The pioneer history of Pocahontas County, Iowa, from the time of its earliest settlement to the present time, Part 74

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 74

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Parker Frank J. owner and occu-

lent judgment. His dwelling house is a commodious structure fifty-one pant of a farm on Sec. 28 from April feet in length. He has half an acre 1, 1879 to 1896, was a good citizen and planted with currants and grapes, 50 fairly successful farmer. He com- apple trees in good bearing condition menced with 80 acres and was the and a grove of ten acres of forest happy owner of 240 acres in 1896 when

551

COLFAX TOWNSHIP.

he moved to Pomeroy. He has since Buchanan Co., Iowa, where on March been engaged in the life insurance 28, 1870, he married Sarah J. Pierce. business. Securing recognition first Two months later they came to Poca- as a constable, he rendered faithful hontas county and located on a home- and efficient service in all the town- stead of 80 acres on the S? SE} sec. 32, ship offices, serving eight years as a Colfax township, which they still own justice and fourteen as secretary of and occupy. The farm has been in- the school board. His family consists creased to 260 acres and all the im- of six children: Carrie, Frederic, provements upon it are in excellent Roy, Niles, Howard and Pearl.

condition. His buildings being in the

Perkins Charles Gustavus (b. Mar. course of the terrible tornado of 1893, 17, 1841), one of the early pioneers of were completely destroyed, and only Colfax township, is a native of Wood- the twisted trunks or broken stumps stock, Oxford Co., Maine, the son of remained of the many rows of beauti- Rev. Charles and Amazina (Cushman) ful shade trees planted around them. Perkins. On August 28, 1861, at the He has become widely and favorably beginning of the civil war, he enlisted known by reason of his intelligence, and on Sept. 2d following he was mus- uprightness of character and long res- tered in at Canton as a member of Co. idence in the same place. He has F. 9th Maine infantry. On Dec. 31, taken a prominent part in the affairs 1863, in South Carolina, he re-enlisted of the Fonda G. A. R. Post and served as a corporal in the same company and as its commander three successive regiment for three years. He was years, 1898-1900. In the history of

honorably discharged at Raleigh, N. Colfax township he has left more foot- C., Aug. 3, 1865, after nearly four years prints than any other. He was secre- of faithful service in the army of his tary of the school board in 1872-1873, country. His regiment formed a part and president of it in 1875. He was of the tenth army corps and served in assessor in 1875-1876, and a justice for the department of the Gulf under thirteen years, 1874-1886. He was a Gen. Sherman, on the James River trustee in 1873 and '94-97 and has been under Gen. Butler and in the Army clerk since 1900. He was a member of of the Potomac under Gen. Grant. the board of county supervisors in It traversed every state along the At- 1884.

His family consists of one lantic coast from Maine to Texas and daughter, Grace A., and she is still at participated in a larger number of en- home.

gagements than any other. He par- Perkins Charles Rev. (b. Feb. 22, ticipated in those at Moore's Island, 1815), father of Charles G., was a resi- Siege of Ft. Wagner, Port Wallhall, dent of Pocahontas county most of the Arrowfield Church, Drewry's Bluff, time from 1870 to 1887, and lived in Bermuda Hundred, Ware Bottom Fonda from 1874-76. He received his Church, Cold Harbor, Chapin's Farm, early education in the public schools Darby House Road and Wilmington. of Maine and at the age of nineteen In June 1864, at Cold Harbor, Va., he became a member of the Calvanistic was wounded and taken to the hospi- Baptist church. About the year 1852 tal at Alexandria, thence to German- at Androscoggin he was ordained a town and later to Camp Keys at Au- minister of the Baptist denomination gusta, Maine, where he remained until and served pastorates at North Paris, Aug. 22, 1864, when he returned to Bridgeton and Hartford in Maine, and his regiment.

Randolph in New Hampshire. In

In 1865, at the close of the war, he 1865 he was appointed a missionary by came with his parents to Winthrop, the Cedar Valley Baptist Association

