Ferry |
Findlay |
Fiscus |
Fish |
Frank |
A Frederickson |
J Frederickson |
A Frees |
H Frees |
Fromm |
Garst |
Gawley
The great Hoosier state of Indiana has furnished many excellent citizens
for Shelby county, Iowa. Among this number, Isaac Ferry, a prosperous
farmer of Douglas township, occupies a prominent place. Like his sterling
father before him he has been a man of well-defined purpose and never failed
to carry to successful completion any work or enterprise to which he addressed himself. He has so lived in this county that his life has been a most
commendable one in every respect and well deserving of being perpetuated
on the pages of his county's history.
Isaac Ferry, the son of William and Mary (Kriebel) Ferry, was born
in Clay county May 1, 1874. His parents were natives of Pennsylvania and
Ohio, respectively, and located in Clay county, Indiana, after their marriage
and remained there until 1882. At that time William Ferry and his family
moved to Iowa and settled in Crawford county, where he continued to farm
until his death, in 1892. He met his death as a result of a cyclone which
swept over Crawford county in that year. William Ferry and his wife reared
a family of ten children, nine of whom married and are rearing families of
their own: Charles, whose history is presented elsewhere in this volume;
Isaac, of Douglas township; Nancy, the wife of John Grage; Albert, who
married Rosa Anderson; Wilkin, who married Florence Clark; Oliver, who
married Della Deborn; Edward, who married Pearl Ames; George, who married Iva Baughman; Grace, deceased; and Viola, the wife of August Frank,
living at Irwin.
Isaac Ferry was eight years of age when his parents moved from Clay
county, Indiana, to Crawford county, Iowa, consequently he received his
education in the public schools of both states. After the death of his father
he worked on the home farm for six years and then worked out for the next
fifteen years on the farms in Crawford county. He and his brother then
rented five hundred and fifty-five acres in Shelby county, where they farmed
together until three years ago. At that time Mr. Ferry moved on his present
farm in Douglas township, in Shelby county, where he is now residing. He
raises about sixty-five acres of corn each year, which will average fifty
bushels to the acre and feeds most of his corn to his hogs. He engages in
general farming and stock raising and has met with success commensurate
with his well directed efforts.
Mr. Ferry was married November 26, 1911, to Nora Blaine, the daughter of Lewis and Eliza (Smith) Blaine. Lewis Blaine was born in Perry
county, Pennsylvania, January 25, 1841. His wife was born in the same
county in 1845. Three children were born to Lewis Blaine and wife: Anna,
who married Thomas Moller and after his death James Woods; Edgar, who
married Pearl Carter; and Nora, the wife of Mr. Ferry. The reader is referred to the history of William E. Blaine, elsewhere in this history, for
further details concerning the Blaine family.
Mr. Ferry and his wife are loyal members of the Methodist Episcopal
church at Kirkman. Fraternally, he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of
America and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Politically, he gives
his loyal support to the Republican party but always has preferred to devote
his time and energy to his agricultural pursuits rather than to political matters. However, he favors everything which he feels will benefit his local
community in any way and thus he very properly merits the name of public-spirited citizen.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1332 - 1333.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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For the past twenty-six years, James P. Findlay has been a farmer in
Center township, Shelby county, Iowa. He has a fine farm of two hundred
and forty-seven acres, which ranks with the best farms of the county. He
has made a specialty of stock raising and sells several car loads of stock each
year. He has taken a prominent part in the civic life of this community and
has held several official positions with satisfaction to his fellow citizens.
James P. Findlay, the son of James and Martha (Hamilton) Findlay,
was born in Cedar county, Iowa, May 4, 1860. His parents were both born
in Scotland and were reared and married in their native land. They came
to America one year after their marriage and located in Massachusetts. James
Findlay, Sr., was a weaver by trade, having learned that occupation in his
native land, and after settling in Massachusetts, he continued to follow it.
In 1855 he moved with his family to Cedar county, Iowa, where he bought
a farm of one hundred and twenty acres. Some time later he bought one
hundred and twenty acres in Shelby county, for which he paid eight dollars
an acre. He increased his holdings in Cedar county until he owned two hundred and forty acres at the time of his death in 1890. His wife died in 1884.
Six children were born to James Findlay, Sr., and wife: Agnes, Muriain,
George, William, John and James P.
The education of James P. Findlay was received in Cedar county, Iowa,
and after leaving school, he began farming with his father and remained on
the home farm until he was twenty-one years of age. He then began working out and in 1888 when he married and his father gave him and John one
hundred forty-two and one-half acres in Shelby county, which he and John
farmed for one year. He came to this county with his wife and began to
make improvements upon it. There was not even a house on the farm and
they at once bought a four room house for one hundred and twenty-five dollars in the neighborhood and moved it on with the assistance of twelve yokes
of oxen. It cost him twenty-five dollars to get the house hauled on his farm.
