The pioneer history of Pocahontas County, Iowa, from the time of its earliest settlement to the present time, Part 89

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 89

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Brown John, David, Archibald, an ample grove and he is now enjoy- lIenry and Joseph, five brothers and ing the fruit from a good orchard and their father, coming from Canada in a plot planted in small fruits. He is 1866, secured homesteads on sections an aggressive and successful farmer 36 and 26. John died on his farm in and his value as a citizen has been 1870. In 1873 the others left the coun- recognized. He has served more years ty, their father returning to Canada, as a trustee than any other citizen of Archibald, Henry and Joseph going to the township, and was coroner of the the state of Washington. county in 1880-81.

Brown Edwin V., who in 1868 lo- cated on Sec. 12, a brother-in-law of John M. Brown, is now living at Fort Dodge.

Six of his family of nine children are living.

Orville V. (b. N. Y. 1859), in 1881 married Elizabeth Dawson of Calhoun county, lives on Sec. 18,and has eight children, Edna, Sidney, Sarah E, Robert, George, Floyd, Ernest and Ivan

Brown John M. (b. 1836), owner and occupant of 400 acres, principally on Sec. 18, has been a resident of the township since 1876. He is a native Clayton (b. N. Y. 1868), in 1891 mar- of New York state, where he married ried Mary A. Smith, lives in Lizard in 1856 and located on a farm. Dec. township, and has two children, Clar- 30, 1862, he enlisted as a member of ence and Lilly.

the 2d New York heavy artillery, and George G. (b. N. Y. 1870), in 1893 continued in the service until the close married Emma L. Anderson and lives of the war. He participated in the at Manson.

battles at Spottsylvania, North Anna Lillian, a very successful teacher, in River, Talapotany Creek, Cold Har- 1896 married Edward P. Trenary and bor, Petersburg, Ream Station, lives in Grant township. Hatchers Run, Five Forks, South Side Rose A., a teacher, in 1901, married R. R., Amelia Springs and Round Ernest Barger, lives at Cedar Falls. Fort. He was taken prisoner Calligan John (b. 1822, p. 157), who by the Confederates April 7, 1865 was the first settler to effect the loca- while making a charge on Round tion of his family in Pocahontas coun- Fort, Virginia, in which 575 men were ty, on the SE} Sec. 2, Lizard township, lost in a few minutes, but was recap- is a native of Galway county, Ireland. tured two days later when Lee In 1847 at 25 he came to St. John's,

surrendered. After keeping a hotel New Brunswick, and the next year to couple of years in Shenango county, Maine, where in 1849 at Ellsworth he N. Y., he again located on a farm married Bridget, sister of Michael

Broderick. He remained there until

where he remained until 1876, when he came to his present location on Sec. the spring of 1856, when he brought 18, where he commenced with 80 acres his family to Fort Dodge, where he which he was the first to occupy and arrived May 13th. This trip was one improve. He has "grown up with the he never forgot. He came on the cars country" by becoming a good leader as far as Dubuque, which was the ter- in the work of improvement. As the minus of the railroad. He paid the years have passed he has added 320 driver of a stage coach $45 to take his acres to the original purchase and the wife and four children to Fort Dodge, buildings erected are rated as the and then he set out on foot and walk- largest and finest in the township. ed the entire distance of 200 miles.

663

LIZARD TOWNSHIP.

The only bridge west of Dubuque was neberry, lives in Humboldt county an 1 at Cedar Falls over the Cedar river. has six children.

