Follett, Isaac 1828-1903 and Helen Johnson Family

FOLLET, FOLLET, JOHNSON, GLEASON, JUNE

Posted By: Wilma J. VandeBerg (email)
Date: 6/5/2023 at 09:39:59

Follett, Isaac 1828-1903 and Helen Johnson and Family

This biography of the Isaac Follet family, early settlers of Grant Township Sioux County Iowa, was compiled by Wilma J. Vande Berg of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society. Information was stated as directly taken from the cited records. Sometimes names, dates and places may vary.

Some good examples of early pioneer life can be found in the books – ‘Story of Sioux County’ by Charles Dyke 1942 and ‘Siouxland A History of Sioux County’ by Nelson Nieuwenhuis. Some historical articles can be found in the 1908 Atlas of Sioux County and in the newspaper files of 1893-1895 Alton Democrat on Digital Archives of the Sioux County Libraries :: (advantage-preservation.com)

Historical items from the newspaper files found on www.advantage-preservation....
Sioux County Herald of Jan 22, 1874
List of Grand Jurors March District Court included the name of Isaac Follet.

Sioux County Herald of Apr 16, 1874
Bill of Isaac Follet for one wolf scalp was allowed amounting to $2.00.

Sioux County Herald of May 11, 1892 Grant Township items
After spending a year or more in Oregon, Mrs. Isaac Follett returned one day last week.

Alton Democrat of Oct 11, 1890 list for November of District Court
Petit Juror included the name of Isaac Follet

Sioux County Herald of Jan 11, 1892 Grant township items
Isaac Follett is the jolliest old homesteader in Grant Township.

Alton Democrat of July 22, 1893 Front Page
Article on ‘More Early History – Facts concerning the settlement of Grant Township’
Paragraphs relating to Isaac Follett.
Ammon Damon came in the spring of 1871. Those the wintered in Grant township in 1871 and 1872, as far as I can learn were the following: The Greattrax family, Dr. Beals, Frank Bashford, the Nugent family, Uriah Harmon, Robert Sturgeon, Morgan Dibble, C. E. Johnson, E. and George Berry, Mr. Patmitier, Robert Lynch, Isaac Follet, Ammon Damon, Daniel House, Theodore De Long, Myron Damon, Robert Allen and Charles Wanner.
Commencing - Article speaks of a terrible blizzard Jan 7, 1873 He was on horse back and arrived home towards night, but he had a narrow escape from perishing in the storm. When he got home he found that his Children had not yet got home from school, and of course it was a night of worry and doubt as to their safety. The next morning at daylight his son Frank was heard hollering near the house, was answered and taken in nearly chilled to death. He had left the other children at the school house and Mr. Lynch, Mr. Walker and Fred went to the school for the children, and after considerable trouble and suffering got them all home. They were found in a bad condition without any fire in the room and nearly frozen. Isaac Follet the evening before had taken his children and the teacher to his house. Why a school teacher would desert the school house and leave any children there to spend the night in such a place with a storm like that, is unaccountable. (account is a bit confusing)

Alton Democrat of Nov 16, 1895
Isaac Follett was township trustee to fill vacancy in Grant Township

Alton Democrat of May 22, 1897 Matlock News
Isaac Follett , living southeast of town, drove to Lyon county the fore part of the week and bought some seed corn. He stored it in the granary over night and the next morning when he went to get it, it was gone. Some miscreant (depraved – villainous) surely got the best of him this time.

Sioux county Herald of Dec 21, 1898 Matlock News.
Isaac Follett came to Matlock for a load of coal Thursday and before he got it loaded one of his horses was taken sick. Follett phoned to Sheldon for veterinary Shipley who put in in appearance in double quick time. The horse is now getting better but not able to be taken home yet.

Boyden Reporter files of 1899 reported in the Feb 26, 1914 issue
Mr. Isaac Follet living 4 miles east of Boyden had the misfortune to lose his house by fire Saturday at 6 p.m. The fire had such headway before they knew it the house and contents were almost a total loss.
Mr. Follett and family are old respected citizens being among the first settlers of Grant Township.

Sioux County Herald of August 9th 1899 under Matlock news.
We learn that Isaac Follett has sold his farm to E. B. Clark and Emerson Goodyear for $40.75 per acre.

Sioux County Herald of Aug 23, 1899 Matlock News
Mrs. Isaac Follett was on the sick list Friday and Saturday

Boyden Reporter of Apr 24, 1903
Word has been received that Isaac Follet late living in Oregon died April 2 of kidney troubles. It will be remembered that Mr. Follett was one of the pioneer settler of this township and a few years ago removed to the state of Oregon.

