1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa
Page Index:
P Andersen |
C Anderson |
G Anderson |
Ankerstjerne |
E Armentrout |
P Armentrout |
R Armentrout |
W Armentrout |
Asquith
The Danish citizens of Shelby county, Iowa, are invariably among the substantial men of the various communities where they live. They are
always men of worth and stability and these men of industry always succeed where many others fail. Peter Andersen has been a resident of Shelby
county for only ten years, but within that time he has bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, made many improvements and has already stamped his individuality in a most favorable manner upon his fellow citizens.
Peter Andersen, the son of Nels Andersen, was born in Denmark, in 1861. His father was a farmer and hotel keeper in his native land and died
there in 1876, while his mother died in 1869. Neither of his parents ever left their native land. They reared a family of seven children.
Peter Andersen was educated in the schools of his native country and when he reached the age of fifteen years, his father died, his mother having
passed away several years previously. He remained in Denmark working on the farms in his home neighborhood until he reached the age of twenty-four. In 1885 he decided to come to America where many of his countrymen had already gone, and make this country his future home. Upon arriving in
America he at once went west and located in Avoca, Iowa. This town, which was in Pottawattamie county, he made his home for two years, during which time he farmed in the immediate neighborhood as a day laborer. He came to this country to make a home for himself and his future wife, to whom he was engaged before leaving Denmark. His betrothed followed him in 1886, and immediately upon her arrival they were married- and he began farming for himself in Pottawattamie county, near Carson, in Silver Creek township. He continued farming in that county until 1905, when he came to Shelby county and bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in Clay township. Since acquiring this farm he has set out an extensive orchard and made many improvements, thereby greatly enhancing the value of the farm. He is a careful and conscientious farmer, giving due attention to every phase of his farming and stock raising and has been favored with a flattering degree of success.
Peter Andersen was married in 1886 to Helena Bever, who was born in Denmark in 1861. She came to this country alone in 1886, leaving her parents, who are now both deceased, in Denmark. Mr. Andersen and his wife have reared a family of eight children, all of whom are still living: Mrs. Susie F. Frederickson, Viggo, Mrs. Ella 0. Reigh, William, Olla, Freda, Lula and Theodor. The married children are living in this township, and the others are still making their home with their parents.
The family are devoted members of the Danish Lutheran church and are generous contributors to its maintenance. Politically, Mr. Andersen is an independent voter, giving his support to such men as he deems are best fitted for the offices to which they aspire. He is a man of intelligence and
takes an active interest in every enterprise which promises to benefit the community in which he lives.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 836 - 837.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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The sons of Denmark are found in many different enterprises in Shelby county, Iowa, and in whatever business they enter they are sure to he successful. The Danish citizens of this county are known as hard workers and whatever they undertake, they give to their business close attention and invariably make a success of it. Carl T. Anderson has been engaged in the creamery business for the past ten years in Shelby, Iowa, and has made a pronounced success in this line of activity. In addition to his creamery interests he is also engaged in the grocery business and has a well-equipped grocery in Shelby. He is interested in many different enterprises in the city and is one of its most enterprising men.
Carl T. Anderson, the son of Anders Otto and Nettie (Andersdatter) Larson, was born in Denmark on October 5, 1860. His father was born in Norway in 1834 and his mother was born in Sweden in 1820. After their marriage they moved to Denmark, where the father died in 1902 and the mother in 1910. There were seven children born to Anders Otto Larson and wife, five of whom are living. Only one sister is in this country, Mrs. Marie Martinson, who is living in Shelby township.
Carl T. Anderson received a common school education in his native land, and immediately after his marriage, in 1887, he came to America and
located in Shelby, Iowa. He worked on the railroad for the first three years after coming to this country and then began to rent land in this county. He first had eighty acres and two years later assumed the management of a farm of two hundred and seventeen acres in Shelby township. In 1899 he bought eighty acres of land in Adair county, Iowa, but rented it out for two years and then sold it. He then bought one hundred and eighty acres in Shelby township and later sold that and bought eighty acres in Harrison county, which he still owns. In 1901 he moved to Shelby and became identified with the Waterloo Creamery Company, traveling for this company for two years. After this he became the manager of the Shelby Creamery Company and was soon connected with this company, assuming a half Interest in the business, his partner being D. Cole. In 1911 Mr. Anderson started a grocery store in Shelby and has given part of his time to its management since that year. He owns three business blocks in the city, is a stockholder in the Farmers Bank, the Shelby Lumber Company and the Telephone and Electric Light Company of Shelby. In fact, he is one of the leading business men of his city and by his enterprise has become recognized as one of its leaders.
