CHALLMAN, George William - 1914

CHALLMAN, LAMBERG, JOHNSON, RAWSON

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 7/10/2009 at 03:47:15

HISTORY OF
Cherokee County
IOWA
VOLUME II
ILLUSTRATED
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY
1914
by Thomas McCulla

GEORGE WILLIAM CHALLMAN.

George William Challman, one of the prosperous and representative native sons of Cherokee county, prominently connected with agricultural interests as the owner of the Challman homestead of one hundred and sixty acres on section 26, Tilden township, was born in Marcus, this county, in March, 1884. He is a son of Claus W. and Betsy (Lamberg) Challman, natives of Sweden. The father was born in January, 1855, his parents being Gustaf and Britakaeisa (Johnson) Challman, also natives of Sweden. The grandfather of the subject of this review was a blacksmith by occupation and followed that trade in his native country during the entire period of his active life, passing away in 1898. He had long survived his wife, who died in 1863. Claus W. Challman, father of the subject of this review, was reared and educated in Sweden, and when he began his independent career became a sailor, following the sea for ten years thereafter. In 1880 he came to America and located in Chicago, where he sailed on the Great Lakes for some time, after which he secured a position under a bridge contractor, building bridges all over the country. In 1883 he came to Cherokee county, Iowa, and bought one hundred and sixty acres on section 26, Tilden township. He improved and operated this property for many years thereafter, continuing to make his home upon it until the fall of 1912, when he turned the property over to his son and moved into Marcus, where he and his wife now reside. They became the parents of three children: Emily, who married Ray Rawson, a farmer in North Dakota; Oscar, also engaged in farming in that state; and George William, of this review.

George W. Challman was reared and educated in Cherokee county, supplementing a course in the district schools by attendance at Buenta Vista College at Storm Lake. He aided in the operation of the homestead until his father retired, after which he took charge of the farm, which he has since operated. He has met with a gratifying degree of success in the conduct of his agricul tural interests and has made the farm one of the most productive and valuable in this section of the state. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Cooperative Store of Marcus, and his ability is recognized and respected in business circles. On the 30th of May, 1912, Mr. Challman married Miss Nora Newman, a daughter of Gus and Sophia Newman, natives of Sweden. The parents came to America at an early date and located at Sioux City, Iowa, where they have since resided, the father following the stonecutters trade. Mr. and Mrs. Challman have become the parents of a daughter. Opal Leona, aged three months. Mr. Challman is a member of the Lutheran church and is connected fraternally with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Royal Neighbors. He gives his political allegiance to the republican party and is serving at the present time as a member of the board of township trustees. Although he is still a young man he is widely and favorably known in his native township and has been carried forward into important relations with its agricultural interests.