552

PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

of Iowa and was located at Winthrop and Matilda who became the wife of four years. In 1869 he relinquished John A. Holmes (see Holmes). In 1867 liis commission and located on a farm they came together to America and in that vicinity. The next year he located at Andover, Henry Co., Ill., came with his son, Charles G., to Po- and three years later in Henry Co., cahontas county and. preached as he Iowa. Here Alexander on March 22, had opportunity. He delivered the 1879 married Sophia Swanson (b. Swed. first sermon in Butler township, Cal- Aug. 27, 1858), who, as the only rep- houn county, in a temporary school resentative of her family, had come house on section 3, in 1872, and held to America in 1875. Two years later the first public services in English in he bought 160 acres of prairie on Sec. Colfax township that same year, in 16, Colfax township and bringing his the Stewart-Brownell school house on section 34. His wife, Amazina Cush- wife and parents located on it and be- gan its improvement. By frequent man (b. 1817), was of Puritan descent, subsequent purchases this farm has came to this county in March, 1872, been increased to 600 acres; and the and died in December following. Two first set of buildings have been re- placed by new and larger ones that

years later he married Mrs. Elizabeth Bicknell, of Pomeroy. About the rank among the largest and finest in year 1887 he returned to Paris, Maine, the township. In 1891 a large two story mansion house was built and in

and died there July 6, 1892.

Perry Clark (b. 1844), resident of 1893 a barn 56x80 feet that has a capa- Sec. 5 since 1886, is a native of Winne- city for $0 tons of hay. Several other bago county, Ill., the son of David and important buildings have been erected Charity Perry. On Nov. 27, 1877 he and all are kept brightly painted. He married Alice Lamb and located on a keeps his farm well stocked with hogs farm at Cherry Valley. In 1881 his and cattle and milks about 25 cows. father visited Pocahontas county and In 1883 he planted six acres of forest bought 480 acres on Sec. 5, Colfax trees and 80 fruit trees that are doing township. Five years later Clark and nicely.

family located on this farm and began

The marked success achieved by the work of its improvement. Hand- Alexander Peterson is a practical il- some buildings have been erected on lustration of what an Iowa farm will a beautiful elevation and the place do when rightly managed. No one has been made very homelike by the can pass his premises without observ- planting of an orchard and several ing the manifest evidence of careful groves. The apples from this orchard management. Everything about the are large size, excellent quality and farm suggests a systematicand orderly demand a ready sale on the market.

His family consists of five children: for a sufficient amount of stock to con- Maude, a teacher, David, Ethel, sume all the grain raised on the farm. Frank, and Earl; Jessie Mabel having died at sixteen in 1899.

Andrew P. Peterson his father died Dec. 22,1900 at the age of 82 years and, arrangement of facilities for caring

Peterson Alexander (b. Jan. 16, including his children and grandchil- 1850), one of the supervisors of Poca- dren, this was the first death in the hontas county 1892-97, is the son of family. When he read his first ac- Andrew Peter (b. May 18, 1818), and count of the United States, giving a Charlotte Kauntson (b. Sept. 8, 1823) glowing description of the vast do- Peterson. His parents were united main of rich and fertile prairies that in marriage in 1848 and their family awaited new settlers, he experienced consisted of two children, Alexander a desire to emigrate to this great

553

DES MOINES TOWNSHIP.

land. As the years passed away and 1870, they were all at the cabin of he had opportunity of witnessing the John A. Johnson, and not until the increasing prosperity of his children third day were they able to return to in their new homes, often did he ex- their own homes to feed and water press his gratitude to the favoring their stock.

The first home of Charles P. Peter- ily to Iowa and in particular to Poca- son was a sod house, or more correctly, hontas county.

providence that led him and his fam-

a dugout, 12x16 feet, excavated two

Alexander, by his intelligence and feet below the surface, built with sods thrift, has forged his way to the front three feet above it and covered with and secured recognition as one of the a roof of boards. It ha'd one window leading and most influential men of in the rear gable facing southward. the township. He has been a trustee He occupied this humble but comfort- of the Swedish Mission church of Col- able dwelling until 1871, when he fax township since the time of its or- built a frame shanty that lasted the

ganization in 1882. He was a trustee next eight years. In 1879 he married of the township from 1883 to 1890, a Hilda Nelson (b. Sweden 1857) and be- justice of the peace 1896 to 1899 and a gan to occupy a new house completed member of the board of county super- at that time. In 1891 he sold the visors six years, 1892-97. homestead and bought 240 acres on

His family consists of four children, section 26. He has here a beautiful Melvin Oliver, Alice Matilda, Emma home with attractive surroundings. Cecelia and Elmer Alexander.

he has met with a good degree of suc-

Peterson Charles P. (b, 1844), own- sess on the farm, raising good crops er and occupant of a farm in, Colfax and raising stock with profit. He is a township since March 17, 1869, is a man of intelligence and strict integ- native of Sweden, came to America in rity. He is a liberal supporter of the 1868 and lived one year in Boone coun- Swedish Lutheran church and has

ty, Iowa. On March 3, 1869, he en- taken an active part in the manage- tered and two weeks later began to ment of the most important affairs of occupy, as a homestead, the S} NW} the township. He was president of the school board four years, 1893, '95-

section 12, 80 acres.

