1889 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF
SHELBY AND AUDUBON COUNTIES, IOWA
W. S. DUNBAR & CO., PUBLISHERS
113 ADAMS STREET, CHICAGO
K & L
THOMAS H. KILWORTH, a farmer of Audubon County, is an American, not
by birth, but by adoption. He was born in England, September 6, 1829,
and in the year 1850 came to America and settled in Henry County,
Illinois. He there owned a farm, but carried on his trade of carpenter
and joiner, having little means and being anxious to earn an honest
dollar. He remained in Henry County until 1873, when he sold his farm
and came to Audubon County, Iowa, settling on his present farm of
160 acres. The land was in its original wild state, and Mr. Kilworth
has made all the improvements on the place.After breaking out the
farm and putting it in tame grass, he began raising livestock, handling
high grades. He added eighty acres to his first purchase, and now
owns 240 acres of as choice land as lies in Audubon County. Mr. Kilworth
was united in marriage in 1863 to Mary Healey, a native of England,
in which country the marriage took place. Mr. Kilworth has made several
trips to his native land, having crossed the ocean five times. Five
children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Kilworth -- Emma, wife of Bert
Hamlin; Jeannette, wife of Oscar Wheeler; John H., Ida May and Earl
T., at home. Mr. Kilworth has served five years as school director.
In National and State poli tics he votes the Democratic ticket, but
in local matters he votes for the man who in his estimation is best
fitted for the position. When he came to this country he had no means,
but by close application to business and wise management he has accumulated
a good competence. He is pronounced in his views, yet is liberal and
public spirited.
From: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby and Audubon counties, Iowa, pg. 762.
ROBERT H. LACY, an early settler of Cameron Township, was bornnear
Madisonville, Knox County, Kentucky, August 29, 1831. He is the second
son of George and Sophia (Hicks) Lacy, who were born and reared in
the State of Virginia. Soon after their marriage they removed to Kentucky,
thence to Tennessee, and thence to Madison County, Illinois; there
they rented a farm, and resided until they removed to Fayette County,
Illinois, in which county George Lacy died in 1851; his wife died
five months later in Morgan County,Illinois. They were the parents
of seven children, all of whom are living, except one son. Robert Lacy
passed most of his youth in Fayette County, Illinois, receiving the
benefit of a common school education. He had lived at home until his
father's death, which occurred when he was nineteen years old. He
then started out for himself, working by the month on a farm for six
years. He was married to Nancy E. Jones, of Morgan County, Illinois,
the oldest daughter of James Jones, Esq. After his marriage Mr. Lacy
rented a farm in Henry County, Illinois, on which he spent nine years.
In the fall of 1873 he moved with his family to Audubon County, Iowa,
and bought 100 acres of raw prairie land; this he broke out and improved,
erecting buildings, planting trees, and making many other valuable
additions to the place. He has engaged in general farming since coming
to Audubon County. Mr. Lacy's first wife died on the farm in 1879;
she was the mother of five children George H., James W., Charles C.,
Robert, and John M., who died at the age of twelve years. Mr. Lacy
was married to Mrs. Amelia Burt in 1880; her maiden name was Wallace,
and she had two children by her former husband, Edmund Burt -- Carrie,
wife of George H. Lacy, and Hattie, wife of Charles E. Lacy. Mr. Burt
died in Buena Vista County, Iowa. He served the country eighteen months
in the late civil war. Mrs. Lacy and her first husband were born on
the shores of Lake George. Mr. Lacy removed from his farm to Audubon
in the spring of 1880, and clerked in a hardware and agricultural
implement store for five years. He then removed to Coon Rapids, which
is his present home. He opened a meat market in this place, and at
the end of two years sold out the business. Politically he affiliates
with the Republican party.
From: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby and Audubon counties, Iowa, pg. 787.
WILLIAM J. LANCELOT, of the firm of Lancelot & Bees, merchants,
Gray, Iowa, is a native of England, born in the county of Cornwall,
December 4, 1849. He is the second of a family of six children of
William H.andIsabelle H. (Trucott) Lancelot, who still reside in the
old country, well preserved in mind and body. The father was for many
years a sea captain on the waters of the Atlantic. He is now employed
in the government service at Falmouth, England. William J. was educated
in his native country in a select school. At the early age of eighteen
years the borders of his native country had grown too narrow for his
youthful and sanguine spirits, so he emigrated to America, landing
in the city of New York. Thence he continued his journey to Clayton
County, Iowa, and there engaged in farming. Before leaving England
he had served an apprenticeship as a butcher, and followed the business
in America. In 1876 Mr. Lancelot removed to Cameron Center, Audubon
County, and engaged in farming until 1885, when he moved to Ross,
Iowa, and there associated himself in the grocery business with Frank
Gleason, of Audubon. He afterward sold out at Ross and purchased
a stock of goods of W. P. Johnson & Company, of Gray, taking F.