Mr. Anderson was married in 1886 in Denmark to Marie K. Olsen, who was born in that country in 1862. To this union has been born one
daughter, Olena, who is now the manager of her father's interests in the Shelby Creamery Company.
The Anderson family are devout members of the Danish Lutheran church. Politically, he is a stanch Republican and has taken an active part
in the civic life of his city. He has been a member of the council for four years, giving his fellow citizens efficient service in this capacity. He is
truly one of the representative men of his city and is, undoubtedly, deserving of a place among the representative men of the county.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 722 - 733.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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There is one man, born in Denmark, with whom every child in America is acquainted and it is safe to say that the name of Hans Andersen is
destined to live in the hearts of the children until the end of time. The country which produced this famous man has sent thousands of excellent
citizens to America and they have been welcome in every community where they have settled. The name Anderson is one of the most honored in the
annals of Danish history and is upheld in Shelby county Greger G. Anderson, a prosperous farmer and stockman of Clay township. The Danes who
have made this county their home have proved to be men of worth and without exception they have become substantial citizens. They know how
to work and, what is more essential, they know how to save. The native-born American is not as thrifty as his foreign-born brother and often is
compelled to call on the latter for help. It is said that it falls to the lot of the adopted citizens of many counties in the state of Iowa to support The
native-born citizens in the poor house, certainly a sad commentary on the people who were born in this country.
Greger G. Anderson, the son of Andrew Williamson and Mary (Christensen) Anderson, was born on October 28, 1874, in Denmark. His father
was born in Denmark in 1836 and lived the life of a farmer until his death, in the land of his birth in 1876. His mother, who was born in 1834, was a
woman of unusual force and ability and reared her family to lives of usefulness and honor. She was left with ten children and all but one of them
are still living. In 1892 she came with them to America and located in Kimballton, Iowa, where she lived until her death, in 1910.
Greger G. Anderson was only two years of age when his father died and consequently never knew what it was to have a father's care. His
mother gave him the best education which she could afford in the schools of his native country and he has since supplemented this with wide reading.
He was seventeen years old when his mother came to America with her children, on May 25 of 1892, and immediately began to work on a farm in
Cass county. He worked as a farm hand for four years and then married and rented a farm in Shelby county for the next eight years. In 1908 he
bought the farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Clay township, where he is now living. He has made many improvements on the farm since
acquiring it and has brought it to a high state of productivity. He carries on a general system of farming, but gives the most of his attention to the
raising of a high grade of horses, cattle and hogs. He feeds all of his grain, having found that it pays to feed rather than sell it.
Mr. Anderson was married on October 3, 1900, to Martha E. Peterson. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Peterson and was born in
Shelby county on June 24, 1871. To this union there have been born five children, Martin, Mary, Andrew, Grace and Harvey. All of the children are
still living with their parents and are being given a good education.
Politically, Mr. Anderson is identified with the Republican party and takes a hearty interest in the success of his party. At the present time he is
serving as one of the trustees of his township, a position which he has held for the past four years. He and his family are devoted members of the
Danish Lutheran church, in whose welfare they are very much interested.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 725 - 726.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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The career of Martin Ankerstjerne, the manager, secretary and treasurer of the Harlan Ice & Cold Storage Company, of Harlan, Iowa, is little short
of remarkable. Born in Denmark and educated in his native land, he came to this country seventeen years ago as a poor immigrant lad of sixteen. He had no knowledge whatever of the English language, but he had a boundless amount of energy and enthusiasm and he made up in these qualities what he lacked in the knowledge of the language and the customs of the people of this country. Within a year after he came here to Shelby county, he was engaged in the creamery business, and three years ago he located in Harlan, and established the Harlan creamery. His career is a striking example of Danish thrift, and it is all the more striking because he has achieved his success single handed.