Four other young men from Sweden 97, and a trustee six years, '93-98. His that were his personal friends, name- family consists of five children, Alfred, ly, John A. Johnson, Gust H. John- Frank, Henry, Melvin and Amy, four son, John A. Nelson and Harry August having died in childhood.

Nelson (died the next year), entered

Peterson Frank (b. 1851), in 1873 homesteads on the same section the secured as a homestead the St SW+ same day with him, all having walked section 12, improved and occupied it together from Des Moines. When until 1892. He then sold it and bought they went to locate their claims there 160 acres on the NW} sec. 23, which was no house west of the Blandon he has improved and still occupies. farm, eight miles east. They had to He is a native of Sweden, came to have their claims surveyed three times America in 1869 and located first near at a cost of $20 each before they got Des Moines. He has been a trustee their boundariessatisfactorily located. of Colfax township since 1897. In 1875 Each built a sod house on his claim he married Turina Henricks, a step- before the end of that summer and daughter of Nels Anderson. She died worked on the railroad when not need- May 2, 1899, leaving a family of eight ed on his homestead. At the time children, Hilda C., Ida, Ina, Amanda, of the great snow storm, March 8-10, Verner, Carl, Lawrence and Nellie.

554

PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

Peterson John (b. Sweden 1875), around them. In 1895 he moved to brother of Peter, in 1881 married Cath- Cedar township, where he has nicely erine Larson and located on section improved a smaller farm. He is a na- 24. She died in 1887, leaving two tive of Prussia where in 1851 he children, Anna S. and Minnie M. In married Ida Mallest. The next year 1889 he married Martha Johnson and they came to America and located in their family consists of two children, Chicago, where for twenty-six years he Esther W. and Arvad.

continued in the same grocery store.

Peterson Peter (b. Sweden 1842), In 1868 his wife died and he soon after- in 1869 located on a homestead on sec- ward married Agnes Zimmerman, who tion 24, which he improved and in- died in 1873 leaving two children, creased to 160 acres. He married William and Frederic, who are resi- Christine Welander and occupied the dents of Chicago. In 1874 he married homestead until the spring of 1901, Emma Storch and their family con- when he moved to Pomeroy. He was sists of three children, Emma, George, who in 1899 married Anna Hout, and a mason as well as a farmer.

Prange August (b. 1835), who in Lizzie, an adopted daughter.

June 1869 entered as a homestead the Russell Henry (b. Dec. 31, 1834), who secured a homestead on section 6 in 1870, was a native of Yorkshire, England. He came to Canada with his parents and on Aug. 19, 1862, mar- ried there. In 1870, accompanied by his brother John and his own family consisting of his wife and five children, he located on his homestead in Colfax township, and his brother John on an adjoining one. They built a shanty on the line between them and occu- pied it together one year. After a residence of thirteen years on this homestead he sold it and bought 160 acres on section 6, Grant township, which he improved and increased to S¿ NEĮ section 20, is a native of Prus- sia. Coming to America in 1867, he located first in Webster county, Iowa, and two years later in Pocahontas county. His first improvements were a cabin and a blacksmith shop, the walls of the latter being built of sod. This was the second blacksmith shop established in this county, and it was maintained on the farm for 15 years, the sod building after four years be- ing replaced by one of lumber. He occupied the homestead, farming and blacksmithing until 1883, when he es- tablished a large shop at Pomeroy and supplied it with the most im- proved machinery. He is still the 440 acres. In 1899 he sold .this farm and moved to Oklahoma.

proprietor of it and enjoys the reputa- tion of being a very skillful workman. In 1874 he married Augusta Zimmer- man, relict of a brother killed in the Prussian army. His family consists of five children, Albert, Alma, Wil- liam, August and Emma.

Frank Prange, son of his brother, deceased, married Rose Randall, lives at Pomeroy and has two children, Bertha and Charles.

He was a man of considerable ener- gy and was very positive in expressing his convictions. He was the first to cast a democratic vote in Grant town- ship, became an ardent advocate of the people's party and heartily en- dorsed the cause of free silver. He was a trustee of Grant township six years, 1893-98.