He lived on this farm for five years and then sold it to his brother, John,
and bought one hundred and sixty acres of the farm, on which he is now
living. Since then he has increased it to two hundred and forty-seven acres
and with the five thousand dollars worth of improvements which he had put
upon the farm, he has one of the best equipped farms in the County. In 1914
he had eighty acres of corn which averaged sixty bushels to the acre. He
places on the market each year one hundred head of hogs, a car load of cattle
as well as other live stock. He is a breeder of Black Aberdeen Angus cattle
and in 1914 he had eighty head of thoroughbred Aberdeen cattle on his farm.
He is a member of the Shelby County Fine Stock Exchange and the Aberdeen
Angus Breeders' Association.
Mr. Findlay was married February 16, 1888, to Ida D. Bly, the daughter
of Joseph and Harriett (Slenker) Bly. To this union seven children have
been born, all of whom are still living: Beulah, Walter, Forest, Harold,
Lester, Ruth, and Grace. Beulah is the wife of Hugh Patterson but all the
rest of the children are still single.
The parents of Mrs. Findlay were born in Pennsylvania where her father
followed the trade of a machinist until his death in 1906. Mrs. Findlay's
mother died in 1865. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bly: Mabel,
deceased; one who died in infancy; and Ida D., the wife of Mr. Findlay, who
was born in 1861.
Politically, Mr. Findlay is a stanch member of the Republican party and
has served his fellow citizens as trustee of his township and also as a member
of the school board. In both capacities he exhibited excellent administrative
ability and performed the duties of both offices in such a way as to bring
much credit to himself. The family are members of the Congregational
church.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1115 - 1117.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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It is inevitable that some one individual or individuals in every community shall be selected to take the lead in any movement for the betterment of social and civic conditions and this duty generally falls upon those
younger men who seem best adapted by training and inherent natural abilities to head all worthy movements which have a tendency to make life more
enjoyable and livable for their fellow citizens and neighbors. In his home
community Paaren Fiscus takes rank as one of the leaders among his fellows
and is heading a movement which is destined to bring about a more neighborly spirit and promote that genuine social feeling which is essential to the
well-being of every neighborhood. Mr. Fiscus is one of the rising young
auctioneers of Shelby county, and while yet at the beginning of his career
there is hardly a doubt that he is destined to achieve a splendid success in
his chosen profession.
Paaren Fiscus, farmer and auctioneer of Polk township, Shelby county,
Iowa, was born in Douglas township, Audubon county, September 11, 1880,
the son of Adam and Mahulda (Elsberry) Fiscus, both of whom were natives of Indiana. Adam Fiscus was born in 1843 in Indiana and came to
Iowa in the early seventies and settled in Marshall county in 1875. Some
years later he went to Audubon county and settled on a farm where he
resided for a number of years and was one of the pioneer settlers of that
county. He resided on this fine farm until 1902 when he moved to Harlan
county, Nebraska, and invested in a tract of two hundred acres of land. To
Mr. and Mrs. Adam Fiscus fourteen children were born, as follows: Mrs.
Florence Fiscus, residing in Cheyenne county, Nebraska; Frank, who died in
Colorado; Edward and Mert in Nebraska; Mrs. Clara Fiscus, of Farson, Wyoming; Roy, residing in Cheyenne county, Nebraska; Paaren; Earl, married,
and living in Harlan county, Nebraska; Mrs. Lessie Moore, Denver, Colorado; Harlan; Elmer and Elba, twins, of whom Elba is deceased; Ethel and
Nettie, all of whom, with the exception of those whose residence is otherwise
designated, reside in Harlan county, Nebraska. All the members of this
very large family have received a good education and are possessed of musical ability. The Fiscus family is one of the happiest in the world and the
musical talent in evidence among the members of the family enables them
to maintain an orchestra of their own.
Paaren Fiscus received his education in the district schools of Douglas
township, Audubon county and Liberty High School. He remained on the
home farm and assisted his father until 1903 when he accompanied his father to the new home in Nebraska. Here he operated a threshing outfit
for three seasons, having previously invested in the necessary machinery in
1902. After staying three years in Nebraska he returned to Iowa and has
since made his home in Polk township where he has been engaged in farming and operating a threshing machine. Mr. Fiscus operates a farm of
eighty acres owned by his father-in-law, A. A. Mitten. Recently he pursued
a course in auctioneering in the Jones National School of Auctioneering of
Chicago and has undertaken to carve out a successful career in this profession. Mr. Fiscus also has given considerable attention to the practice of
veterinary surgery in his neighborhood.
Mr. Fiscus was married in 1906 to Anna Mitten, the daughter of A. A.
Mitten, a resident of Polk township, Shelby county. To this union have
been born four children: Elvie, Elmer, Iloff, and Ivan.
Though Mr. Fiscus on general principles is allied with the Democratic
party, he is an independent voter who believes that the qualities of the individual candidate for office should be paramount above party considerations.
