Nathan Brones

BRONES, FELLAND

Posted By: Peter Gausmann (email)
Date: 1/3/2010 at 06:14:22

NATHAN BRONES

Nathan Brones, who is engaged in general agricultural pursuits on section 33, Mount Valley township, was born on what is known as the old Brones homestead, on section 7 of the same township, and has been a lifelong resident of Winnebago county. His natal day was July 10, 1877, his parents being Mr. and Mrs. Peter N. Brones, of whom extended mention is made elsewhere in this work.

The son remained under the parental roof through the period of his boyhood and youth and divided his time between the acquirement of an education in the district schools and the work of the fields, for he early assisted in planting, caring for and harvesting the crops. On attaining his majority he did not seek to change his occupation but began farming on his own account on the old homestead, which he rented for a year. During the succeeding three years lie rented and cultivated other land and while thus engaged he carefully saved his earnings so that he was then able to purchase forty acres and thereby became the owner of a tract on section 21, Mount Valley township. He resided there for two or three years, after which he went to North Dakota and took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres. He proved up on that property and subsequently sold it for twenty-five hundred dollars. On returning to Winnebago county he purchased his present home farm of one hundred and sixty acres, on which he has lived since 1911. It was a tract of wild land when it came into his possession. He erected thereon substantial farm buildings, dug out the brush, fenced the land and converted the place into rich and productive fields. He today has a valuable and fertile farm and the land which he purchased for $36.23 per acre he now 'regards as worth more than one hundred and twenty-five dollars per acre. In fact he has recently refused that sum. There are good buildings upon the place and he employs modern farm machinery in facilitating the work of the fields.

In 1901 Mr. Brones was married to Miss Malena Felland, a daughter of Tor jus Felland, one of the pioneer settlers of Mount Valley township, who arrived here in the '60s and who is now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Brones have had seven children, of whom six are living, Gladys A., Lyle S., Alpha C., Palmer F., Stanley R. and Mildred M. The parents attend the Norwegian Methodist Episcopal church and they are well known in their section of the county, where they have a circle of friends almost coextensive with the circle of their acquaintance.

Source: History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II. Pioneer Publishing Company (Chicago), 1917. p. 285-296.