Usually he had to wade or swim the

Thomas J. (b. Maine, 1853), in 1878 streams. Arriving at Fort Dodge he married Mary J. Crilly and their only pushed on 20 miles further west where child died in infancy. He has a splen- his brother-in-law, Michael Broderick, did farm in Lizard township which was awaiting his arrival, and by his he occupied until a few years ago, help he was enabled to locate his fam- when he moved to Gilmore City where ily on the frontier in the Lizard set- he has since been engaged in the real tlement before those who had taken estate buriness. He was a member of claims before him. These facts sug- the board of county supervisors 1884- . gest the courage and indomitable per- 86. severance of the man. He did not Ellen F. in 1880 married P. R. Pow. ers, lives at Lohrville and has a family of nine children. sbrink from a task because it was dif- ficult. If the wilderness was wild be- fore him he knew why he had travel- ed all the way from Maine to the Liz- Maggie (b. Aug. 11, 1857), the sec- ond child born in Pocahontas county, in 1884 married Morris O'Connor, who died the next year leaving one child. In 1889 she married James Whelan, lives at Emmetsburg and their family consists of eleven children. ard and without any indecision or hesitancy began to lay the foundation for his future home and fortune. In this effort he encountered many dis- couragements, but rising above them, achieved good success. He possessed the faculty of utilizing to good advan- Carey James C., who in 1870 locat- ed on Sec. 26, was quite successful and became the owner of 240 acres. He raised a family of several children, two of whom are married, and served four years as a trustee. In 1899 he moved to Fort Dodge where he died in the fall of 1901. tage the resources of nature that for many years were free around him. As the years passed he enlarged and beautified his home, increased bis original farm to several hundred acres and occupied it until 1894 when he moved to Gilmore City, where his estimable wife, also a native of Ire- land, died at 80 in 1901.

His house was used for the elections a native of Germany. In 1847 he can e

and meetings of the township officers during the year 1865. He served as a trustee of the township in 1862, was a member of the first school board, and the first school district was named in his honor.

His family consisted of five children:

Edward M. (b. Maine, 1850), who taught the first school in Fonda, in 1878 married Mary Lane and located on a farm. He served several years each as clerk, trustee and justice. A few years ago he moved to Dakota City where his wife died in 1898 leav- ing a family of eleven children.

Carstens Jacob (b. 1819), resident of Lizard township since May, 1865, is to Wisconsin and after engaging in railroad construction three years he returned to Germany. In 1854 he came to Clayton county, lowa, and af- ter engaging in the land business six years he again returned to the father land. In 1861 he returned to Clayton county and in 1865 secured a home- steal of 80 acres on Sec. 22, Lizard township. Soon afterward he bought 320 acres more on the same section at $3 00 per acre. Accompanied by his nephew, Diederic Hoefing, he began life on this homestead in a sod shanty that lasted three years, and he devot- ed his time and attention to dealing

Mary A. in 1872 married M. J. Hen- in land rather than farming.

664

PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

The following incident related by ship and located on the NW Sec. 22. his longtime neighbor and fellow He improved and enlarged this farm countryman, Carl Steinbrink, gives to 320 acres, and at the time of his de one a good introduction to Mr. Cars- cease at 65 in 1899, left a family of tens. In 1866 when Carl Steinbrink eleven children, four of whom are and Fred Kelsow arrived at Fort married. He was a good farmer and Dodge and were informed that a served six years as a trustee. He was homesteader by name of Carstens one of the founders of the German owning 400 acres in the locality to Lutheran church.

which they wanted to go, was then in Carstens Gerhard B., in 1867 came with his brother, John H., to Lizard township and located on Sec. 30. He has been very successful as a farmer and is now the owner of 320 acres which he has improved with good that town, they felt very sure they would be able to complete their jour- ney to Lizard township in his wagon. So when they were introduced to each other, Steinbrink very confidently said, "You are in town with a team, buildings and groves. He married ain't you?" "No," said Carstens, "I Elizabeth, sister of Diederic Hoefing don't have a team, all I've got is a and has raised a large family.