Mrs. Fiscus is a member of the Church of Christ. Mr. Fiscus has been very
active in the social and civic life of his neighborhood, and is looked upon
as a leader in many ways. He has organized and promoted a threshing
machine company among the neighboring farmers which is a very successful
co-operative affair. In addition to this he is president of the Polk Township
Protective Association, which now comprises fifty members and meets at the
call of the president. This association has for its object the promotion of
social enjoyment and fraternal benefits to its members and regular bi-weekly
meetings of a social and literary character are held during the winter season.
The success of this society is due in a great measure to the activity and influence of Mr. Fiscus in promoting its organization. While Mr. Fiscus is a
young man, practically at the beginning of his career, it is safe to say that
he is one of the rising citizens of Shelby county, not only destined to achieve
fame as an auctioneer but to take first rank among the leaders of his county.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1383 - 1385.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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A distinguished veteran of the Civil War and a man prominent in the
affairs of Shelby county, Iowa, for many years, is Edward F. Fish. As a
young man he taught school before the Civil War and served through practically the whole of the terrible struggle between the states. He has been a
resident of Shelby county since 1867, and has been prominently identified
with every phase of the county's history since that time. He always has
taken a prominent part in Republican politics, and has held various official
positions. Mr. Fish is one of the best informed men in the county on the
early history of this section of Iowa.
Edward F. Fish, the son of Mason and Clarissa (Lyon) Fish, was
born January 11, 1835, in Warren county, Pennsylvania. His father was a
native of Cayuga county, New York, his birth having occurred in 1805, and
his death in Shelby county, Iowa, August 16, 1876. His mother was born
in Onondaga county, New York, in 1814, and died in Shelby county, Iowa,
February 29, 1882. Mason Fish and wife both grew to maturity in their
native state, and were married at Pine Grove, Warren county, Pennsylvania,
in 1832. In 1845 they moved from Warren county, Pennsylvania, and located in Summit county, Ohio, where Mason Fish became one of the superintendents on the canal which had been built from Cleveland, Ohio, on Lake
Erie to Portsmouth, on the Ohio river. After serving two years as canal
superintendent, Mason Fish moved with his family to Kane county, Illinois,
where he lived for four years, after which he moved to Grant county, Wisconsin, where he followed farming for fourteen years, after which he went
to Shelby county, Iowa, in 1867, and lived there until his death. Upon coming to Shelby county he purchased eighty acres of unimproved land in Clay
township, erected a rude cabin and started in to make his fortune in this
broad and treeless prairie. Mason Fish was a Democrat until the organization of the Republican party. He became a Free and Accepted Mason
at Muscoda and then transferred to Boscobel, Wisconsin, in 1858, and was
active in Masonic work during the remainder of his life. Nine children
were born to Mason Fish and wife: Rumina, died 1913, who married John
Mitchell; Edward F., with whom this narrative deals; Henry, now living a
retired life at Des Moines, Iowa; Annar, wife of Louis Kellogg, and a resident of Marne, Iowa; John, a farmer at Ord, Nebraska; Mary, deceased,
who was the wife of John Hageman; George, a farmer in Clay township,
this county; Russell, deceased; Dorleska, deceased, who was the wife of
George R. Stevenson.
Edward F. Fish received his education in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois
and Wisconsin. He remained at home until he was twenty-one years of age
and then followed farming pursuits, also teaching school in Wisconsin until
he enlisted for service in the Civil War. He first enlisted in February, 1862,
in Company F, Third Regiment Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. He was
sent to Harrison, Virginia, taking part in the engagement at Strasburg and
later at Winchester. Subsequently his regiment participated in engagements
at Williamsport, Warrington, Cedar Mountain, Harper's Ferry and Strasburg in Virginia.
From Strasburg his regiment went to Harper's Ferry, thence to Culpeper Court House across the mountains, thence nine miles south to Cedar
Mountain then to Rappahannock Station. He was wounded at the Battle of
Beverly Station and was transferred to Bellevue Hospital, New York city.
He returned to the camp of his Regiment on Antietam Creek and next
marched to Warren. On the march to Frederick, in the fall of 1862 Mr.
Fish was taken sick and was confined in a hospital at Washington, D. C., for
six weeks before being able to rejoin his regiment. He was discharged on
account of disability in the spring of 1863 and then went to Geneva, Illinois, where he worked at the Kane county poor farm for a year. He then
re-enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, at Batavia, Illinois, and was at once sent to Mobile,
Alabama, to the Spanish fort at that place. In the fall of 1865 he was transferred to Company F, Thirty-third Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry,
and was finally discharged from the service in December, 1865.
Immediately after leaving the army Mr. Fish returned to Grant county,
Wisconsin, where he lived until his marriage in 1867. He at once came to
Shelby county, Iowa, and purchased forty acres of unimproved land in Clay
township, put up a rude cabin and he and his wife started in to make a living on their little farm. They added to their holdings from year to year
until they retired from the farm in 1890 and moved to Harlan, where they
have lived for the past twenty-five years. Mr. Fish sold his well-improved
farm of one hundred and twenty-three acres in 1896. Since moving to Harlan he has been engaged in office work to an extensive character and has
served as justice of the peace for several years.