Martin Ankerstjerne, the son of Gustave and Ida (Frost) Ankerstjerne, was born in Denmark, September 24, 1881. His parents were both natives
of Denmark, his father being born January 6, 1858, and his mother February 17, 1860. His father is a cooper in his native land and is still following his
trade. Both of his parents are still living. Six children were born to Gustave and Ida Ankerstjerne: Martin, Carl, Mary, Hilda, Eric and Dagmar. Martin, the oldest one of these children, is the only one of the family who has ever come to America, the other children being single and still living with their parents in their native land.
Martin Ankerstjerne received a good education in the excellent public schools of his native land and after leaving school worked in an office for
one year. On coming to America in 1897 he located near Avoca, Iowa, on a farm belonging to his uncle. He worked for his uncle for one year and then
became interested in the creamery business at Portsmouth, Iowa. He remained at the latter place until 1911, and then came to Harlan, Iowa, organized the Harlan creamery, and under his successful management, built up a prosperous business. In fact, within a year he felt able to reorganize his company and enlarge its opportunities for business. Accordingly, he incorporated the Harlan Ice and Cold Storage Company and added to his regular creamery business the manufacture of ice cream and butter. The ice plant has a capacity of fifteen tons a day, and the company finds a ready sale for its entire product within the county seat. It takes more than three hundred cows to supply the capacity of the creamery and the product of the company is well known for its excellent quality. A large per cent of the butter is shipped to the eastern states, where it commands a ready sale at a good price. Mr. Ankerstjerne is thoroughly acquainted with every detail of the business and gives it his personal supervision. In fact, the directors of the company have complete confidence in his ability to administer the affairs of the company, and have not only made him manager, but entrusted him with the duties of secretary and treasurer.
Mr. Ankerstjerne is a loyal member of the Danish Lutheran church of Harlan, and a generous contributor to the support of his denomination. Fraternally, he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. In politics, he has identified himself with the Democratic party since coming to this country, but the demands of his business have been such that he has not been able to take an active part in political affairs. Mr. Ankerstjerne is single.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1114 - 1115.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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It is the progressive, wide-awake man of affairs that makes the real history of a community, and his influence as a potential factor in the body politic is difficult to estimate. Such men furnish examples of what is within the power of each to accomplish and while advancing their own interests and
incidentally those of their fellow men, they give strength and solidity to the institutions which make so much for the prosperity of the community. Such
a man is Eldoris Armentrout, one of the younger farmers of Shelby county, Iowa.
Eldoris Armentrout was born on July 18, 1882, in Jackson township, this county, the third son of Philip and Alice (Ross) Armentrout, the former born in Richland county, Ohio, a son of Jacob and Mary (Hammond) Armentrout. They were both natives of Rickingham county, Virginia, although Jacob was of Pennsylvania-Dutch ancestry. There is no definite information extant as to the exact time the Armentrouts came to this country, but it must have been in the early history of the colonies and considerably previous to the war of the Revolution, as Jacob, above referred to, was born in the year 1800. However, the family was well known throughout the eastern part of the country during the latter part of the eighteenth and early part of the nineteenth centuries and wherever they have been found, they always have stood for the highest and best in life.
Subject passed the early years of his life on the home farm and in 1903, in company with his brothers Lon and William, went to Rock county, Nebraska, where he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land. After his marriage, in 1906, subject returned to Nebraska and lived there one
year, when he paid out and proved up his claim and returned to this county, where he has since lived. His brothers have also returned to this county, the three having sold their claims as one farm in 1911. Since returning to Shelby county, subject has lived on one of his father's farms containing one hundred and sixty acres, and here he carries on general farming and stock raising. In addition to this work he, in partnership with his brother William, buys and ships cattle and their business in this direction has grown so that they have shipped as many as thirty-three car loads in one season. Subject is quite successful in raising hogs for the market and at present has eighteen head of good horses.
