N J A Calson

CALSON

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 4/26/2010 at 11:34:53

N J A Calson has bee actively engage din business as a general merchant in Pilot Mound for the past three decades and is now the senior member of the firm of Calson & Son. His birth occurred I Sweden in October 1855, his parents being C J And Anna lean (Nelson) Calson, who were likewise natives of that country. They crossed the Atlantic to the United States in 1864 and first located in New York, there remaining for four moths, while subsequently they resided in Illinois for a year and a half. On the expiration of that period they came to Iowa and for one year made their home in Webster county, then taking up their abode in Boone county in 1866. C J Calson purchased 80 acres of land in Pilot Mound township, improved the property and devoted his attention to its operation throughout the remainder of his active business career. His demise occurred in Pilot Mound in March 1911 after a residence of forty-five years in Boone county, and the community mourned the loss of one of its substantial and esteemed citizens. For almost four decades he had survived his wife, who was called to her final rest in August 1871.
N J A Calson began his education in the schools of his native land and continued his studies in Boone county, being nine years of age when he accompanied his parents on tier emigration to the new world. He remained in the home until a youth of fourteen and the secured employment as a farm hand, being thus engaged for a number of years. In 1879 he rented a tract of land in Pilot Mound township and after cultivating the same for five years came to the town of Pilot Mounds, where he embarking the mercantile business, in which he has been continuously engaged tot eh present time. IN 1911 he erected a new and modern store building, fifty by eight feet, on the main street. Mr Calson occupies both the one story and basement and carries a very extensive and well selected stock of goods, enjoying a most gratifying patronage by reason of his straightforward business methods, reasonable pries and earnest desire to please his customers. He is now associated in business with his son under the firm style of Calson & Son. He owns farming property in Douglas township and also a commodious residence in Pilot Mound and is widely recognized as one of the prosperous and representative citizens of the county.
In the fall of 1886 Mr Calson was untied I marriage to Miss Amelia F Zunkel, a daughter of Ferdinand and Margaret (Eppinger) Zunkel, both of whom were natives of Germany. They took up their abode among the pioneer settlers of Boone county, Iowa and here Mr Zunkel carried on agricultural pursuits for many years. His demise occurred on March 20, 1876, while his wife passed away on January 10, 1896. Mr ad Mrs Calson have one son, Leonard C who was born October 3, 1888, and is now engaged in the mercantile business with his father. He wedded Miss Belva Adams and has one child, Russell A who is in his first year.
In his political views Mr Calson is a stanch republican. He served in the capacity of township clerk for about twelve years and has also done resultant work as a member of the town council. He has been a resident of this county for nearly a half century and has gained the esteem of all with whom he has come in contact because of his upright and honorable principles and also by reason of the straightforward methods he ever follows.

1914 Boone County History Book