Sidebilder
PDF
ePub

AS

TILD N

leading journals and literature of the day having a place in his library. He has filled most of the offices of his township, also assisted in taking the United States of 1880, and the same year was a candidate for representative in the state legislature on the republican ticket, but was defeated on account of his known temperance proclivities, the free whisky and beer element being in the ascendancy in his district. He was married to Miss Jane Doherty, of Ohio, April 25th, 1850. Their children are Andrew W., J. Scott, Louisa J., Cyrus F., Enos F., Albert F. and Mary A.: they have lost one daughter, Minerva.

E. Blackmarr, retired farmer, was born in 1819, in Saratoga Co., N. Y. In 1835 he removed to Huron Co., Ohio, and was engaged at farming there until 1850; he then moved to DeKalb Co., Ind.; remained there three years; then came to Io., locating in this Co. In 1854 he bought land in Hesper tp., on what is known as Looking Glass Prairie. In the following year he moved to the village of Burr Oak, and conducted what was known as the Burr Oak House one year; then returned to farming, which he continued until he sold out in 1866, and again moved to Burr Oak and engaged in the mercantile business, carrying general stock. He remained in this business nine years, sold out in 1875 and retired from active business. Mr. B. was postmaster several years, has filled various offices in the tp., and is one of its most respected citizens. He was married in 1840 in Huron Co., Ohio, to Miss A. Washburn, and they have four children, Louisa, Byron, Oliette and Melvin.

He was

E. H. Betts, farmer, section 33; owns 80 acres of land valued at $30 per acre; was born in Portage Co., Ohio, in 1830, where he lived until nineteen years of age, when he removed to Ill. with his parents, remaining there until 1856, when he moved to Winneshiek Co. His parents were Samuel and Mahala Betts. married in 1854 to Miss Olive E. Rogers, of Geauga Co., Ohio; they have three children: Arthur, now in Dakota; Evangie, and Clara H. Mr. Betts has been a member of the County Board two terms, and a justice of the peace several years.

Richard Barnes, merchant and farmer, Fremont, was born in Addison Co., Vt., in 1827; remained on the farm of his parents until 1854, when he came to Io. and settled in this Co. The first year he resided in Decorah, and then came to this place, before the tp. was organized. He entered a quarter section of land, proved up and obtained patent; he owns now 230 acres in sections 23 and 27, including 50 acres of timber. He now rents the farm, which is well improved. He served on the County Board of Supervisors in 1865 and 1866, and was afterwards elected in the fall of 1881 to the same office on the Republican ticket. In 1873 he opened business in the building now occupied by J. S. Daskam, remained two years, then went back to the farm, and in the fall of 1880 returned to the village and bought the stock of merchandise

of D. A. Fifield, having already owned the building. He carries a good assortment of general merchandise, does a good business and owns residence and property in town, where he resides. He was married at Trumbull, Conn., to Mary M. Middlebrook, and has four children, Edward, Carrie, E. Frederick and Florence.

Robert Burrows, farmer, Bluffton township; was born in Suffolk, England, in 1824; came to the United States in 1836 with his parents, who settled in, Monroe County, New York, and engaged in farming. In 1840 they moved to Canada West, now the province of Ontario, and engaged in farming for 12 years. Robert B. then came to Iowa and settled in this township and entered a claim on government land, improved the same and now owns 280 acres in sections 1 and 2, all under fence, mostly under cultivation, and well stocked. He has built a good residence, barns, etc., on the southwest quarter of section 1.

Hogen H. Barlo, farmer, P. O. Decorah; owns 246 acres of land in section 34; was born in Norway Oct. 20th, 1842; immigrated to the United States in 1866 and located on his present farm. He was united in marriage with Ann Hogenson in March, 1867. Mr. B. is a member of the Lutheran Church.

Levi G. Burton, farmer, Fremont township; was born in Crawford County, Penn., in 1838. In 1854 he came with his parants to this county. His father pre-empted 120 acres on the northeast of the village. He remained with his parents until 1862, when he enlisted, at Frankville, in Co. K, 38th Io. Inf., under Capt. Allen. They were afterwards consolidated with the 34th Iowa and served to the close of the war. He was at the siege of Vicksburg, Yazoo City, Fort Morgan, and the siege and assault of Blakely; was mustered out with the regiment at Houston, Texas, August 15th, and discharged at Davenport, Iowa, September 5th, 1865. He returned to this place and purchased the land he now owns and resides upon; has improved the same, erected a fine residence and substantial farm buildings, and has the farm well stocked with good graded cattle and hogs; has six head of horses. He was married in 1867 at Decorah to Miss Lucetta J. Kendall, and they have three children, Alma May, Edna and Nellie. He was a member of the board of township trustees several years; and is a member of the I. O. O. F., Cresco Lodge, No. 150. John and Benjamin Burton, his brothers, enlisted in Co. K, 38th Io. Inf. Benjamin died at Barancas, Florida, March 31st, 1865, in the service, and John returned from the war and was discharged at the same time as Levi G.

Swen H. Borlog, P. O. Decorah, farmer, section 1, Calmar tp.; owns 213 acres of land valued at $35 per acre; was born March 18th, 1830, in Norway, and came to the U. S. in 1854, first locating in Dane County, Wisconsin, where he remained till in 1861 he came to this county and located on his present farm, in 1862.

Mr. Borlog was married to Miss Anna Nelson in 1860; they have eight children, Ole, Sarah, Jennie, Mary, Lena, Nora, Theodore and Ida. Mr. B. is a member of the Lutheran Church.