cat." That surprised Steinbrink and Collins Michael, (b. 1821; d. 1898, he quickly exclaimed, "Why man, see p. 156), member of the first board what kind of farming are you doing of county supervisors in 1861, became

out there? I want to go out and see the wealthiest and in some respects it." "Well," said Carstens, "I am not the most prominent of the Lizard pio- a farmer, I am buying land and selling neers. His axe was one of the first to it." After a little further explana- ring in the woods along the Lizard tion, the three men, Carstens, Stein- and his stalwart form was among the brink and Kelsow, started with their first to startle the Indian in Pocahon- luggage and walked to Sec. 22, a dis- tas county. He was a generous, hon- tance of 20 miles.

orable man whom to know was to be-

As a dealer in lands he has become come his friend. He participated in quite successful and is now the happy the organization of Lizard township, owner of more than 2,000 acres in Liz- and also of Pocahontas county. He ard and adjoining townships. His served as the first clerk of Lizard grove of walnuts and maples, contain- township, took an intelligent and ing fifteen acres, is one of the largest in the townshlp. He has been very active part in the management of its affairs and made a good success of his contented and happy living alone and own business. He served three years utilizes his spare moments by reading 1862-64, as county treasurer and re- good books and caring for a few cattle corder and the next year as county and fowls. He is now over 80 years of treasurer. Walter Ford, his friend age and is quite hale and hearty for a and neighbor more than forty years, man of his years. He has not taken said of him: "In those early days much interest in politics.

A few people in search of homes were di- years ago he presented the Lizard rected to Collins' grove where they Lutheran church with a good bell and found Michael Collins always willing organ. He is an honest, upright citi- to assist them and welcome them un- zun and is very highly respected by der his roof. He took them over the all who know him.

prairies in his wagon and showed them the choicest homesteads. He was of-

Carstens John II., cousin of Jacob, married Lena Carstens. In 1867 he ten called from his work several times came with his family to Lizard town- a day, when Lizard creek was high, to

WALTER FORD, CLARE. COUNTY SUPERVISOR, 1872-74

C. B. ELSEN. POSTMASTER, LIZARD, 1881-98.

RESIDENCE OF JACOB CARSTENS, LIZARD TOWNSHIP.

ROSE ANN DONAHOE CRILLY FIRST CHILD.

S& MAGGIE CALLIGAN WHELAN. SECOND CHILD.

ELLEN CONDON FIRST TEACHER.

THOMAS F. ENRIGHT BELLVILLE.

MRS. MARY QUINN ENRIGHT.

M. J. RUSSELL

W. J. COLLINS ESQ.

DR. C. J. KELLY.

LIZARD TOWNSHIP AND VICINITY.

665

LIZARD TOWNSHIP.

ferry travelers across it in his dugout University in 1895, began the practice which was hewn from a basswood of law at Clare that year. Sept. 20, tree. His services were always grat- 1897, he established the Clare Exam- uitous." iner and continued as its editor until He is now devoting himself to

When he left Pittsburg, Pa., for 1900. Iowa in 1855 he was accompanied by the practice of his profession and has his younger brother, Hugh (single), a promising future before him. and James Hickey. Soon afterward Fannie in 1900, married M. J. Mc- he was followed by his elder brother, Mahon.

Patrick and their cousin, Roger Col- lins. Michael lived on the farm until David J., Maggie, Bridget C. and John 1877. He then moved to Manson and Herbert are at home.

in 1891 to Clare, where he died in 1898.

'T'homas (b. 1869), Elizabeth M.,

Maggie and Bridget have been at-

His family consisted of three sons, tending the Convent schools at Fort Patrick and James, who died young in Dodge and Clare; and seven of them Ireland, Bridget, who cared for him -Michael J., William J., Elizabeth, after his retirement from the farm and Michael T.