Mr. Fish was married April 21, 1867, to Ann Marie Berger, who was
the daughter of Daniel and Catherine E. (Miller) Berger, born in Erie
county, New York. Her parents were both born in Germany and came to
America in 1848, locating first in Erie county, New York, and later moving to Rock county, thence to Richland county, Wisconsin, where both died.
They were the parents of eleven children. Five children were born to Edward Fish and wife. Clarissa, the wife of John Lamer, of this county;
Charles, a farmer of Ute, Iowa, who married Etta Dunnington; Edith, the
wife of Oscar Ralph, of San Jose, California; Florence, the wife of Robert
Hargraves, of San Jose, California, and John E., who married Winifred Allison, of San Francisco, California.
Politically, Mr. Fish always has been a staunch Republican, and has
been very active in local politics in his county. He is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons at Harlan, and also belongs to the Royal
Arch Masons. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic Post at
Harlan, and has held all of the offices in the local post. He and his wife
are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and have always been interested in the activities of that organization.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1381 - 1383.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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The following is the sketch of a plain honest man of affairs who by correct methods in his business enterprise and a strict regard for the relationship
existing between himself and his fellow men, is attaining success in his undertaking and has won for himself distinctive prestige in his community. He
would be the last man to sit for romance or become the subject of fancy
sketches, nevertheless his life presents much that is interesting and valuable
and may he studied with profit by the young, whose careers are yet to be
achieved. He is one of those whose integrity and strength of character win
for them an admiration which their modesty never seeks, who command the
respect of their friends and leave the impress of their individuality stamped
upon the community.
Henry Frank, a farmer of Jefferson township, Shelby county, Iowa,
is a native of the great German Empire, born on March 22, 1875, the son of
Charles and Wilhelmina (Allery) Frank. The parents came to this country
when the subject of the sketch was but seven years old. They found a location in Pottawattamie county, Iowa, where for some years the father worked
out among the neighboring farmers by the day. In this way he got his start
and finally was able to fit himself out for farming on his own account, renting
land for that purpose. He succeeded well in his undertaking and later purchased two hundred and ninety-five acres in Shelby county, west of Irwin,
on which he passed the remainder of his life in farming. His widow survived him and a few years after his death she became the wife of Thomas
Gawley. There were originally ten children in the Frank family, two of
whom died in early childhood. The remaining ones are Ernest, Frieda
(Mrs. Nordby), Charles, Henry (who is fifth in the order of birth), Martha
(Mrs. Greve), Mamie (Mrs. Gawley), August and John. During the years
of his residence here, Charles Frank, father of the subject, made a name for
himself as a man of industry, sobriety and strict integrity. He arrived in
this county with very little in the way of worldly goods and in a comparatively few years he had gained for himself a competence. In the meantime
he reared a promising family of sons and daughters.
Henry Frank remained under the parental roof until the time of his
marriage, assisting the father in the work about the home. He too chose
the vocation of farming as that of his life work and for seven years after
marriage he lived on rented land. He then purchased one hundred and
twenty acres located in sections 33 and 34 of Jefferson township, Shelby
county, and here he has since made his home. He carries on general farming, paying particular attention to those crops most favored by this section
and being especially fortunate with his crops of oats and corn. He also gives
considerable attention to the raising of stock, and his success in this line is
commensurate with the care and attention devoted to it.
Mr. Frank chose as his life companion Anna Arp, born January 6, 1879,
in Clinton county, Iowa, daughter of Edward and Elizabeth (Blakely) Arp,
with whom he was united in marriage on February 18, 1903. Mrs. Frank
is one of a family of six children, two of whom are dead, the others being
John, Henry and Mabel. To Mr. and Mrs. Frank have been born two daughters, Agnes, born November 17, 1903, and Mabel, born May 27, 1905. Both
are promising little girls and being a man of marked domestic traits, devoted
to home and family, Mr. Frank is especially desirous that these little daughters shall receive good education, and be well trained in all that makes for
useful and beautiful womanhood.
Politically, Mr. Frank is a stanch supporter of the Republican party,
although his inclinations do not prompt him to take an active part in its
affairs. He is a man of quiet though genial disposition and enjoys the
friendship of a wide circle of acquaintances. His life has been one of unceasing industry and perseverance and he has worked his way from an
humble beginning to his present station in life, which renders him the more
worthy of the praise that is duly accorded him by his fellow men.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 841 - 843.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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One of the younger farmers of Shelby county is Arthur Frederickson of
Center township, a farmer who believes in keeping fully abreast of the times
in agricultural matters. Born of Danish parents, he has inherited the sterling
characteristics which have made the people of his nation famous the world
over for their thrift.
