In 1868 he exchanged his property in Polo for land on section 10, in Falls township, Cerro Gordo Co., Iowa, and in 1870 moved here with his family. He drew lumber from Nora Springs to build his house, and applied his energies to improving his farm. In February, 1883, he rented his place and and moved to Plymouth, where he owns the finest residence in the village.

His family consists of his wife, (formerly Katie Nolan, of Carlow Co., Ireland), and three children — Harriet E., Katie A. and Lulie J. Helen M., the oldest child, died when twenty-three months old. Mary A., Ellen, Thomas M. and Annie died in infancy.

[Page 755] John Florence, one of the oldest settlers in the neighborhood of Mason City, died at that place in October, 1879. John Florence was born in Virginia, May 4, 1790. He lived in that state when the war of 1812 began, and entered the service. He was at Washington when the British burned the Capitol building and National records. He served through the war as a faithful and brave soldier, and after its close married Ellen Wells, with whom he lived for over fifty years, and who bore him seven children. About 1830 he moved to Ohio, where he remained for a few years and then went to Indiana. From there he moved to Illinois, and, in 1851, with his family, came to Iowa and settled in Bellevue, Jackson county.

In 1856 he came Mason City and remained here until the time of his death. He was nearly ninety years old when he died.

[Page 839] George W. Folsom, now a resident of Rockwell, came to Franklin Co., Iowa, June 7, 1860, buying unimproved land on section 5, Ingham, now known as West Fork township, which he made his home and improved well until 1882, when he removed to the village. He is the son of Joseph Folsom, a native of New Hampshire, who moved to, and was one of the early settlers of Ogle Co., Ill , where George was born in 1838. The family removed to Winnebago county, where the father died, aged eighty-one years. Mrs. Folsom, nee Benjamin, is the daughter of Rev. Loomis Benjamin, a pioneer preacher of Cerro Gordo county. They have five children - Elva, Mina, Lucas G., Jessie L. and Wilbert B. Their eldest child, Elvira, died in infancy.

[Page 959] Wm. H. Foster was born in Onondaga Co., N. Y., Nov. 1, 1838. He is the son of Ransom and Lydia (Coffin) Foster. In 1853 the family emigrated to Ogle Co., Ill., where Mr. Foster engaged in farming. In 1869 he came to Mason City.

William was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. In March, 1862, he enlisted in the 65th regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, company A, and participated in the engagement of Martinsburg and Harper Ferry, when he was taken prisoner but soon afterwards was paroled and sent to Chicago, where he was exchanged Jan. 14, 1863, when he again joined his regiment in Kentucky, and participated in the siege of Knoxville. In April, 1864, he re-enlisted, received a thirty days furlough and afterward joined General Sherman's command near Atlanta. They were left to look after Hood while Sherman went to the sea. He was mustered out in July, 1865, at Greensborough, N. C.

After leaving the army he returned to Ogle county. In 1869 he came to Mason City, where he has since resided He was married, in 1867, at Dixon, Ill., to Anna Freer, by whom he has had five children — William H., Samuel S., Lydia A. and Theodore. Mr. Foster is a member of the G. A. R.

[Pages 810, 813, 829] George Frederick, a pioneer farmer, settled in Falls township in July, 1855. He entered land in Rock Grove in the spring of that year, after which he returned to Wisconsin, coming back as stated. He was unmarried, and, in company with a Mr. Tenney, both coming from Kenosha Co., Wis., he operated his own domestic affairs until fall, when he changed his condition to the married state. His wife was Arvilla Campbell, the daughter of Robert and Amanda Campbell, and theirs was the first marriage in the township. The ceremonies took place in their cabin Nov. 19, 1855.

In the autumn of 1855 Mr. Frederick purchased land on section 5, of which he took possession the following spring, occupying a log house until 1870, when he built the frame house his family now occupy. He owns 172 acres of well wooded and watered land.

There are eight children belonging to the household — Amzie, Ella, Leslie, Mary, George, Charlie, Belle and Orlin.