Fannie, Maggie, Robert and John have met with good success as teach-

Collins, Michael Thomas, (b. Dun- ers. beg, Ireland, 1744), at 12, in 1855, be- came a resident of Pocahontas county. In 1865, he married Fannie Haire, a teacher, and after two years' resi-

Catherine Kinnerk, daughter of the wife of Michael Collins, Sr., came with her to the Lizard settlement in 1855. She married Thomas J. Calli- dence in Fort Dodge bought a farm of gan of Webster county and raised a 200 acres on sec. 12, which he has im- family of two sons and four daughters. proved with good buildings and still She now lives on her farm south of occupies. He has served as trustee Clare, her husband having died in and assessor in the township, and, as 1882. a county supervisor in 1887-92, was the

Collins, Patrick (b. 1819, d. 1897), last representative of Lizard town- elder brother of Michael, after his ship on that board. His wife in Janu- marriage to Nora Green in Ireland in ary to May, 1865, taught the second 1853, came to Pennsylvania and re- term of school in the Calligan district mained four years. In the fall of in the log cabin of Dennis Connor. 1857, with wife and three children he She was a refined, cultured christian located on the seł sec 12, Lizard town- woman whose life, as a wife and moth- ship, and the next year secured the er, was a gracious benediction in the net sec. 24. After a residence of five home and family circle. She endured years in this county he sold his farms patiently the trials incident to pio- to his brothers, Michael and Hugh Col- neer life, the rearing of a large fam- lins, and moved to Webster County, ily, and in 1900, passed to her reward. where he died at 78 in 1897.

His family consists of nine children one having died in infancy.

Collins, Hugh (b. Ireland 1833; d. 1889; p.156) younger brother of Michael

Michael Joseph (b. 1866), in 1894 mar- came to America in his youth and lo- ried Annie Cain, and lives at Clare, cated at Pittsburg, Pa. In 1854 he where he is engaged in land, insur- came to Iowa and to the Lizard set- ance and auctioneer business. He tlement the next year in company has one son, Harold David, and one with James Hickey. They were the daughter, Fannie. first two settlers in the Lizard settle-

William John (b. 1868), graduate of ment, Hickey locating on the set sec. the law department of the Iowa State 13, Lizard township and Collins on the

666

PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

sw sec. 18, opposite in Jackson town- ward located at Winona, Wis., and ship. In 1871 he bought the farm of then in Iowa along the Illinois Cent- his cousin, Roger Collins, containing ral R. R., successively at Julian, Man- the Collins grove of natural timber chester, Elk Run, Iowa Falls and in on sec. 24, and it is now owned by his the spring of 1869 in Lizard township. son, Michael J. Collins, of Clare.

Here he secured the homestead right

Collins, Roger, cousin of Michael of J. J. Bruce and began to farm. He Sr., coming to America at 32, lived in returned to the railroad, however, New York and Ohio till 1856, when he located on a preemption on the net

when he suffered the loss of crops by the grasshoppers or other causes. Al- sec. 23, 160 acres, Lizard township. though he worked on the railroad Later he also secured the nt nwt sec. more than twenty-five years he proved 24. In 1871, after a residence of 14 an aggressive and very successful years he moved to a farm near Fort farmer. As the years passed he added Dodge and later to that town where 460 acres to the homestead, making he died at 78 in 1900. His family con- 620 acres in the Crahan Place, which sisted of one son, who died about 1888, he made a beautiful home.

His wife in whose honor the Rolfe married, namely, Mrs. M. English, Catholic church was named "St. Mar- Mrs. Matthias Hanrahan of Clare, garet," died in 1895. He died at 66 in Mrs. Frank Hogan, Mrs. Frank Mc- 1898. His family consisted of eleven Namara of Fort Dodge, Mrs. Robert children of whom seven are living. McNamara of Belmond and Mrs. Thomas F. McCartan of Pocahontas.

and six daughters, all of whom are

Michael, Crahan, (see page 513). Mary in 1894, married Michael Fitz-

Connors, Michael, who bought the gerald, located on sec. 1, and died in claim of Dennis Connor, whose vacant 1895. cabin built in 1856, was used for school Thomas is owner of a farm of 120 purposes in the Calligan district 1863 acres on sec. 18. In 1891 he married to 1866, came to Lizard township in Maggie Bradigan.

the summer of 1857 with wife and one John in 1897, married Sadie Tierney child and located on the swt sec. 1. and occupies a farm of 120 acres on After two years he moved to Inde- secs. 6 and 18. pendence where he died in 1862. His Nellie, in 1897, married Patrick Con- wife held the farm until her death in ners, and lives on a farm near Bar- 1890, and it is now owned and occu- num.

pied by her daughter Alice. Their family consisted of four children, ney, and lives at Rolfe. Michael and Mary, who have died, Margaret and Alice.