On March 5, 1906, Mr. Armentrout was united in marriage with Miss Bertha May Slates, born March 3, 1887, in LeMars, this state. She was the
only child of Samuel Sydenstricker and when small was adopted by Mrs. Samuel Slates and reared as her own daughter. Mr. and Mrs. Armentrout
have two children, Ival Dale, born March 13, 1907, and Doris Fern, born on October 8, 1912. Subject is a young man of excellent parts, whose
deepest pleasure lies in his home and whose fondest hopes are centered in his two promising children. He is winning success in his chosen vocation and to his endeavors brings to bear the best of his brain and brawn. This little family is among the best of the representative citizens of the county, adding its quota to the general well-being of the community. Politically, Mr. Armentrout is a Democrat and while taking an earnest interest in the affairs of his chosen party, never has aspired to office of any sort. He has been consistent in all that he has ever undertaken and his career in all the relations of life has been utterly without pretense. He is held in high esteem by all who know him and Jefferson township can boast no more disinterested citizen.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1431 - 1432.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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Among the most successful citizens of Shelby county, Iowa, is he whose name heads this sketch. Mr. Armentrout has for many years been a resident of Shelby county, where he is one of the largest land owners and stock raisers. Closely associated with him is his youngest son, Marion, one or
the most widely known auctioneers in this section of the country. Having been brought up on the farm and in close touch with his father's business,
he early acquired a knowledge of all relating to agricultural life and became an expert in his ability to properly judge live stock. Therefore, it is not
surprising that in his business he makes a specialty of this class of sales and while he has barely attained his majority, he has a reputation as an expert in his line which might well be coveted by many an older man. He cried his first sale when hut seventeen years of age, has attended the Missouri Auction School at Kansas City, Missouri, and thus early in his career has cried sales in nine different state.
Philip Armentrout was born on February 28, 1847, in Richland county, Ohio, being the son of Jacob and Mary (Hammond) Armentrout, both of
whom were natives of Rockingham county, Virginia. Jacob Armentrout was born in the year 1800, of Pennsylvania-Dutch parentage. There are
no family records available showing when the first Armentrouts came to this country or from whence they came. Mr. Armentrout is one of a family of
twelve children, but four of whom have passed into the great beyond. Their names are Allen (deceased), Nancy (Mrs. Armentrout, deceased), Annis
(deceased), Annamelia (Mrs. McKihhen), Anita (Mrs. Wise), Catherine (Mrs. Rhodes). George, Abraham (deceased), Ansel, Albro, Dallas and Philip, the youngest of the family.
Mr. Armentrout remained with his parents in the family home in Ohio until the year 1872, when he came westward into Iowa and located in Shelby
county. After being here about a year he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land in Jackson township and added to this from time to time until he possessed some four hundred acres. There he made his home for about thirty years, prospering in his affairs. In 1908 he disposed of his holdings in Jackson township and purchased six hundred and eighty acres located in sections 14, 22, 23 and 27 of Jefferson township and in 1913 he added two hundred and forty acres located in sections 10 and 15 of the same township, making his total acreage at this time nine hundred and twenty acres. Mr. Armentrout has retired from the active management of the farm, leaving this work to his efficient sons whom he has so well trained. Marion is quite successful in raising live stock and has an excellent herd of full blooded Hereford cattle. He also raises a great number of Chester White hogs.
On December 28, 1876. Mr. Armentrout was united in marriage with Alice Ross, born in Ohio on April 6, 1859, the daughter of Hugh W. and
Millie (Baber) Ross, both being natives of Ohio. They had a family of six children, the eldest of whom is Mrs. Armentrout. The others are Elizabeth
(Mrs Ephart), Archibald, Joseph, Hugh and James, deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Armentrout has been born a family of seven children, namely: Lonie E., born February 27, 1878. He chose as his wife Elsie Brown and they are the parents of four children, Everett, Lawrence, Lloyd and Amorette. William 0., the second son, was born March 21, 1880. On November 30, 1904. he was united in marriage with Maude Simmons who has borne him six children, Dallas, Lois, Helen, Ansel, Wilbur and Woodrow. Eldoras, the third son, was born July 18, 1882, and was married on March 5, 1906, to Bertha Slates. They have two children, Ival D. and Dorris F. Ralph L., born December 20, 1884, married Laura Peterson in 1909 and has one child, Lyle. Robert, born July 24, 1887, married Rosa Peterson and has one child, Bernice. Cassie was born on November 31, 1889, and on January 28, 1913. was united in marriage with Lilly Silverwood. Marion, the youngest of this interesting family of six sons, was born September 9, 1893 and remains unmarried.