Mr. Frederick was born in Germany, June 25, 1825, where he was trained to agricultural pursuits, and educated in the public schools. He came to America in 1850, landed at New York, and proceeded to Tarrytown. He was employed two months on a farm, and then went to Kenosha Co., Wis., where he followed farming for a livelihood until 1855, when he became a citizen of Iowa.

[Page 813] Jacob Frederick was born in Germany, Aug. 17, 1836. He was a farmer's son and attended school until he was sixteen years old, when, fixing upon the trade of a wagon maker as a vocation, he apprenticed himself and worked at the business until 1857 in his native land. In that year he came to America, landed at New York and spent nearly a year there, working a part of the time at carriage painting.

In 1858 he came to Iowa and settled in Cerro Gordo county. He opened a wagon shop at Plymouth where he transacted his business two years, when the shop with its contents was burned, entailing a loss of $500. He then turned his attention to farming, entered land and engaged in stock raising. In 1866 he purchased a farm lying on sections 7 and 8 and built a house. He is still engaged in raising stock and exhibits some fine blooded specimens.

He was married in 1868 to Adele Alden, a New York lady by birth, by whom he has four children — Lewis E., Ida M., Carl V. and Ada Belle.

[Page 878] James D. Freeman settled in Cerro Gordo county in June, 1871. He purchased forty acres of virgin prairie, erected a good house and set out shade trees, which gives the place an appearance of having been much longer occupied. He has added forty acres to his original purchase.

Mr. Freeman was born in Plainfield, Vt., July 19, 1827. His parents, Nathan and Esther (Converse) Freeman, were both of New England origin. He was the youngest of six children, and, at thirteen, he found himself comparatively homeless. His brothers and sisters were married, and his mother being in a hopeless state from consumption, the home was broken up, and James went to Lowell, Mass., finding employment in a cotton mill as extra hand. In nine months he had secured the confidence of the owners and an expert knowledge of the machinery, and was put in the position of assistant overseer of several hands, and also attended to card grinding. He operated in this manner nine successive years. He then went to Manchester, N. H. and assisted in the opening of a new cotton mill, where he remained two years.

He was married in that city, in the fall of 1849, to Martha Straw. He had an illness of several months duration in 1851, and left his position. In the fall of that year he returned to Vermont. A year later he went back to Lowell, and again entered a cotton mill.

In 1853 his wife died, leaving a son - Le Roy A., and in 1854 Mr. Freeman was married to Maria L. Vose. He then removed to Milwaukee, Wis., and followed the vocation of painter. In 1855 he went to Columbus, Wis. Later he took his family in a prairie schooner and set out for Chatfield, Minn., where he followed his trade.

When his country called for the aid of her faithful sons, Mr. Freeman responded, and in 1862 enlisted in company D, 8th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, serving three years. His regiment was on the frontiers of Dakota one year, where it did good service defending the territory from Indian depredations. Mr. Freeman was in action at Murfreesboro and other important battles. As a result of exposure incident to a soldier's career, his eyes were seriously injured and he was discharged and sent to Chicago for treatment, after which he went to Springfield, Mass., where his family had gone.

He again obtained employment in a cotton mill at Holyoke, and acted as a third overseer. At the end of six months he was tendered the position of second overseer, but was obliged to leave the mill from failing eye-sight. He then went to Waverly, Bremer county, where he became totally blind. After a year of darkness he partly recovered sight and can now read with the aid of magnifying lenses. He next removed to his present home.

By his second marriage, Mr. Freeman had nine children, five of whom died of diptheria while he was in the service. Those remaining are - Gilman, Frank, Leon and Myron. Mr. Freeman belongs to the G. A. R., and in religious belief is a Congregationalist. He is a republican in politics.

[Page 890] Thomas H. French was born in England, July 16, 1851. His parents, Thomas A. and Susanna (Pitman) French, came to America in 1855, and after a stay of one year in the city of New York, went to Rock Co., Wis., and afterward to LaFayette county, in that State. The mother died in August, 1863. Five children reached maturity — Henriette, Thomas H., Mary Ann, Martha and Florence. The father died in Texas.