Katie, in 1896, married Wm. Tier-

Bridget and William are at home. Patrick died at 20 in 1896, and Maggie

Crahan, Patrick (b. 1832; d. 1898), at 17, in 1899.

Boyd, James, after whom the Boyd

founder of the Crahan Place on sw} sec. 8, Lizard township, was a native school district, No. 4, was named, was of Clare county, Ireland, and was left a native of Ireland, where he married an orphan at nine. Going to the Low- and raised two sons, Arthur and Wil- lands of Scotland at fifteen he found liam. On coming to this country he lived several years in the Province of Ontario, Can., and in 1866, located in Lizard township, where he and Arthur

employment as a ditcher, and during the next six years earned his passage money to America. At 21 he came to Elmira, N. Y. and engaged in railroad secured homesteads on sec. 34, and construction. In 1854 he married William on sec. 36. All of them left Margaret McMahon, and soon after- the county about the year 1874.

667

LIZARD TOWNSHIP.

Donahoe, James, (b. 1814), one of to Philadelphia, where in May, 1860, the early pioneers of Lizard towhship, he married Mary, daughter of John (p. 163), had a family of nine children, Garvey. In 1861, returning to Fort of whom the five eldest came with Dodge and finding employment, first him to Pocahontas county in 1856. as a teamster and later as a contractor, Two of these Charles and Mary died he remained there until the spring of during the seven years of his residence 1870, when he again located on his in this county. claim in Lizard township which, in Thomas is cashier of the State Bank the meantime, had been occupied by Michael O'Shea and William Price.

at Clare.

Peter M., owner and occupant of He improved this farm with good 320 acres on secs. 36 and 25, Lizard buildings and occupied it for 24 years. township, is the only member of the His wife died in 1882, and in 1884 he family now living in this county. He moved to Clare where he still resides. married Ellen Condon, the first teach-

In making his first trip to the fron- er in Lizard township, and she died in tier in 1856, he paid the Stage Com- 1879, leaving two children, Joseph, pany at Dubuque $14.00 for his pas- who lives on the farm with his father, sage to Fort Dodge. When he arrived and James, a clerk at Clare. Later he at Iowa Falls the Iowa river, which married Annie Carey, and their family consists of Thomas, Mary, Richard, Elizabeth and Annie.

· had no bridge or ferry, was overflow- ing its banks, and the stage driver in- formed the passengers they would

Rose Ann, (see p. 163). Mary Jane have to wait there until the river is at home. Charles, the youngest, is could be forded before they could be a member of the firm of Donahoe & carried to Fort Dodge. Three of them Wood, general merchants, Clare. He Messrs. Ford, Haney and A. T. Black- married Agnes Calligan and has one 'shire demanded the return of a part child.

of their fares, but were refused with

Donahoe, John, who, in 1865, lo- a repetition of the previous announce- cated on sec. 14, after a few years re- ment. These three men, crossing the moved to Lake township, where he river in a skiff, walked the remaining died. His wife is dead also. Their 60 miles, carrying their valises, and family consisted of four sons, Michael, received their trunks three months an invalid, John and William, who later.

are residents of Lake township, and Wallace, who lives at Lincoln, Neb.

