Sidebilder
PDF
ePub

harie Co., in 1822; lived there until he was 19 years old, working on the river and canal and in the saw mill business, and in 1845 moved to McHenry Co., Ill., where he engaged at farming; in Sept., 1854, he came to Io., locating at this place. He bought 160 acres of the governmeut and has lived here ever since. He has bought other land since and now owns 160 acres where he lives and 80 acres in Fremont tp. He has owned other land some of which he has sold and other portions given to his sons. The land is thoroughly improved and under fence, with fine residence and large and handsome barns, with every convenience for stock and grain, etc. He was married in 1842 in Broom Co., N. Y., to Miss Vesta A. Hitchcock, and they have six children living.

Daniel Price, farmer, Burr Oak tp.; was born in Broom Co., N. Y., in 1832, and in 1855 came to Io., settling first in Pleasant tp., this Co. He bought land there and lived there 21 years, and then came to this tp. and bought the land he now owns, being 160 acres in Sec. 26, nearly all improved and under fence, with good buildings, etc., and well stocked. He was married in 1857 in Elliota, Minn,, to Miss Nancy Wise, and they have eight children, James, Lucy, Robert, Marion, Janey, Edward, George and David. Ole Pederson, farmer, Fremont tp.; owns 240 acres, 160 in home farm on Sec. 16, and 80 on the Iowa River on Secs. 17 and 20; was born in Norway, in 1824, and was a carpenter by trade. In 1851 he came to the U. S., and lived four years in Racine Co., Wis., engaged at his trade and in farming. In 1855 he went to Spirit Lake, Dickinson Co., Io., and bought a claim of 160 acres; remained there two years; then to Jackson Co., remained there two years, and from there came to this place and bought 160 acres and improved it, and has since added the rest. The land is all improved and under fence, good timber on the farm; has built a fine residence and large, comfortable barns. He has a good herd of fine grade cattle, a fine drove of Merino Sheep, six head of horses, and uses two teams. The farm is thoroughly fitted for stock raising, and is one of the best in the tp. He was married in 1851 in Racine Co., Wis., to Miss Betsie Olesen, and they have one son, Ole O.

A. J. Payer, proprietor of the hotel at Spillville, was born near Pisa, Austria, in 1853; came to the U. S. with his parents in 1858 and located in Calmar tp. They moved to Decorah in 1868, where he learned the barber's trade; went to Calmar in 1876, where he followed his trade until moving to Spillville in the spring of 1882. July 11, 1876, he was married to Mary E. Stinek, who died July 23, 1878. She had one son, named Albert, who died thirteen days before his mother. Mr. P. was again married Sept. 21, 1880, to Elnora E. Mashek, and has one daughter, Mary.

William Punteney, P. O. Decorah; farmer, Sec. 27, Canoe tp.; son of John and Ann Veary Punteney; was born April 16, 1829, in Adams Co., Ohio, while his parents were moving from Monon

gahela Co., W. Va., to Henry Co,, Ind., where he remained until 1855 he immigrated to Winneshiek Co., Io., locating on a quarter Sec. of his present farm, which now contains 411 acres. Mr. P. served in Co. A, 13th Io. Inf., from the fall of 1864 till July, 1865; participated in the battle of Wild's Cross Roads, near Kingston, N. C. He was married to Miss Sarah A. Bogue, Feb. 13, 1851; they have eight children, Frank B., Clinton B., Delbert B., Eva M., Ottoe L., Dora B., Lucy M. and Cora P. Mr. P. is a member of the A. F and A. M.

Ole Patterson, P. O. Washington Prairie, owns a farm on Sec. 25, Glenwood tp.; was born in Norway in 1825; in 1850 came with hie parents to the U. S., first stopping in Racine Co., Wis., and in the spring of 1851 came to this tp; in 1855 located on his present farm. His mother died while they were crossing the ocean, and his father in the fall of 1879. Mr. Patterson married Miss Carrie Peterson, also a native of Norway; their children are Peter, Amelia, Henry Cornelia, Olans, Maria, Carrie and Margaret. Mr. Patterson has served as justice of the peace and trustee of his tp., and is a member of the Lutheran church.