Politically, Mr. Armentrout is a Democrat and being a wide-awake man of affairs, has always taken more than a passing interest in the affairs of his
party. He has served Jackson township as trustee for eight terms and has been active in other lines of public service. His fraternal affiliation is with
the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. Marion also is a Democrat, progressive in his views and gives promise of being one of the active men of
the party in this section in time to come. His business engrosses most of his time and he has now established an office in Manning, Iowa, which he
maintains during the winter seasons. Altogether, he is a worthy son of his excellent father, possessing many of his attributes of character and ability.
Since Mr. Armentrout first came to this locality many marked changes have taken place, the section having passed from the pioneer stage into the
era of modern improvements and advantages of every description.. He has kept abreast of the times in every particular and during the years of his
residence here has been considered one of the leading citizens, taking a keen and abiding interest in all that related to the welfare and advancement of various community interests. The manner in which he has built up his interests since coming to this section marks him as a man possessing unusual business ability and his manner of living is such as to win for him the highest degree of admiration and respect from all with whom he has been associated. Mr. Armentrout is a man of marked domestic traits, taking great pleasure in his home and family, especially delighting in the growing circle of grand-children, and among all the residents of Shelby county, there are none more deserving than he of honorable mention in a work of the character of the one in hand.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 718 - 720.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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The subject of this review is a representative farmer and stock grower of Jefferson township, Shelby county, Iowa, and is known as one of the alert,
progressive and successful agriculturists of this favored section of the Hawkeye state in his labors he has not permitted himself to follow in the rut in a blind, apathetic way, but has studied and experimented and thus has secured the maximum returns from his enterprising efforts, at the same time so ordering his course as to command the confidence and regard of the people of the community in which he lives, being a man of honorable business methods, invariably advocating whatever tends to promote the public welfare in any way.
Robert Armentrout, the son of Philip and Alice (Ross) Armentrout, was born in Jackson township, Shelby county, Iowa, on July 24, 1887. His parents were natives of Ohio and came to Shelby county, Iowa, about 1874. They purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land at first, but added to that from time to time until at the present time they own nine hundred and twenty acres of fine land in connection with the holdings of their sons. Philip Armentrout and wife were the parents of seven children, Alonzo, William, Eldoris, Ralph, Robert, Cassie and Marion. The last named is an auctioneer by profession and also farms the home place.
Robert Armentrout received a good education in the schools of his home county and resided with his father until his marriage, when he built his present home on the one hundred and sixty acres in the southeastern corner of section 22, in Jackson township, this county, and on this tract he
carries on a general system of farming and is heavily interested in the breeding and raising of stock. With his brothers, he buys and feeds a great
deal of live stock and ships on an average of about eight car loads annually. He is known as a farmer of progressive tendencies and takes a deep interest in all phases of agricultural life.
Mr. Armentrout was married October 27, 1910, to Rosa Peterson, who was born April 12, 1887, in Jackson township, this county, the daughter of
Carl and Christina (Larsen) Peterson, who were both natives of Denmark, coming to this country when they were young. They were married in this
country and reared a family of twelve children, Mrs. Mamie Albertsen, Mrs. Anna Noon, Peter, Mrs. Laura Armentrout, John, Carl, Alfred, William,
Louise, Minnie, Rosa, the wife of Mr. Armentrout, and Ella Dahlof. Mr. and Mrs. Armentrout have one daughter, Bernice, who was born January 3,
1913.