1908 Sioux County Atlas Early Days in Grant Township - article by Mrs. James Brewster
First two paragraphs – The story of the early settlement of northwestern Iowa will never be written so as to convey any definite idea of privations and hardships of the early settlers. The pioneers were too busy breaking prairie and rearing homes to pay much attention to recording passing events, and now, after the lapse of thirty five or six years, it is hard to write concisely Grant Township’s early history. The first to settle in Grant township were Wm. Greattrax, Isaac Follet and Wm. Brewster in the summer of 1870. Wm. Greattrax camped and broke prairie on the north half of the southwest quarter of section 28 (place now owned by Mr. Van Drager – in 1908). Mr. Greattrax and Mrs. Follett and their families were the only ones to stay in the township during the winter of 1870-1871. Wm. Brewster returned to Canada in the fall.

Boyden Reporter of Jan 7, 1932
Old Matlock Settler Passes Away in Oregon
Word has been received that Mrs. Isaac Follett, now of Newburg Oregon, passed away. She was an old settler in this community having lived on the farm now occupied aby Al Dykhuizen southeast of town over forty year ago. Shortly after this they moved to Oregon having made that their permanent residence.

CENSUS RECORDS

1860 Census of Liberty, Scott, Iowa, a farmer, age 31 born 1829 Connecticut his wife was Alda Follett age 19 born about 1841 New York. Living with them was Patsey Carey age 16 born New York.

1870 Census of Orange Clinton Iowa Isaac Follett age 42 born abt 1828 Mass. a retired Dry Goods Merchant wife Adda Follett age 29 born abt 1841 New York, children listed were Elroy Follet age 9 and Mary age 8 both born Iowa

1880 census of Grant, Sioux, Iowa Isaac Follett age 51 born about 1829 Mass. married to Helen A. Follet age 35 born about 1845 New York children listed were – Harry E. Follett 19, son born abt 1861 Iowa and Mary Follett age 17 born about 1863 Iowa

1885 census of Grant Township Isaac Follett age 54 born MA, lived in Grant township, wife Helen, Harry age 23, Mary age 22 both born Scott county, Other Follett names in Grant township were Frederick L. 24 born NY, and Emma L. Follett born Tama.

1895 Iowa census of Grant Township Sioux County Iowa Isaac Folette 64 born Mass, Hellen A. Folette age 54 born NY, Harry E. age 33 born Scott Co. IA, Minna A. Folette 34 born Wis, Clair E. Folette age 8, born Sioux County IA, Jessie M. Folette age 4 born Sioux County IA, Frank F. Folette age 2 born Sioux County IA. (Includes the family of Harry Follett)

1900 census of West Chehalem, Yamhill, Oregon, Isaac Follett a farmer, age 71 born Apr 1829 Massachusetts, married 1860 to Helen A. Follett born age 59, Jan 1841 New York, living with them was daughter Mary A. Follett age 37 born Oct 1862 Iowa.

FAMILY RESEARCH Notes: From a family report on Ancesty.com public member trees submitted by other than this submitter.

Isaac Follett born 14 Apr 1828 Middlefield, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, died 2 Apr 1903 Yamhill, Yamhill County Oregon. His parents were Isaac Follet 1788-1856 and Persis Gleason 1792-1873. He was married 19 Jan 1860 at Scott County Iowa to Helen Adelaide Johnson 1841-1931.

Helen Adelaide Johnson was born 19 Jan 1841 Ithaca, Tompkins County New York and died 4 Jul 1931 West Chehalem, Yamhill County, Oregon. Her parents were Jacob Weller Johnson 1819-1888 and Nancy Ann June 1819-1901 It was hinted that Helen was a young school teacher coming to Iowa from the east.

CHILDREN:
Harry Elroy Follett born 11 Mar 1861 Big Rock, Scott County Iowa died 2 Jun 1922 Oretown Tillamook County Oregon. He married Mina ArviIlla Parker 1859-1922 on 24 Nov 1885 Grant Township Sioux County IA. They had children – Clair Elroy Follett 1886-1921, George F. Follett 1889-1890, Jessie Mae Follett 1890-1982, Frank Fay Follett 1892-1943 and Harold Vail Follett 1895-1991

Mary Ada Follett born 19 Oct 1862 Iowa and died 9 Aug 1937 Tillamook County Oregon. She was unmarried.

No family picture was found in the local archives. If someone has a family picture to scan and included contact our page coordinator to add.