On his return to the farm in 1870 he again began to take a prominent part

Ford, Walter, (b. 1833; p. 159), one in the management of the public af- of the most prominent and successful fairs in the township and county. He pioneers of Lizard township, and hon- received a good education, was a neat ored by a seat on the Board of County penman and no one enjoyed more fully Supervisors 1874 to 1876, was a native than he, the confidence and esteem of of Ireland. At the age of 17 he came his fellow citizens. He served as to America with his elder sister, Ellen County Supervisor three years, as As- -Mrs. Patrick McLarney-and niece, sessor three years and as a Justice and located at Ellsworth, Maine, eleven years. He has been a member where he found employment in the of the Catholic church from his in- pineries and remained four years. In fancy, was a liberal supporter of the Lizard church and furnished the out- line of its history that appears in this volume. April, 1856, he came to Pocahontas county and located a claim on the net sec. 13, Lizard township. In 1859 he went to Louisiana, and the next year

668

PIONEER HISTORY OF POCAHONTAS COUNTY, IOWA.

His family consisted of nine chil- cupant of 720 acres on secs. 22 and 23, dren:

Walter P., in 1894, married Eliza- of Jacob Carstens. In the fall of 1866, beth, daughter of John O'Neil, and he came and joined his uncle, who had occupies the old home farm on sec. 13. preceded him in Lizard township one He has taught several terms of school year, and they lived together during and engaged two years in general mer- the next three years in a sod shanty chandise at Pioneer.

is a native of Germany and a nephew that was built on the line between

Thomas Edward, married Catherine their homesteads on sec, 22. 1n 1869, Malie, of Clare, and died at 27 in 1890, the sod house was replaced by a frame leaving one child, Edward.

building 12x18 feet that still forms Celia Agnes, married James Cody, a the main part of the home of his painter, lives at Clare and has two uncle. In the fall of 1870 he returned children, Josie and John.

Lillian E., in 1892, married John F. married Catherine Peters. Accom- Dalton, editor and proprietor of the panied by his wife he returned to his Manson Democrat, and has four chil- homestead and erected thereon a good dren, John, Mary, Lillian and Alice. house, 16x24 feet. His progress and Mary, at the home of her father in development since has kept pace with Clare, died at 34 in 1900.

the growth of the country. Com-

John F., in 1893, married Nellie mencing life in humble circumstances Howard, lives in Fort Dodge where he is now the happy possessor of a he has served six years as Deputy large estate. During the years of Auditor and is now serving his second 1873-8 the grasshoppers took from him term as Auditor of Webster county. all the capital he brought with him. He has two children, Howard and These losses were very discouraging, but instead of yielding thereto, he put Mary.

Joseph, a resident of Gowrie, is own- forth a noble endeavor to retrieve er of a farm of 160 acres in Jackson them in the best possible manner, and township, Webster county. the success achieved became another

Catherine, married Maurice O'Hear- practical illustration of the truth of ne, a blacksmith, lives at Clare and the old adage, that, "Patience and has one child, Walter.

perseverance will perform great won-

Lottie, married Wm. J. Wood, a ders." He learned how to practice general merchant, lives at Clare and economy in the school of necessity. has two children, Hubert and Eulalia. He has succeeded well in raising cat- tle and hogs, and by investing his sur- county land, he has found the latter a Four

Gorman, James, who preempted 120 acres on sec. 12, sold his interest to plus annual income in Pocahontas Thomas Cotter before he made any improvements, and the latter sold it very profitable investment. to Michael Collins for his son, M. T. hundred of the 720 acres now possessed Collins, its present owner and occu- were bought during the period 1890- pant. 94. He has provided for his family

Helmick, Henry, who in 1869, se- the facilities for a good education and cured a homestead on sec. 28, died has been an efficient member of the about 1874, leaving a family who stlil St. John's Lutheran church since its occupy the old home.

organization.

His first wife died in 1872, leaving

Henricks, John, who in 1865, se- cured a homestead on sec. 4, still owns one child, Catherine, who is still at it and lives in Manson. home. In 1873, he married Nettie

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The pioneer history of Pocahontas County, Iowa, from the time of its earliest settlement to the present time, Part 89

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