P. Rees into partnership. The firm of Lancelot & Rees was established
in 1887, and by strict attention to business and fair dealing they
have won a large share of patronage. Mr. Lance lot was instrumental
in establishing the post office at Thompson, a place well known by
all the old settlers, which was discontinued when the town of Audubon
was started. While in Ross he succeeded L. D. Thomas as post master, and held the office until his removal to Gray. April 10, 1889, Mr.
Lancelot received his appointment as postmaster of Gray, under President
Harrison. Mr. Lancelot is correspondent for the Daily Register, Des
Moines, and also for the county papers. He has held several of the
township offices, acquitting himself with great credit. He takes an
active interest in the welfare of the Republican party, acting as
a delegate to State, congressional and judicial conventions. Mr. Lancelot
was united in marriage in 1873 to Miss Phoebe A. Crow, of Fayette
County, Iowa, a daughter of Milton Crow, Esq. Five children have been
born to Mr. and Mrs. Lancelot -- William H., Isabelle B., K. Grant, Milton
J. and Grace. Mrs. Lancelot is a native of the State of Indiana. She was a successful instructor, having taught sixteen terms in Clayton,
Fayette and Audubon counties. Her primary education was receivedin
the district school of Fayette County. Later she entered the Upper
Iowa University in Fayette County, and had almost completed the course at the time of her marriage. Mr. Lancelot is a member of Utopia Lodge,
No. 161, I. O. O. F.; the Iowa Legion of Honor; the K. of P., No.
166, at Manning, Iowa, and of Hiawatha Lodge, No. 16, I. O. R. M.,
at Gray.Mr. Lancelot commenced the struggle for life singlehanded
and without capital, and by energy and close application to business
he has secured an ample competence.
From: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby and Audubon counties, Iowa, pg. 819.
DANIEL G. LASS, physician and surgeon, Audubon, Iowa, is of German
nativity, born in the city of Bremen, January 19, 1858.He is a son of Lorenz H. and Meta (Rohde) Lass. The father was a sea captain on
the waters between Bremen and Honolulu. He died at Bremen in 1865,
and the mother died at the same place in 1860. The youth of our subject was passed in attending the schools of his native city, where he received
the degree of B. A. In 1872 he emigrated to the city of New York,
where he remained four years in the employ of John Faber, brother
to the celebrated Faber pencilmaker, in the capacity of pharmacist.
In 1875 he came to Iowa, and stopped in Nora Springs, where he clerked
in a pharmacy for Dr. C. C. Birney, who became his preceptor in the
study of medicine, he passed one examination before the Iowa Commissioner of Pharmacy, and took one course of lectures at the College
of Physicians and Surgeons, Keokuk, Iowa. He took a second course
at Vanderbilt University Medical Department, Nashville, Tennessee,
graduating with the class of 1885, and receiving the degree of M. D. Dr. Lass was elected coroner of Audubon County in 1887. He has
also held the position of county commissioner for the insane. He came
to Audubon in March, 1884, and has devoted his entire time to his
profession. He was married in 1886 to Miss Hattie Bailey, of Audubon,
a native of Christian County, Illinois. Dr. Lass is a member of the
Knights of Pythias, of the Botna Valley Medical Association, and surgeon for the Mutual Benefit Association, of Galesburg, Illinois. His
brother, Lorenz Lass, is captain of the German ship, J. W. Vendt, plying between New York and Bremen. Dr. Lass has built up a good
practice during his residence in Audubon.
From: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby and Audubon counties, Iowa, pp. 723.
JOSEPHUS LEWIS, one of Audubon County's honored citizens, and a successful farmer and stockraiser of Hamlin Township, was born in Delaware
County, New York, near the village of Delhi, March 22, 1814. He is
a son of Henry and Mercy (Holloway) Lewis, the father being a native
of Schoharie County, New York, of Low Dutch descent, and the mother
a native of Dutchess County, New York. After their marriage they removed
to Delaware County, and there passed the remainder of their days.
The father was twice married, and had two children by his first wife,
and seven by the second. Josephus Lewis, the youngest son of the second
marriage, passed his boyhood and school days in Delaware County, New
York. He remained with his parents until he was eighteen years old,
when he engaged in the lumber business and farming.His father having
dealt in lumber for many years, a good opportunity was afforded him
to learn the details of the trade, in which he was uniformly successful.
In June, 1843, Mr. Lewis was married to Miss Melissa Barlow, an accomplished
lady of Delaware County, New York, the only daughter of John and Deborah
(Nichols) Barlow, natives of the State of New York. After his marriage, Josephus Lewis and wife settled on a farm in Delaware County,
New York, and lived there until 1868, when they removed to Audubon
County, Iowa. Mr. Lewis then purchased 320 acres of prairie land. The
country was sparsely settled, and the thoughts of Mrs. Lewis often
wandered back to her home in New York as she was caring for her little
family; but as time rolled on settlers came, and the newness seemed
to wear away. Mr. Lewis has devoted most of his time to raising cattle
and hogs. With the latter he has been extraordinarily successful,
raising from 150 to 200 head annually, and realizing handsomely upon
them. His farm is watered by the Nishnabotna River, and its banks
are skirted by a beautiful grove of hardwood timber. All the products
of the farm are fed on the place, and Mr. Lewis buys large quantities
of grain from neighboring farmers. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis have four children -- DeWitt C. took a literary course at the State University at Iowa
City, studied law at Ann Arbor, Michigan, and is now a prominent attorney
in Montesano, Washington Territory; Minerva, the older daughter,
was graduated from the literary and medical departments of the Iowa
State University, and is now in the enjoyment of a good practice;
Homer is in Turner County, Dakota; Rose is the wife of Dr. J. M. Louthan,
of Spearfish, Dakota. Mr. Lewis is now in his seventy-fifth year,
but still superintends his farm.His wife is in her seventysecond year,
and is strong in body and mind. She comes of a family of vigorous
constitutions. Her father was a native of England, and her mother
of New York. They emigrated to Nova Scotia, and removed thence to
Dela ware County, New York.Mr. and Mrs. Lewis have led an industrious
and frugal life, and have laid by a competence for their declining
years.