Geo. Pennington, grocer, was born in Canada in 1839, but while he was yet an infant the family came to the U. S,, and after liv ing at different intervals in Wis., Ill. and Minn., came to Io., in 1858, and one year later settled in Winneshiek Co. In 1862 the the subject of this sketch enlisted in Co. M, 1st Io. Cav., and served until the spring of 1866. He then formed a partnership with A. W. Kramer and engaged in general merchandise. Three years subsequently their store and goods were destroyed by fire. Mr. Pennington then followed railroading at Ossian and Decorah four years; then ran a meat market at Decorah one year, since which time he has been in his present business. December 25, 1868, he married Miss A. M. Clark, and they now have two children, Bertie and Georgie.

R. F. B. Portman, attorney. This young attorney (a nephew of the present Viscount Portman), was born in England in 1851. At 12 years of age he entered the British navy and served in the same about four years, when he accidentally fell from the upper to the lower deck and thereby received such serious injuries as to necessitate his discharge soon afterwards. In 1872 he emigrated to the U. S., at once settled at Decorah and soon engaged in the foundry and machine business, being a member of the firm of Horn, Portman, Clive & Co., until 1876. He then commenced reading law with C. P. Brown as perceptor, and in 1878 was admitted to the bar, and has since been engaged in collections and office work. In 1881 he associated himself in partnership with C. P. Brown, and is now a member of the law firm of Brown & Portman. He also owns 200 acres of real estate near the city of Decorah. Mr. Portman was married in 1878 to Caroline Stewart Warren (widow of the late Capt. S. H. Warren), and

[graphic][ocr errors]

has one daughter, Frances C. Upon arriving and settling on American soil, he at once took measures for the acquirement of citizenship, and as soon as possible became a citizen. He has been connected with the Decorah fire department since its organization, and has been chief of the same since April, 1881.

Geo. Phelps, capitalist. This successful business man is a native of Wales, born in 1834; emigrated to the U. S. in 1851; lived near Chicago until 1854, in which year he settled in Decorah. He at once engaged in manufacturing, and built the first wagons and buggies in Winneshiek Co. A few years subsequently he added a stock of carriage hardware, in which line he afterwards did a wholesale as well as retail business. He also dealt very heavily in farming implements and machinery, so that his business amounted to $125,000 annually. This he continued until 1872, since which time he has been doing a brokerage business. He also owns large amounts of real estate in Io., Minn. and Dakota. Mr. Phelps has traveled over a great part of the U. S. and Europe, having crossed the Atlantic a great many times, and has resided about two years in Chicago. He is plain and unassuming in his manners, and always attends strictly to his own business. He has been twice married-in 1851 to Miss E. M. Smith, who died in Nov., 1860, leaving one son, S. G. D. Phelps, of Grand Forks, Dak.; in 1876 to Miss A. M. Evans.

John W. Protheroe, firm of Gear & Protheroe, city 'bus and dray line, Decorah; is a son of Ira and Zilpha Protheroe, and was born in Allegany Co., N. Y., in 1844. He came with his parents to Decorah in 1857. Mr. Protheroe was educated in the schools of Decorah, after which he followed railroading three years, since which time he has been in his present business. In 1873 he married Miss Ida M. Bary; they have two children, Katie and Grace.

W. A. Pinkham, firm of Chase & Pinkham, was born in Erie Co., N. Y., in 1857, and removed with his parents to Fond du Lac, Wis. He commenced work at his trade as marble worker with his father, and afterwards worked in many of our large cities, and in 1881 settled at Decorah. Mr. Pinkham was married in 1878 to Miss Lulu Knotts.

Osten Peterson, farmer, Hesper tp.; owns 320 acres fine tillable land and 60 acres of timber; was born in Hollingdahl Valley, Norway, in 1822, and was a dealer in stock and produce in a small way. In 1847 he came to America, and settled first in Wis.; lived three years in Rock Co.; then came to Io., locating in Allamakee Co. in 1850. The Co. was then unsettled and destitute of cultivation; there were no farms in the Co. then of any account. He bought land about twelve miles from the Mississippi River; lived there four years; then sold it and bought land in Minn. just across the line; lived there ten years; sold out, moved across the line again and bought where he now resides, one mile from the state line. He has thoroughly improved the farm, built a hand

« ForrigeFortsett »