Thomas H. French was reared a farmer, and remained a resident of Wisconsin until 1875, the date of his settlement in Lincoln township, Iowa. He pursues the vocation to which he was trained, and has a valuable farm of eighty acres, located on section 16, of this township, and under good improvements.

He was married in 1878 to Ella, daughter of Ross and Ellen (Bentley) Whitman. Leroy, Claude and Luella, are the names of the children of this household. Mr. French is a republican.

[Page 920] Benjamin Frost settled on section 27, Portland township, in 1861, purchased about 500 acres and cultivated the same until 1871, when he rented his land and removed to Kansas. In 1874 he returned and again had charge of his farm until 1882. He now resides in Wilson Co., Kan.

He was born in 1814 in Massachusetts, where he lived with his parents until he was seventeen years of age, then for several years was engaged in the lead mines in Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa. In 1845, in Dubuque Co., Iowa, he married Elizabeth Filbric, and then engaged in farming in the same county, until he came to Cerro Gordo. They have had three children, two now living — William F. and Benjamin T.

[Page 766] Benjamin H. Frost resides on section 2, and has resided in Cerro Gordo county since the fall of 1860. He was born in Vermont in 1816, where he lived until about thirty years of age.

He was married in Vermont to Amanda L. Hamilton. They were both born in the same town, the latter in 1827. They removed from Vermont to St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., in 1843, where they lived for several years. They came to Scott Co., Iowa, in 1847, thence to Floyd county, in 1860, and here, as stated, in 1862, and settled where he now lives several years later.

Mr. Frost has seven children. Chauncy, the eldest son, enlisted in 1863, in the 32d Iowa Volunteer Infantry, where he served nearly two years. He joined that regiment as a recruit, and when the regiment was discharged at the expiration of its term of service, he was transferred to the 8th Infantry, and served the balance of his term of three years enlistment. He now resides with his father; married Sarah Martin; they have three children.

[Pages 643 & 674] George E. Frost, a prominent pioneer of Clear Lake, was born at Bridport, Addison Co., Vt., April 1, 1834. His parents, Levi and Mary E. Frost, removed to Canton, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., when George was but three years old, and there he grew to manhood, the only child who survived to maturity. In 1854 the senior Frost removed again with his family to DeKalb Co., Ill., and thence to a farm in Marble Rock, Floyd Co., Iowa, where Mr. Frost was engaged in agriculture and surveying.

In 1860 the family came to Clear Lake, where the father died in 1870 and the mother in 1871. Soon after his arrival at Clear Lake, Mr. Frost was appointed surveyor of Cerro Gordo county, and held the position five years. He exchanged his farm in Floyd county for a quarter section in Grant township, eventually owning 1400 acres there, 320 of which he still holds. He has dealt extensively in land since his settlement, and is now the owner of nearly 2,000 acres in the county. One fine farm in his possession lies just north of the village.

In 1870 he purchased the Clear Lake Observer, which he sold in 1874 to Hon. M. P. Rosecrans. On the discontinuation of the paper by the latter, Mr. Frost purchased a new press and revived its publication. He sold it in 1879 to F. J. Bush, who gave it the name of Clear Lake Mirror. In 1880 Mr. Frost established the Clear Lake Record, which he still publishes. He also manages a real estate office which he initiated in 1861. From 1865 to 1873 Mr. Frost acted as revenue collector. In 1874, associated with Marcus Tuttle, he instituted the Clear Lake Bank, his partner remaining a single year. In 1877 he sold the interests the interests of the bank to W. A. Burnap, re-purchasing in 1880. In 1868-9 he was county judge of Cerro Gordo, serving also as county auditor, and was consequently last county judge and first county auditor of Cerro Gordo. From 1862 to 1877 he acted as postmaster at Clear Lake, with the exception of two short intervals.

Mr. Frost is a man of indomitable mental activity and energetic business habits, which he has applied to the progress of the place and generation in which he lives.