Andrew Nelson Brekke, P. O. Decorah, farmer, Sec. 23, Madison tp.; owns 160 acres of land, valued at $35 per acre; was born in Norway in 1834, and came with his parents to the U. S. in 1852; they located in Dane Co., Wis., remaining there to 1853, when he came to this Co., and located on his present farm. His mother died in 1852 in Wis.; his father is now living with him, and is at the advanced age of 86 years. Mr. Brekke was married to Miss Helen Thompson in 1852; they have one son, Nels A.

D. C. Bacon, P. O. Decorah, farmer, Sec. 24, Madison tp.; owns 240 acres, valued at $40 per acre; was born March 18, 1828, in Litchfield Conn. In early life he learned the trade of plane making, which business he followed for many years, also carpenter and joiner work. In 1854 he came to Io., locating at Freeport, in this Co. He came on to his present farm in 1878. Mr. Bacon was married to Miss Rebecca Swift, June 25, 1855, in Connecticut. They have two children, William S. and Mary A. Mr. Bacon is a member of the Congregational church, and of the A. F. & A. M.

Jacob Butz, farmer, owns 120 acres of land, valued at $20 per acre; was born in Indiana in 1856, and is a son of Theobolt Butz; came west in 1866, and settled in this tp. He married Emma Reinhardt, who was born in Allamakee Co. They have one child, Edward.

Lewis R. Brown, Sec. 8. Orleans tp.; son of Josiah and Susanna Brown, both born in N. Y.; was born in Jefferson Co., N. Y., Feb. 8, 1834. In 1860 he came to Orleans tp., locating on his present farm, which now contains 628 acres, the probable value of which is $30 per acre. Mr. Brown also deals extensively in fine stock. He was married to Louise S. Chapin, also a native of Jefferson Co., N. Y.; they have two children, Henry C. and Susie E.

G. R. Baker, dealer in general merchandise, was born in Essex Co., N. Y., in 1851; is a son of W. H. and P. W. Baker; came to Iowa in 1859 with his parents, and settled in Bloomfield tp., receiving his early education at the common schools, and subsequently a course at the Ames Agricultural College. He was employed as clerk at Ossian from 1871 to 1874, at which time he came to Ridgeway and engaged in business as above. He was married to Estella Bolles, a native of this Co. They have two children, Rollin and Raymond.

A. W. Brownell, farmer, owns 144 acres, section 17, joining the town of Fort Atkinson; was born in Rensalaer Co., N. Y., in 1831. In 1853 moved to Chillicothe, Ross Co., Ohio, engaged in the manufacture of lumber for two years; then moved to Wis near Madison and engaged at farming, and in 1863 came t Mitchell Co., Io., farming three years; then went back to Wis.

and remained two years; in 1868 came to Fort Atkinson and purchased property in town, and in 1877 bought the farm which he now owns. It is improved and fenced, having good buildings, etc. He was elected in the fall of 1874 Clerk of Courts of this Co., on the Democratic ticket, served one term; and in 1877 was elected Co. Supervisor on the same ticket, the county being largely Republican. Mr. B. was married in Ohio in 1854, to Miss Fernandez, who died in 1856. He afterwards married, in 1861, at Leeds, Columbia Co., Wis., Miss A. R. Chilson, and they have five sons and one daughter. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M. W. Becker, lumber dealer. Fort Atkinson, was born in Germany, in 1849, was educated there, and in the spring of 1868 came to the U. S.; settled first at Festina, in this Co., worked in the store of C. Dessel for one and one half years, then came to this place and engaged in the grocery business in the building now owned by J. C. Morris, jeweler. In 1874 he sold out and went into his present business. He bought eight town lots for the yards, has fenced them, carries about a $6,000 stock, has erected good, dry sheds, etc., and does a good business. He was married in 1873 at Festina, to Miss Barbara Huber, of this Co.

A. Bernatz & Bros., proprietors Evergreen Flouring Mills, Ft. Atkinson. A. Bernatz, the senior member of the firm, is a native of Germany, and Geo. Bernatz, the junior member, of this county. Their parents came to the U. S. in 1849 and settled in Rochester, N. Y.; came to Prairie du Chien in 1852 and to McGregor in 1855, and engaged in the brewery business, which they sold and went to Smithfield, Allamakee County, and bought the flouring mills; from there they came to this county, bought the Addicken flouring mills, on the Canoe River, northeast of Decorah, and run the same two years; then bought the Riceford mills at Houston, Minn., and also built a mill in Fillmore County, Minn., known as the Newburg mills, and the same year built the Chaska flouring mills, near Minneapolis. They sold their Minnesota mills and came to this place in 1875; had bought the Evergreen mills in the fall of 1874, and have conducted the same ever since under the firm name of M. Bernatz & Son, until the fall of 1882, then under the above name. The mill is 40x50 feet, three stories and basement, situated on Turkey River; is fitted as a merchant mill and does merchant work only; has a capacity of 125 barrels; is fitted with five run of buhrs, one set of rollers, bran duster, purifier, and all the necessary machinery for a first-class mill, and gives employment to five men, besides the proprietors and coopers. It is probably the only mill in northern Iowa that runs steadily the year round as an exclusively merchant mill. Power is given with four Leffel water wheels, equal to 100-horse power.

D. Bright, farmer, living on section 30, and owns 160 acres; was born in Reading, Pennsylvania, in 1828; learned the trade of carpenter; came to Iowa in 1856, settling at Osage, Mitchell

« ForrigeFortsett »