Politically, Mr. Armentrout is a Democrat, but has never been an office seeker in any sense of the word, preferring to devote all of his time and
energies to his home and farming interests. He is not a member of any church, but is in hearty sympathy with the work of the church and contributes
of his substance to the support of the Danish Lutheran church, of which his wife is a member. Mr. and Mrs. Armentrout are people who have made a
financial success of life and who have sacrificed nothing in development of character to do this. They are widely known and are hospitably inclined,
and their home life is very pleasant. Mr. Armentrout is a type of the best and most efficient Iowa farmers and although still a young man has already
forged to the front as one of the progressive agriculturists of his township and county.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1428 1429.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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There are several hundred different occupations in the United States at
the present time, but of all this large number there is only one that is absolutely necessary to the existence of man. The three things without which
man cannot live are food, clothing and shelter, and it is the farmer who not only controls the food supply of the world, but who also holds the clothing
products in his hands. In fact, his is the only occupation which could exist independently of all others. An ever increasing number of our young men
are taking courses in the many excellent agricultural colleges of the country and this means that the future generation of farmers will have that scientific training which is so necessary to the successful farmer of today. Shelby county boasts of fine farms and good farmers and among this number is found William Armentrout, one of the most progressive young farmers of Jackson township.
William Armentrout, the son of Phillip and Alice (Ross) Armentrout, was born on March 21, 1880, in the township where he has always made his
home. Phillip was born on February 28, 1847, in Richland county, Ohio, and is the son of Jacob and Mary (Hammond) Armentrout. Jacob and wife
were the parents of twelve children, Allen, Nancy, Annis, Ann Amelia, Anita, Catherine, George, Abraham, Ansel, Albro, Dallas and Phillip, the
youngest of the twelve children. Eight of these children are still living. Phillip was married December 28, 1876, to Alice Ross, the daughter of Hugh
and Millie (Baber) Ross. To this union were born seven children: Alonzo, who married Elsie Brown, and has four children, Everett, Lawrence, Lloyd
and Amrett; William, with whom this narrative deals; Eldoras, who married Bertha Slates, and has two children, Ival D. and Dorris F.; Ralph L., who
married Laura Peterson, and has one son, Lysle; Robert, who married Rosa Peterson, and has one daughter, Berniece; Cassie, who married Lillie Silverwood; Marion, single.
William Armentrout received a good common school education and remained upon the home farm until he was married, in 1904. He then went
to Nebraska and entered one hundred and sixty acres of land in Rock county with his father and brothers. He lived upon this two years after he was
married, putting most of his attention to the raising of cattle. He kept about four hundred and fifty head on the farm all the time and marketed about one
hundred and twenty-five head of calves each year. In accordance with the custom of the stock raisers of that locality he branded all of his stock, burning the figures "thirty-one" on all of his cattle. In the spring of 1908 he returned to Shelby county and assisted his father on the home farm for the
next two years. He then rented one hundred and sixty acres of his father's farm and has since been engaged in general farming and stock raising upon this farm. He feeds about one car load of cattle for the market each year and also sells about one hundred head of hogs annually.
Mr. Armentrout was married on November 30, 1904, to Maud Symons. She is the daughter of Charles and Martha (Haworth) Symons and was
born on January 13, 1886, in Des Moines, Iowa. Her parents are natives of Keokuk county, Iowa, her father being the son of Aaron Symons, a minister of the Friends church as was his wife, Martha Haworth. Mrs. Symons was the daughter of Dillon Haworth, a soldier of the Civil War and a printer
for many years in Eldora, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Symons had a family of five children, Clayton, Nellie, Harry, Norine and Maud, the wife of Mr. Armentrout. To Mr. Armentrout and wife have been born six children: Dallas, born February 9, 1906; Lois D., born July 8, 1907; Helen, born February 29, 1909; Ansel, born May 1, 1910; Wilbur, born January 26, 1912; Woodrow, born January 2, 1914.
Politically, Mr. Armentrout is a Democrat but has never been active in political matters. He takes an intelligent interest in all measures which promise to benefit his community in any way and is regarded as one of the representative citizens of his locality.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 774 - 776.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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A gallant veteran of the CiVil War, who is now living a quietly retired life in Harlan, Iowa, is Theodore G. Asquith, who has been a resident of this
county since 1880. He owned an excellent farm of one hundred and sixty acres, west of Harlan, in Lincoln township, but for the past two years has
made his home in the county seat. He always has taken a prominent part in the civic life of his community, and during his younger years held several
township offices.
