1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa
Page Index:
Jensen |
Carl Johnson |
Clarence Johnson |
Jones |
Mellerop |
Hess |
Jorgensen |
Kerr |
Kilpatrick |
Hunter |
Kimmen |
Martin |
Lorenz |
Kington
A retired farmer of Harlan, Iowa, of Danish birth who has made a pronounced success of farming in Shelby county, Iowa, is James M. Jensen, who has been a resident of this county since 1869. He came to America the same year in which he was born and here grew to manhood midst the pioneer
conditions of this county. During his long service in. the field of agriculture he succeeded in accumulating a large amount of land and during his active
life ranked among the most enterprising farmers of the county.
James M. Jensen, the son of Paul and Anna Jensen, was born in Denmark, May 10, 1869. His father was a farmer in Denmark and also followed the harness-makers' trade. In, 1869 Paul Jensen and his family came to America and located in Shelby county, where the father died the following
December. Two children were born to Paul Jensen and wife: Mary, the wife of Michael Christensen, and James M.
The education of James M. Jensen was received in Fairview township
in this county and after leaving school he began to work for his uncle, Peter
Jensen, on the farm. He remained with his uncle until his marriage and then
rented a farm of two hundred and twenty-three acres, on which he lived for
ten years. At that time he bought this same farm which he had been renting and subsequently added to his holdings until he owned four hundred and
seventy-three acres of excellent land in two farms, two hundred and forty
acres of which was in Adair county. He continued farming until 1911,
when he moved to Oakland, California, where he remained from March 1,
1911, to December 1, of the same year. He then moved to Selma, California,
where he lived until March 1, 1912, at which time he returned to Iowa and
located in Harlan; where he has since been living. He always was interested
in the raising of thoroughbred Shorthorn cattle and was very successful along
this line of endeavor. He also was an extensive hog raiser and annually
marketed one hundred head of hogs. Recently he disposed of much of his
land but still retains one hundred and eighty-six acres in Center township.
Mr. Jensen was married March 2, 1893, to Sena Knudson, the daughter
of Rev. Soren and Anna Knudson. Mr. Jensen and his wife never have had
any children of their own but have reared three children, to whom they have
given-the best of parental care - Olin, Johanna and Christian.
The wife of Mr. Jensen, as well as her parents, was born in Denmark.
She came to America with her sister, her father and mother following in
1895. Rev. Knudson and wife are now living a retired life in Harlan. He
was a Danish Baptist minister in Denmark and has ministered some in this
country. There were twelve children horn to Rev. Knudson and wife, seven
of whom are still living: Soren, Christian, Morten, Nelson, Anna, Sena
and Stena.
Politically, Mr. Jensen has been a life-long Republican and has always taken an active interest in the civic life of his community. He has served as
school director and also as road supervisor, giving to his fellow citizens in both capacities faithful and conscientious service. He and his wife are loyal members of the Danish Baptist church and have always given it their hearty support. The mother of Mr. Jensen died in July, 1870.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1323 - 1324. Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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One of the youngest and at the same time one of the ablest business men of Harlan, Iowa, is Carl Johnson, proprietor of the Harlan Laundry and
Dry Cleaning works. His father, who was a native of Denmark, came to Shelby county, Iowa, in 1869, and the family have been prominent in the
history of the county since that date. Mr. Johnson has been engaged in business in Harlan only a short time, but has already demonstrated that he has those qualities which always insure success.
Carl Johnson, the son of Christian and Mary E. (Petersen) Johnson,
was born in Fairview township, Shelby county, Iowa, August 24, 1891. He
is one of eight children born to his parents, the others being Martha, Victoria,
Ray, Hulda, Elmer, Clarence and Mabel, deceased. Martha married James
C. Jorgensen, and is the mother of nine children, Marie, Leonard, Dewey,
Norman, Dale, Helen, Elliott, Clarence and Paul. Victoria married Wilder
Morgan and has four children, John, Louis, Russell and Ruth. Ray married
Anna Arnsten, and has three children, Chester, Clifford and Clarence. Hulda
is the wife of Lars Olsen. Elmer married Christina Christensen, and has
five children, Gerald, Melvin, Cecil, Elsie and Everett. Clarence married
Isabel Dahlof. The other children are still single.
