to occupy as a homestead the S? thur Irwin, and they reside in New SE} Sec. 34,-80 acres-for which the Hampshire. Julia Winifred, Sarah entry was made Nov. 6, 1869, and the Jane, Franklin G. and Charles Samuel patent issued February 15, 1876. He are at home.

SWAN NELSON.

did not cross "the pond" alone, but in company with a few friends, two of whom became his neighbors in Cal-

Two of the hardy pioneers who achieved a marked success on the houn county for several years, and an- farm in Pocahontas county, after a other was the lady to whom he was residence of thirty years on the old engaged to be married, who heartily homestead on section 34, Bellville seconded his proposal to found a home in this "great west land of which he township, in the fall of 1899 moved to Manson to occupy a large and beauti- had heard so much."

ful mansion especially designed and Some of their experiences in gain- constructed by them with all modern ing an introduction to the fertile appliances for their comfort and hap- prairies of Pocahontas county were piness. From the sod house to the characteristic of the lot of many of mansion, is the worthy record of Mr. the early pioneers that preceded the and Mrs. Swan Nelson. While many construction of the railroad. After a have been successful on the farm few long and tiresome journey, arriving at have done better than they. Arriv- Moline, Ill., where a sister and broth- ing in this country in 1869, empty- er-in-law (Peterson) lived, they found

348

PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

they had left a month previous to se- Hay, while the men completed the cure a homestead in Northwest Iowa. journey to Peterson's sod house five They felt they must follow, and miles further west. The next day, passed to Dubuque on a steamboat. Peterson, with a wagon drawn by two Hitherto on their journey, by the aid yoke of oxen, returned with the men of interpreters, they had experienced to Fort Dodge for their trunks and no trouble in making known their Mr. Nelson signified his intention to become a citizen of the United States. He found immediate employment in the construction of the new railroad, but inasmuch as it rained about four days in the week, the income was not very large. wants in the Swede language, but now they were left to their own resources. After considerable trouble with the agent they finally succeeded in get- ting tickets for Iowa Falls, the west- ern terminus of the train service of the Illinois Central at that time, and

In the month of August, having se- arrived there toward evening. When lected their homestead, they con- they stepped from that train they did cluded to get married. As there was not know how or when they could con- no minister or justice of the peace in tinue their journey, but seeing that that vicinity, Mr. Peterson took the the track was laid as far as they could couple to Fort Dodge in the lumber see toward the setting sun, they de- wagon drawn by two yoke of oxen. A cided to remain at the depot and get license was procured and the clerk aboard the first train going westward. sending them to a little house in At nine o'clock, however, they were which the judge lived, the latter given to understand they could not re- "caused them to join hands and then, main longer in the depot, and in order putting a very solemn look on his that a train might not leave without face, said something which the young their knowledge, they selected as a people did not understand but which resting place for that night, a pleas- they believed was good and effective, ant evening in June, the shelter af- since it held them together as man forded by an oak tree that stood near and wife ever since."

the station. The next morning they

The wagon was then loaded with boarded a train facing westward and some lumber, eight sacks of flour and when Mr. Nelson handed the con- some groceries, and everything went ductor $7.50 for their fares they had smoothly on their return until they only one dime left to complete their arrived near the place where Barnum journey. At Fort Dodge they were is now located, and there although comforted by meeting a former ac- Peterson was on one side of the wag- quaintance who knew also their friend, on and Nelson on the other driving Mr. Peterson, and his location in the oxen, they stuck fast in the mid- Calhoun county. The next morning, dle of a large slough. The latter car- accompanied by this friend and hav- ried his bride to the farther shore and ing a loaf of bread for lunch, they set then assisted Peterson to carry over out on foot for Peterson's home. The the flour and lumber. After a long wind was blowing from the west bring- struggle they succeeded in bringing ing an occasional shower, and they out the oxen and wagon. When they found this, the longest and most came to the next bad slough they wearisome walk they had ever under_ were unwilling to risk an effort to taken. When they arrived at Yates- pull through it, so they carried again ville in the afternoon the young lady most of the load over it, the groom was completely exhausted and re- carrying his bride a second time. mained with a family by the name. of When they reached home it was long

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BELLVILLE TOWNSHIP.

after the hour of midnight, and both farm and has one son born December were well satisfied that this was a 28, 1899. rather hard country through which to Mr. Nelson has been a loyal republi- make a wedding tour. The next can, a practical prohibitionist and a spring they built a little sod house on faithful member of the Swede church the homestead and moved into it May in Manson. 2, 1870. Betsey Nelson, a native of Sweden,

Mr. Nelson became a citizen of the came to this country in 1871, and United States in the fall of 1874, and homesteaded the SE} SWĄ Sec. 34. on January 1, 1877, as assessor, he be- She built a sod house and lived on her gan an efficient official career in Bell- homestead until she received the pat- ville township that was continuous ent for it and then sold it to Elias from that date until the time of his Swanson, a brother-in-law. She is a retirement from the farm in 1899-a sister of Swan Nelson and her first period of twenty-two years. He was husband died in Sweden. She is now a member of the school board many the wife of Peter Peterson, of Cal- years, was president of it three years, houn county, and they live in Manson. 1880 '89 and '93, and treasurer of the

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The pioneer history of Pocahontas County, Iowa, from the time of its earliest settlement to the present time, Part 45

Author: Flickinger, Robert Elliott, b. 1846 Publication date: 1904 Publisher: Fonda, Iowa, G. Sanborn Number of Pages: 1058

Author: Flickinger, Robert Elliott, b. 1846
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: Fonda, Iowa, G. Sanborn
Number of Pages: 1058