Theodore G. Asquith, the son of William and Hannah (Arnold) Asquith, was born May 4, 1841, near Pottsville, Pennsylvania. His father, William Asquith, was born in Yorkshire, England. His first wife was Mariah Killburn, who was born in Yorkshire, England, and who died in the land of her birth. To this first union five children were born: Joseph, Louise, Jane, Sarah Ann and Edwin, all of whom are now deceased. His second wife was Mrs. Hannah (Arnold) Webster, who had four children by her first marriage. To her second marriage with Mr. Asquith were born two children, Thomas and Theodore G. Thomas was a member of Company E, Second Regiment Colorado Cavalry, and was mustered in as a corporal. Upon the expiration of the term of his enlistment he enrolled in the regular army.
William Asquith came from England to America in 1839 and located in Rock Island, Illinois, where he lived until his death. His widow survived
him several years and died at the home of one of her children in Reynolds, Illinois. William Asquith and his wife were devout members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Theodore G. Asquith received only a very limited education, although he attended a commercial college at Davenport, Iowa, for a short time. He
enlisted August 13, 1862, as a member of Company C, One Hundred and Second Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He had previously tried to enlist, but
his services were not needed until the fall of 1862. After his enlistment his regiment was sent to Louisville, Kentucky, and from there marched to Frankfort, in the same state. Subsequently he was taken to Gallatin, Tennessee, where his regiment was stationed for several months and did guard duty at the railroad bridge near that place. From here the regiment was sent by train to Laverne and six months later it was taken to Stewart's Creek and some time later returned to Laverne. In March, 1864, his regiment was sent to Chattanooga, Tennessee, and the spring and summer of 1864 were spent with General Sherman in his famous Atlanta campaign. Among the battles in which Mr. Asquith participated were Buzzards Roost, New Hope Church, Burnt Hickory, Resaca, Peach Tree Creek and Atlanta. The army reached Savannah and took the city on Christmas Day, 1864. On the first day of the following year General Sherman started north through the Carolinas. The last battles in which Mr. Asquith fought were those of Averasborough and Bentonville, in North Carolina. His regiment was at Raleigh in that state when Lincoln was assassinated on April 15, 1865, and was subsequently marched to Washington, D. C., where they participated in the Grand Review on May 25th of that year. Mr. Asquith was finally discharged from the service at Chicago on June 14, 1865.
Immediately after the close of the war Mr. Asquith located in Mercer county, Illinois, where he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres.
He continued to live in this county until 1881, when he moved to Shelby county, Iowa, and secured one hundred and sixty acres of unimproved land in
Lincoln township. He improved this farm and lived on it until 1901, when he retired and moved to Harlan, where he is now living. In addition to his
farm in this county, he owns a quarter section in Kossuth county, Iowa.
Mr. Asquith was married February 24, 1870, to Sarah E. Roth. She was a daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Parker) Roth, and was born in Milton, Pennsylvania, both of her parents being natives of the same state. Mr. Roth moved from his native state to Rock Island county, Illinois, and lived there until his death in 1887, his wife having died in 1859. Mr. Roth and his wife reared a family of seven children: Jessie, Mary, Margaret, Sarah, Harriett, Rebecca and Reuben. Mr. Asquith and wife are the parents of eight children: Benjamin S., who is a teacher in the high school at Council Bluffs, Iowa, married Nell Anderson, and has two children, Harold and Homer.; Oliver N., now living at home; Lena A., at home; Ethel E., at home; Winfield, a veterinary surgeon of What Cheer, Iowa, who married Edna Moore; Guy T., also a veterinary surgeon located at Farmington, Iowa, who married Maude Proper; Edith F., the wife of Nat Chresman, of Neola, Iowa; Alma D., a teacher in the schools of Oskaloosa, Iowa. The two Sons who are veterinary surgeons are both graduates of the Chicago Veterinary College, and are leaders in their profession in their respective communities.
Politically, Mr. Asquith is a stanch Republican and has ever been active in the political affairs of his county. He and his family are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He always has been interested in everything pertaining to the civic welfare of his township, and has filled several township offices with credit to himself and satisfaction to his fellow citizens. Mr. Asquith is an enthusiastic member of the Grand Army of the Republic post at Harlan.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1366 - 1368.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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