Arthur Frederickson, the son of Lars and Anna (Johnson) Frederickson, was born in 1885, in Earling, Iowa. His father and mother were both
born in Denmark, the former in 1842 and the latter in 1852. Lars Frederickson was reared to manhood and married in his native land, coming to this
country in 1877 and settling in Iowa. He located at Avoca and at once began
work on a new railroad which was being constructed through Iowa at that
time. He worked on the railroad for four years and then moved to Defiance,
where he worked upon a farm for a year. He then moved to Earling and
bought a farm on which he lived until 1890. In that year he sold it and
bought one hundred and sixty acres in Center township. On this farm he
placed extensive improvements and lived until 1910, when he retired from
active farm life and moved to Harlan, his wife having died in 1908.
Arthur Frederickson is one of nine children born to his parents, eight
of whom are still living. He received all of his education in the schools of
his home township and remained at home helping, his father until he was
twenty-two years of age. He then began farming for himself by living on a
rented farm. After renting two years he took charge of his father's farm
of one hundred and sixty acres in Center township. He is raising all of the
crops which are grown in this section of the state and keeps high grade stock
of all kinds.
Mr. Frederickson was married in 1910 to Lillian Spence. She is the
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Spence and was born in 1884 in Madison,
Nebraska. Mr. Frederickson and his wife attend the Methodist Episcopal
church. Fraternally, he is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted
Masons; politically, he allies himself with the Republican party although he
has never been an office seeker. Mr. Frederickson is still a young man and
his efforts in the past indicate that he has a long and prosperous career before
him.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 821 - 822.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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Click photo to enlarge
A wonderful transformation has taken place in the appearance of Shelby county during the past forty years and the men who lived through
the seventies in this county can tell many interesting incidents of the privations and discouragements which faced the early pioneers. John F. Fred-
rickson came into Shelby county with his parents in 1869 when he was a lad of three and his whole life since that time excepting three and one-half years in Cass county has been spent within the county. He started in at the time of his marriage twenty years ago as a renter and by incessant Industry and good management he has accumulated a farm of three hundred and sixty acres in Clay township on which he has placed many extensive improvements. He has not only made a success in a material way, but as a public-spirited citizen of his township, he has taken an active part in everything pertaining to its civic development as well. He has served in various township offices and in every instance has given satisfactory service to his fellow citizens.
John F. Fredrickson, the son of Andrew C. and Anna K. (Anderson) Fredrickson, was born in Denmark November 7, 1865. His father was born in the same country in 1838 and his mother was also a native of Denmark, her birth occurring there in 1836. Andrew C. Frederickson came to America with his family in the spring of 1869 and first located in Shelby county, Iowa. However, he only remained in this county one year and then moved to Cass
county, where he was engaged in railroad section work for three and one-half years. In the spring of 1874 he came back to Shelby county and bought
land in Clay township at two and one-half and three dollars an acre. In spite of the many discouragements which met him year after year he prospered, and at the time of his death in 1912 he was the owner of four hundred and forty acres of excellent: land in this county. His wife, Anna K. Anderson, to whom he was married in 1851, is still living on the old homestead in this county with her son, Lawrence. Three sons were born to Andrew C. Fredrickson and wife, Andrew C., Jr., John F. and Lawrence. Lawrence was born in Iowa and the other two sons in Denmark.
John F. Frederickson was educated in the schools of Shelby county, and after leaving school remained at home on the farm until his marriage,
in 1894. He then rented a farm and began farming for himself, although he began at once to make plans to buy a farm of his own. By 1900 he had
saved enough money to make a payment on a farm, and accordingly started to purchase land, and as he prospered year by year he added to his acreage until he is now the owner of three hundred and sixty acres of well-improved and highly-productive land in Clay township. By the judicious application of modern farming methods he has gained satisfactory results from his efforts, and each succeeding year finds him more prosperous than the past year.
Mr. Frederickson was married on March 18, 1894, to Bentena Hansen, who was born in Shelby county on January 15, 1869, and to this union four
children have been born, Edwin C., Harry F. and John Emory, all of whom are still single and living with their parents. One daughter, Wilfred, is deceased.
Mrs. Frederickson is the daughter of Peter M. and Bergetta (Peterson) Hansen, natives of Denmark. Her father came to America in 1866 and was married at Racine, Wisconsin. They located in Shelby county, Iowa, in April of 1866 and bought eighty acres of land in Monroe township. Mr. Hansen became a large land owner, owning two hundred and forty acres in Clay township and three hundred and twenty acres in Nebraska. Peter M. was born in 1832 and died in May, 1904. His widow, born 1835, resides in Maine. Their children are as follows, two living out of eight born: Mrs. Mary Kainer and Mrs. Bentina Frederickson.