His wife was Azubah, daughter of Thomas Duncan. The latter came from McHenry Co., Ill., to Clear Lake, where he died in 1871. Mr. and Mrs. Frost have three children - Agnes, Mary and George E., Jr.

[Page 920] William F. Frost came with his parents to Cerro Gordo Co., Iowa, in 1861, and has since been a resident of Portland township, with the exception of three years spent in Kansas. He was born in Dubuque Co., Iowa, Dec, 12, 1846.

On the 23rd of May, 1868, he was married to Sarah J. Frost, a daughter of Frederick and Adaline Frost. By this marriage they have three children — Eva E., Florence D. and Frank E.

[Page 887] C. W. Fuller is fully entitled to be enrolled among the prominent and worthy citizens of Cerro Gordo county. He has received the best evidence of the confidence of his townsmen in their support for local offices, has fought for the integrity of his country's flag, and made a meritorious record as a citizen.

He was born in Allegany Co., N. Y., July 13, 1841, where he attained his majority on a farm. In 1861 he went to Columbia Co., Wis., returning to his native State in the fall of 1863. He enlisted in January, 1864, in company F, 4th New York Heavy Artillery, which command was attached to the Army of the Potomac from the battle of the Wilderness to the surrender of Lee. On the mustering out of his regiment he returned to Wisconsin.

He was married in 1866 to Marion, daughter of Gideon and Rachel Aldrich. He moved to Iowa and located on their present home in the spring of 1867. They have two children - Walter E. and Leslie C. Fuller. Mr. Fuller is a republican in politics, and owns a farm of 160 acres of fine land on sections 17 and 21.

[Page 757] George O. Fuller is the oldest living settler in Bath township. He was born in Andover, Merrimac Co., N. H., April 18, 1834. He had good school advantages, attending Highland Lake Institute, at East Andover. He then engaged with a number of bridge builders, working on the Northern New Hampshire Railroad, and continued in their employ seven years.

He was married, Jan. 13, 1857, to Louisa A. Brown, and remained in Andover till 1859, then moved to Bureau Co., Ill., renting a farm until 1866, when he removed to Cerro Gordo Co., Iowa, buying wild land on section 16, now known as Bath township, which he has well improved and beautified with fruit, shade and ornamental trees. They are the parents of four children — Charles D., Eva J. Cora B. and Georgia May. Mr. Fuller is a prominent man in home affairs, and has held offices of trust in the township.

[Page 913] Neil Fullerton, son of James and Janet (Muschie) Fullerton, was born in Inverness, province of Quebec, Canada, Dec. 10, 1831. His parents, natives of Scotland, settled at that place years previous to his birth. When he was fourteen years old his mother died and two years after he went to Coos Co., N. H., and was bound out to a farmer to serve until he was twenty-one years of age. He redeemed his obligation and received $100 as had been stipulated, when he returned to Canada. A year later he went to Hillsboro Co., N. H., and engaged in farming one summer, and the following winter worked as lumberman. In the spring of 1856 he bought a team and engaged in supplying milk in the city of Manchester.

In April, 1857, he was married to Mary Kerr, who was also a native of Inverness. About that date he bought a farm in the town of Bedford. The next year he sold the milk route and devoted his attention and energies to farming, remaining thus employed until 1863, when he sold his farm and bought government timber land in Canada. He took possession of his purchase, made a bee, and in one day the logs were cut for a house, 16x18 feet, and the house built. He cleared forty-five acres of the primeval forest and remained a resident until 1871.

In that year he settled in Cerro Gordo Co., Iowa. Until 1876 he rented land in Portland township, when he purchased the southeast quarter of section 25, in Owen township Since that date he has rebuilt the house, erected a barn and made valuable improvements on the land. Mr. Fullerton has occupied a number of offices of trust, and is a member of the board of trustees. In 1867 himself and wife joined the Presbyterian Church, and are now communicants of the Congregational Church, at Rockford, there being no society of the denomination to which they originally belonged in the vicinity.

They have nine children — John K., James E., Charles A., Peter G., Neil A. Robert, Angus M., Henry J. and Nettie.