From: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby and Audubon counties, Iowa, pp. 765.
A. F. LITTLEFIELD has been a resident of Audubon County, Iowa, since
1876. He was born in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, April 25, 1837,
and is a son of Thomas and Lucinda (Sherman) Littlefield. He was reared
in his native county, and was trained to the occupation of a farmer.
He received his education in the common schools. When he was eighteen
years of age he took a trip toCalifornia, and remainedthere eleven
years, engaged in mining on the Pa cific Coast. In 1867 he came to
Iowa and settled in Madison County, where he engaged in agricultural
pursuits. For ten years he made this his home, and then went to Audu
bon County.He first located in Exira Township, on a farm of 200 acres
of partially improved land. At the end of one year he sold this place,
and bought a farm of 160 acres in Audubon Township, which he has since
made his home. He has made many valuable improvements, erecting a
good frame residence, and barns for stock and grain. He has made an
addition to his farm, and now owns 320 acres.He is a staunch adherent
to the principles of the Republican party. He has been officially
identified with his township as treasurer of the school board for
nine years. Mr. Littlefield was united in marriage August 2, 1867,
to Miss Sarah Ed wards, daughter of Francis and Margaret Edwards,
natives of England. Mrs. Little field was born in England in July,
1850. Ten children have been born of this marriage Thomas, Margaret
L., Minnie M., Annie L., Charles A., John, William, Alonzo F., and
an infant daughter. Alice was born March 23, 1886, and died November
22, 1886. The family are among the most re spected and worthy people
of Audubon Town ship.
From: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby and Audubon counties, Iowa, pp. 727.
JESSE F. LUSE, merchant, Ross, Iowa. Mr. Luse was born in Johnson
County, Iowa, near Big Bend, July 31, 1861, and is a son of Joseph
and Sarah (Higbee) Luse. Joseph Luse was born in Butler County, Penn
sylvania, October 19, 1830, and is a son of Stephen and Hannah (Liken)
Luse; the Liken family were of Swedish and Welsh ancestry, and the
Luse family were of German and French descent. Joseph Luse drifted
west when a young man, and stopped in Johnson County, Iowa, where
he married and settled on a farm, where he resided until 1834, with
the exception of a trip to Pike's Peak in the time of the gold fever,
when he removed to Missouri, where they spent three years. They then
went to Kansas, where they lived five years, and were driven away
by the grasshopper raid and drouth; they returned to Johnson County,
and from there to Audubon County in 1847, where they were again attacked by the grasshoppers. They stood their own ground this time,
and since then have prospered. Mr. Luse improved his farm, which is
situated on the Chicago & North western Railroad, near Ross. He
had built a fine house, and was surrounded with many comforts when
he died, April 26, 1887, by the horrible effects of a cancer, admired
and respected by all who knew him. Mrs. Luse, who survives him, occupies
the homestead and manages the farm with the assistance of her youngest
son, David N. Luse. The place consists of 160 acres.Joseph Luse and
wife were the parents of tenchildren Charles (deceased), John W.,
Hattie, Stephen and Jesse F. (twins), Ezra (deceased), David, Susan
(deceased), Alice and Annie. Jesse F. Luse passed his youth in Missouri
and Osage County, Kansas, with plenty of Indians for companions, where
he had the advantage of a common-school education. He removed with
his parents to Audubon County, and remained with them until his majority.During
this time he followed breaking up prairie and farming.In 1884 he was
married to Miss Ida W. Rice. Mr. and Mrs. Luse have one daughter Nellie
I. Mrs. Luse is the daughter of Samuel and Rebecca (Downing) Rice.
On quitting his farm Mr. Luse bought the stock of goods belonging to H. B. Shelby, which consisted of a general stock. He has built up
a large trade, and is well and favorably known as proprietor of the Farmers' Store, and dehorner. Mr. Luse has invented a machine for
dehorning cattle, with which he has re moved the horns of hundreds of cattle. The machine is simple in construction and swift in action,
and promises to be the means of making him a fortune. This practice of de-horning cattle is now generally approved.
From: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby and Audubon counties, Iowa, pg. 754.
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Contributed by Marthann Kohl-Fuhs, April, 2005.
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