Politically, Mr. Frederickson gives his loyal support to the Democratic party, and for many years has been one of his party's leaders in local affairs. He has served as assessor for ten years in Clay township and was the only Democrat during that time to hold a public office. He has been
school director of Clay township for a number of years, and for the past two years has been secretary of the school board. In every position where
Mr. Frederickson has found himself he has measured up to the full standard of American citizenship and is in every way worthy of being included among the representative men of his county.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1312 - 1314.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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The history of the state of Iowa is not an ancient one. It is the record
of the steady growth of a community planted on the broad and rolling acres
in the last century and reaching its magnitude of today without other aids
than those of continued industry. Each county has its share in the story and
every county can lay claim to some incident or transaction which goes to
make up the history of the commonwealth. The history of any state or
nation is primarily but a history of the doings of its people, among whom
the sturdy pioneers and their descendants occupy places of no secondary
importance. The story of the plain, common people who constitute the
moral bone and sinew of the state should ever attract attention and prove
of interest to all true lovers of their kind. The man whose life history the
biographer now takes under consideration is one of those strong, sturdy characters who have contributed largely to the high moral tone of the community in which he lives. Perseverance and sterling worth are almost sure
to win conspicuous recognition in all localities and during the time Asmus
Frees has been a resident of this county his manner of life has been such as
to win the confidence and respect of those with whom he has come in contact.
A native of Germany, Mr. Frees was born on January 9, 1864, near
Schleswig, the son of Henry and Marie (Rasmus) Frees. The elder Frees
was twice married, the subject being the only surviving child by the first
marriage, and after the death of subject's mother, the father took as his
second wife Maria Tiedermann, who bore him six children. The Frees family
was of the farmer class and young Asmus remained under the parental roof
until 1884, when he entered the army to serve the three years demanded by
that nation from all its male subjects. Upon the expiration of his term of
service he returned to his father's home and within a short time, on April
11, 1888, was married. He chose as his bride Christina Jensen, a childhood
friend, daughter of Henry and Anna (Eggers) Jensen and one of a family
of four children. The parents never came to this country. Anna, one of the
daughters, became Mrs. Hendrickson, Marie (deceased) was Mrs. Ewald
and Catherine is Mrs. Jengensen.
For five years after marriage Mr. Frees was employed in a brick yard
near the place of his birth and at the end of that time had decided to try his
fortunes in the new world. He landed in this country in 1894, first locating
in Avoca, this state, where he remained until 1897. He then decided to
engage in farming on his own account and secured the rental of a tract of
one hundred and sixty acres located in section 10 of Polk township, Shelby
county, where he has since continued to make his home. In 1901 he purchased the place and since that time has remodeled the dwelling and entirely
rebuilt all the farm buildings. This land lies high and is naturally well
drained, there being only about forty rods of tiling on the place. Mr. Frees
is uniformly successful in the raising of the various crops best adapted to
this locality, his success in this line marking him as a farmer of no mean
ability. He finds the raising of live stock a quite lucrative side line and has
twelve head of horses, about fifty head of cattle and usually has for the market fully one hundred hogs annually. He is well posted on all that pertains
to his chosen work and is eminently deserving of the success which has come
to him.
Mr. and Mrs. Frees are the parents of three children, , the eldest of
whom, Marie, was born on January 30, 1889. She is the wife of Lars
Hodne and lives in Jefferson township, this county. To them has been born
one child, a son Harold. Margaretha, the second daughter, was born on
February 12, 1891. She married Philip Mortensen and lives in Greeley
township. To them have been born two children, Elmer and Earl. Anna,
the youngest of the family, was born on July 30, 1892, became the wife of
Hans Peterson and has one, child, Norman, born August 29, 1914. She
makes her home with subject.
Mr. Frees and his entire family are members of the Lutheran church
and are active in the work of the local society, giving liberally of time and
means to further its interests. He is not allied with any political party for
the reason that on account of being a pensioner of the German army he has
never taken out naturalization papers. Mr. Frees is a man of quiet temperament and marked domestic traits and his support can he counted on for every
movement that tends to further the best interests of the community in which
he lives. A man of undoubted honesty and integrity, he has so conducted his
affairs as to reap a gratifying return for his labor and has come to a place
where he can quietly enjoy the fruits of his former labors.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1400 - 1402.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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One great exemplification of the fact that wealth attends upon industry
and that comfort is a close follower in the wake of thrift is shown in the
brief sketch of Henry Frees, one of the most progressive farmers of this
section. Some of the best economic traits of our cosmopolitan population
are those possessed most markedly perhaps by the Teutonic races and these
excellent traits seem to be centered in Mr. Frees to an unusual degree, which,
coupled with excellent business ability, have won for him an enviable degree
of success.
Henry Frees, accounted one of the leading farmers of his locality, is a
native of the great German empire, born in that land on February 19, 1884,
near Schleswig, the son of Heinrich and Maria (Tiedemann) Frees. The
father's vocation was that of farming in which work he continued for about
thirty years and then retired to a well deserved rest. In 1898 the family
emigrated to this country, coming direct to this state, where they located in
Polk township, Shelby county and here the father purchased a farm of two
hundred and four acres in section 3. Here the family has since resided, the
active management of the place falling upon the capable shoulders of Henry
Frees. Before coming to this country, Mr. Frees had received from his father
most careful training in the ways of the successful farmer and when the
operation of the home farm in this country devolved upon him, he brought to
bear in his endeavor the best of his ability. Mr. Frees is progressive in his
methods, employing only such as have been approved by long usage or the
experiments of modern science as applied to agriculture. He puts his greatest efforts into general farming and is uniformly successful with his crops.