Prange William (b. Sept. 6, 1830), His family consisted of thirteen in July 1882 bought and began to oc- children of whom James, the oldest, cupy the N} section 19. He improved died in 1883 at the age of twenty. this farm with buildings that cost Those that are living are William, $3,500 and planted pretty groves Nellie, Mary, Lizzie, Hattie, Chris-

555

COLFAX TOWNSHIP.

topher, John, Harry, Rose, Effie, Alice was the first to occupy this farm of 80 and Carrie.

acres and has finely improved it. Of

Nellie married Claude Kay, a farmer his family of seven children, four are for a few years, but now an engine living, Ernest, Charles, who married hostler at Rockwell City, and has a Ida, daughter of G. B. Carlson of Col- family of four children, Ernest, Guy, fax and lives in Texas; Anna, who Rose and Paul.

Mary married Charles Brown and Manson, and Henry, who in 1896, mar-

lives in Grant townsbip.

Lizzie married Wesley Ellison and Otto Arvid in 1898, died at the age of Aives in Grant township.

Hattie married David Shippen and hives in Kansas.

John married Mary Coykendall and Aives In Grant township.

Mose married Fred Coykendall and Germany, came to America in 1867 lives in Colfax township.

and located in Wisconsin. Two years

Effie married Hartley Roberts and later he came to his homestead on sec- lives at Fonda.

Russell John, brother of Henry, in 1870 built a sod house on his own homestead and occupied it alone for several years. In 1876 he built a frame house and married Sarah Lovering. ing the old homestead to 160 acres he He continued to occupy the homestead until 1883, when he died, leaving a family of five children, Arthur, Wil- liam, Elijah, John and Mary. Two years later their mother became the 1869, he married Eliza Briggs of Cal- wife of Henry Bentz, and they now live in the southern part of the state.

occupied it until 1897, when he moved to Pomeroy. He was highly esteemed as a citizen and served six years as a trustee of the township. On Nov. 15, houn county, and his family consisted of two children, Louie, who died in 1896 at twenty-six, and Emma.

Samuelson August (b. Aug. 22, 1848), who secured a homestead on Stewart Robert Charles (b. Sept. section 18 in 1869, is a native of Sweden, 10, 1829), who in 1870 secured a home- came to America in 1868 and located stead on section 34, and located upon it with a family of five children, was the son of William M. and Mary Stew- art and a native of Glasgow, Scotland. at Rockford, Ill. The next year he found employment on the I. C. rail- road and located his homestead. He increased it to 200 acres, and still oc- cupies it. In 1876 he married Hilda, daughter of Swan P. Munson, and has a family of nine children, Selma, Min- nie, Otella, Esther, Mabel, Emil and Freda, twins, Genie and Lorence.

has improved it with good buildings, He grew to manhood in the state of Maine and in 1855 married Lucy Ann Lander in Massachusetts. . He then located at Fulton, Ill. In the spring of 1870 he drove across the country, secured a homestead in Colfax town- ship, and built a small cabin on it. Samuelson Peter Otto (b. 1832) an older brother of August, is a native .of Sweden, where he married Caroline Albertina, and about the year 1884, This work of preparation occupied about six weeks. Returning to Fort Dodge he met his family and they came together to Pomeroy on the con- with a family of six children, all born struction train that carried the first in Sweden, located on section 17, He mail from Fort Dodge to Pomeroy.

married Edward Barrett and lives in ried Amanda Haag of Colfax township. 22.

Smith (Schmidt) Fred C. (b. June 7, 1837), one of the first two men to lo- cate in Colfax township and who turn- ed the first furrow in it, is a native of

tion 28, accompanied by Fred Mat- theis, who took an adjoining home- stead and at first shared with him his cabin, which was built on the line be- tween them. Improving and enlarg-

556

PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

At that time the town of Pomeroy ing the reasons for his own political did not exist except as the name of views, he recognized it as the privil- the terminal station of the railroad, ege of those who differed from him to and where we now see cultivated fields do the same.

and comfortable homes there was His family consisted of four child- ren. Charles Edwin, in September naught but a treeless, trackless prai- rie profusely covered with ponds, 1883, married Relief B. Mackey and sloughs, and the slough grass houses died one month later at 25. Herman of the house-building muskrats. Only William, a druggist, in 1884 married those who experienced the trial cau Elizabeth V. Gould, lives at Omaha, tell of the hardships endured by the Neb., and has two children, Ray and Genie. George, a painter and paper

early settler in the effort to found a home and provide for a large family hanger, in 1888 married Mary J. Frost, on the frontier. In the fall of 1870, lives at Pomeroy and has two child- in order that he might supplement ren, Irwin W. and Ray Frost. Eliza- the summer's earnings he started a beth died in 1883 at 15.