To assist in the work about the place he keeps twelve head of horses of good
stock and is at present feeding about one hundred hogs for the market in
addition to forty head of cattle. In common with other up-to-date farmers,
he believes in having all live stock about the place of good strain, which produces the greatest returns for intelligent care and attention bestowed.
Mr. Frees is unmarried. There were originally thirteen children in his father's family, his father having been twice married. There are still
seven of them living, all own brothers and sisters excepting Asmus Frees, who is a half-brother. Chris, Marguerite, John, Henry, Maria and Erna,
together with Henry, still remain with the parents.
Henry Frees is a stanch advocate of the principles of the Republican party and is well informed on current events. He has not, however, sought
the honor of public office, feeling his best interests were served in devoting his time wholly to his parents and the operation of their farm. In his business he is highly successful and his unselfish devotion to those nearest to him has won for him an enviable place in the regard of all who know him. The family are members of the German Lutheran church and are actively interested in the work of that society. They are recognized as among the prosperous and useful residents of Polk township and have a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. Mr. Frees for a man of his years has attained a flattering degree of success, which coupled with his untarnished honor and integrity, argue well for his future career.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 807 - 808.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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One of the youngest, if not the youngest farmer of Shelby county, Iowa, is Peter J. Fromm, who, although young in years, has shown that he has the
ability to manage his large farm. He is descended from an honored German family of the county, his parents having come from their native land and settled in Shelby county thirty years ago. His father was one of the most successful farmers of the county and at the time of his death was the owner of four hundred and fifty acres of well improved land in Douglas township.
Peter J. Fromm, the son of Joseph and Katherine (Schechinger) Fromm, was born February 1, 1891, on the farm where he is now living. His father
was one of the many thrifty German settlers of this county who have put this county where it is today along agricultural lines. He was an extensive stock raiser and at his death in 1902 was classed among the most substantial men of his township. His widow is living in Westphalia township with her daughter, Mrs. Mary Klein. Joseph Fromm and wife were the parents of ten children: John, Mary, Joseph, Jacob, Martin, Bernard, Michael, Peter, Cecil and Vitus. All of these children, except Bernard, who died at the age of nine, are still living.
Peter J. Fromm attended the country schools of his home township during the winter season and worked on his father's farm during his summer vacations. In this way he acquired an intimate knowledge of the various phases of agriculture, so that when he started in to farm for himself in the
spring of 1914, he was thoroughly capable of doing excellent work on the farm. His farm is well adapted to stock raising and has as good a supply of water as any farm in the county. He has several driven wells on his farm, from which he derives a never failing supply of pure water. He raises a large amount of stock each year, and although a novice in the business, yet has already demonstrated that he is an excellent stock raiser. He owns two hundred and eighty-four acres in Douglas and Greeley townships, all but forty acres being in a good state of cultivation. He raises black Polled Angus cattle, Duroc Jersey red hogs and Percheron horses. Mr. Fromm is a young man of excellent physique and is one of the best athletes in the country. He has made a specialty of wrestling and has established a record in this line which has extended beyond the limits of his county. Mr. Fromm is a member of the Catholic church, and also of the Knights of Columbus, and takes a great deal of interest in the affairs of this Catholic fraternal organization. He is a young man on the very threshold of life and has brilliant prospects for the future.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 840 - 841.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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Shelby county, Iowa, has attracted farmers from all sections of the United States as well as from many countries of Europe. From the state of
Ohio there have come many farmers who have made Shelby county their home. Among these Ira D. Garst, who is now living a retired life in Harlan,
occupies a prominent place. Coming to this county about thirty years ago, he has devoted most of his life since then to agricultural pursuits, his labors meeting with a degree of success indicative of his enterprising and progressive
methods.
Ira D. Garst, the son of John and Mary (Bozarth) Garst, was born September 30, 1858, in Clarke county, Ohio. His parents both of whom
were natives of Ohio, spent all of their lives in the state of their birth, his father dying in 1881 and his mother in 1908. Ten children were born to
John Garst and wife: Abraham, Ezra, Marion, Ira, Jasper N., Anna, Ella, Etta, Allie and Emma. Of these children, Ezra died in infancy, while the
others grew to maturity.
Ira D. Garst was educated in the public schools of Clarke county, Ohio, and after leaving school farmed with his father for three years. He then
married and came at once to Shelby county, Iowa, where he first worked as a farm hand. A year later he bought eighty acres in Center township and
began farming for himself. As he prospered from year to year, he added to his land holdings until he owned two hundred and eighty acres in this
county. He gave much of his attention to stock raising and annually fattened for the market about seventy-five head of hogs and a car load of
cattle. In 1914 he sold his farm in this county and retired to Harlan, where he is now living. He still owns three hundred and twenty acres of land in
Oklahoma, to which he gives his general supervision.
Mr. Garst was married January 13, 1884, to Eliza Ebersole, the daughter of Peter and Hannah (Prantz) Ebersole. Mr. Garst and his wife have
one adopted daughter, Mabel, who is still living with them.
Mrs. Garst was born in Ohio, as were her parents, and lived there until her marriage. Her father is deceased, while her mother is still living in
Ohio. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Ebersole: Phoebe, Daniel, Saloma; Sophia, John P., Eliza, Henry, Jay Scott and Willis E. All of these
children are still living with the exception of Henry.
Mr. Garst and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Politically, Mr. Garst is a Republican, and while interested in everything
pertaining to good government has never taken an active part in the political affairs in this county. His life, since coming to this county, has been one of unceasing industry and perseverance and the systematic and honorable methods which he has followed have won for him the unbounded confidence and regard of all who have formed his acquaintance.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1324 - 1325.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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It is generally considered by those who are given to indulging the habit of superficial thinking that only the history of so-called great men is worthy
of preservation and that little merit exists among the masses to call forth the praises of the historian or the plaudits and the appreciation of mankind. A greater mistake never was made. No man is great in all things and few men are great in many things. Many by a lucky stroke achieve lasting fame,
who before that time had no reputation beyond the limits of their neighborhoods. It is not a history of the lucky stroke which benefits humanity most,
but the diligent study and ceaseless effort which made the lucky stroke possible. It is the consideration of the preliminary work, the method, that serves as a guide for the success of others. Among those in this county who are winning success along a steady line of action is the subject of this sketch, farmer and stock raiser of Jefferson township, Shelby county, Iowa.
George Gawley was born on February 24, 1876, in Rock Island county, Illinois, son of Thomas J. and Mary Ann (Law) Gawley, both of whom were
natives of County Fermanagh, Ireland. They emigrated to America shortly after their marriage, settling in the county and state above named in 1875.
While on his native sod Thomas T. Gawley had devoted his energies to farming in a small way and quite naturally this vocation appealed to him in the
new country. He passed a few years in Illinois, and then, in 1882, came to Shelby county, Iowa, where he purchased eighty acres of land in section 33
of Jefferson township. He later bought a tract of one hundred and sixty acres and in all owned at one time two hundred and forty acres. He has
two sons and in 1906 he divided the one hundred and sixty-acre tract equally between the two boys, the eastern half falling to the share of George, the
subject of this sketch. In 1909 Thomas J. Gawley retired from the active duties of life and moved to Irwin, where he is passing his days in quiet contentment. Thomas J. Gawley has been married three times. His first wife, Ann Jane Rennisch, died in Ireland in 1874, leaving no children. He then married, secondly, Mary Ann Law, who was the mother of the subject of this biographical narrative, and who died March 21, 1907. The third wife
was Wilhelmina Frank, widow of Carl Frank. The elder Mr. Gawley is a member of the Episcopal church, has always voted the Republican ticket and
for twenty-two years was township trustee of Jefferson township.
Both the subject of this narrative and John J., his brother, have since made their homes on the land given them by the father. George Gawley
carries on general farming and gives particular attention to the raising of live stock. He makes a specialty of full blood registered Duroc Jersey hogs
and exhibits his pens both at county and state fairs. In this way he has established quite a reputation for himself and has been the recipient of a great
many prizes on his animals. He has about one hundred and fifty head of the best hogs in the county. His horses also are of an excellent grade and
Mrs. Gawley devotes considerable time to the poultry business, her favorite breed being Rhode Island Red chickens.
Mr. Gawley chose as his wife Miss Mamie Frank, with whom he was united in marriage on January 24, 1906. She was born December 6, 1884,
in this county, the daughter of Carl and Wilhelmina Frank, both of whom were natives of Germany. They are the parents of nine children, were married in the old country and had a family of five when they emigrated to the new world. To Mr. and Mrs. Gawley have been born three children, namely:
Lucy Leta, born November 2, 1906; George Edward, born April 17, 1909 and Edna Grace, who first saw the light of day on April 22, 1914.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Gawley are identified with the United Brethren church, being active and faithful members of the same and Mr. Gawley's
fraternal affiliation is with the Modern Woodmen of America. Politically, he gives his support to the conservative Republican party, being active in its
local affairs. For several years past he has been a member of the school board and can always be counted upon to give his endorsement to any movement having as its object the advancement of the welfare of any phase of town and community life. Mr. Gawley is a man of good business ability, strict integrity and pleasing personality and because of his genuine worth and high character he has long enjoyed a splendid reputation throughout the community in which he lives, being numbered among the representative men of the township.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1436 - 1437.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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