shoeshop at Pomeroy. He occupied a

Swanson Joseph Rev., pastor of little corner in the general store of the Colfax Swedish Lutheran church Nicholas Kiefer, the only business house in the place. Deriving a small from March 1876 until the fall of 1880. was a native of Sweden, came to revenue from this source he continued America in his youth and locating in to work at the shoemaker's trade the Illinois married there Betty (Eliza- remainder of his days, walking or beth) Anderson. In 1875 he located driving to and from the homestead on section 13, Colfax township, and re- until 1883, when he sold it and moved ceiving a license to preach the gospel, to Pomeroy, where he died April 17, 1899.

served as pastor of the Swedish Luth-

eran churches of Colfax township and

He was a man of excellent spirit Manson from 1876 to 1880. In 1885 he and took such an active part in the located on section 14 where he died in organization first of Cedar township 1895, at the age of 58, and was buried. in 1870 and of Colfax in 1871 that his He left a family of nine children who name will always be remembered. By still own and occupy his late home on previous appointment he served as one section 14, namely, Elmer, Martin, of the judges at the first election held Elizabeth, Justus, Richard, David, in Cedar township and was that day Mary, Hannah and Esther.

elected one of its first trustees. In Turner Ludwig D. (b. 1841), who the fall of 1871, when Colfax was set in 1869 secured a homestead in Colfax off from Cedar, he was again appoint- township, was a native of Warren ed and served as one of the judges at county, N. Y., where in 1868 he mar- the first election. He was then elect- ried Eliza J. Russell (b. N. Y. 1845) ed and was the first to hold three of and located in Jones county, Iowa. the township offices, namely; assessor, The next year, accompanied by Mrs. justice and trustee. He served as as- Julia A. (Turner), widow of Marshall sessor three years, as a justice eight Johnson, they came in wagons to Po- years, clerk one year, president of the cahontas county and located on home- school board two years and secretary steads on section 6, Colfax township. of it seven years. After his removal Ludwig began the work of improving to Pomeroy he continued his interest his homestead and occupied it until in public affairs, national as well as June 6, 1877, when he died from par- local. He was an enthusiastic repub- alysis. His family consisted of three lican, and manifesting pleasure in giv- children, two of whom, Gertrude and

557

DES MOINES TOWNSHIP

John, at the ages of 14 and 13 years beth May (b. 1820). Two years later died of diphtheria in 1886. Matie L., they came to America and lived in a teacher, in 1891, married Frank E. Ohio and other eastern states until Bailey, and lives at Fonda where her 1870, when they located in Colfax mother also resides.

township. They had one daughter

L. D. Turner participated in the and she died in Ohio. Mrs. Walker organization of Colfax township, and continued to live on the farm until in 1872 served as a member of its first 1895, when she moved to Pomeroy. school board. During the civil war Thomas and Elizabeth Walker are he enlisted twice and served over four kindly remembered by all who knew years in the army of the Potomac un- them. der Generals Mcclellan and Grant, Wallace George (July 29, 1836), re- first as a member of the 2d Reg. N. corder of Pocahontas county 1879-80, Y. Infantry and later of the 22d N. Y. was a native of Summit county, Ohio, Cavalry. He had four brothers, An- the son of James Waugh and Adaline drew, George, Joseph and John that (Hancher) Wallace. He wasraised on also enlisted at the beginning of the a farm near Boston and received his war, and rendered patriotic service education at Northfield, Ohio, where during its continuance. in 1861 he married Cassandra McKes-

Mrs. Julia A. (Turner) Johnson was son. In 1871 he located on section 13, a native of New York, where she mar- Colfax township, erected some good ried Marshall Johnson. At the out- improvements and experienced all the break of the civil war he enlisted and vicissitudes and trials incident to died in Andersonville prison, leaving frontier life during the hard times in a wife, two sons, George and William, the seventies.

and two daughters. After the war

In 1871 he was elected and served was over Julia A. came to Iowa and three years as one of the justices of assisted by her two sons, secured a Colfax township. He was two years homestead on section 6, Colfax town- president of the school board and ship, erecting first a sod house. Four three years clerk of the township. In years later she became the wife of 1878 he was elected recorder of the Robert. a brother of Henry Russell, county and held this important office and built a good frame house that until the time of his death, Aug. 20, they continued to occupy until 1894, 1880. He was a capable and efficient when with two daughters, Nettie and public officer, a man of unquestioned Mary, they located in Oklahoma.

integrity, a devoted Christian and

George Johnson, her oldest son, for many years an honored member of about 1881 married Ida Willard and the Presbyterian church.

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The pioneer history of Pocahontas County, Iowa, from the time of its earliest settlement to the present time, Part 74

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