Christian Johnson was born in Denmark, December 11, 1849, the son of
Jens and Maria (Hendricksen) Johnson. In 1869 Christian Johnson came
to America and immediately located in Shelby county, Iowa, where he followed farming until his death. His parents reared a family of seven children: Louis, Christian, Henry, Anna Katherine, Carrie, Inger Catherine and
Clara Christina. Christian Johnson came to America at the age of seventeen
and was married after he located in Shelby county, Iowa. He bought eighty
acres of land, for which he paid ten dollars an acre, and later increased his
holdings to one hundred and sixty acres, and lived on this farm until his death
August 16, 1895; He was married September 7, 1873, to Mary E. Petersen,
the daughter of Mad and Anna Marie (Christiansen) Petersen, who was a
native of Denmark, born January 4, 1851, and came to this country with her
parents in 1871, and located in Shelby county in Cuppy's Grove. Three children were born to the parents of Mrs. Christian Johnson: Petrie, Marie and
Anna, the wife of Mr. Johnson.
Carl Johnson was educated in the schools of Fairview township, and in
the Harlan city schools. After leaving the high school, he was a traveling
salesman for five years. and then returned to Harlan and became interested
in the dry cleaning business. In 1913 he installed a modern dry cleaning
plant at a cost of two thousand dollars and has one of the best equipped
plants for this kind of work in the state. In August 1914, he bought the
Harlan Steam Laundry, and is now running the two establishments together.
He is building up a good business, and is rapidly forging to the front as one
of the best business men of the city.
Mr. Johnson was married September 11, 1913, to Lulu Sheets, the daughter of Albert and Catherine Sheets, and to this union has been born one daughter, Mary Ann.
Fraternally, Mr. Johnson is a member of the Loyal Order of Moose, while politically, he gives his support to the Democratic party. He is now
barely past his majority, and consequently has never been active in political matters. However, he is an intelligent young man and takes a deep interest in everything which pertains to the welfare of his city.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1129 - 1130. Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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There can be no question but that the farmer leads the most independent
life, for while men in nearly every other occupation are consumers, he is
essentially a producer. He it is who makes it possible for the men of other
occupations to live and without him there would soon be a total cessation of
every industry. We are directly dependent on the farmer for our daily
bread and meat, for our milk and butter, for the shoes on our feet and the
hats on our heads. Shelby county is one of the great producers of food
and clothing products in Iowa and one of the farmers of this county who is
doing his share toward making it possible for other people to live is Clarence
C. Johnson, of Center township.
Clarence Johnson, the son of Christian and Elsie M. (Peterson) Johnson, was born in 1884 in Fairview township in this county. His father was
born in Denmark in 1861 and his mother in the same country in 1852. Christian Johnson came to America in 1871, bought land in Fairview township and farmed on it until his death in 1895. His widow is now living in Harlan.
Clarence C. Johnson was educated in the schools of his home township
and when fifteen years of age started out to make his own way. For six
years he worked upon farms in his immediate neighborhood and then bought
eighty acres of land in Douglas township. When he married in 1909 he sold
this farm and purchased another one of eighty acres in Center township.
He keeps a good grade of live stock and carries on a general system of
farming.
Mr. Johnson was married September 16, 1908, to Isabelle Dahlof. She is the daughter of Helmfred Dahlof and was born in this county in 1884.
Her father is a retired farmer now living in Harlan. Mr. Johnson and his wife attend the Church of Christ. Politically, he is a Republican but has
never been an aspirant for public office. Mr. Johnson is a young man and with the success which has already attended his efforts it is safe to assume
that he will one day be classed among the substantial farmers of his county.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 815 - 816. Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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There is no class to whom greater gratitude is due from the world at large than the self-sacrificing, sympathetic, noble-minded men whose life work
is the alleviation of suffering and the ministering of comfort to the afflicted, to the end that the span of human existence may be lengthened and a great
degree of satisfaction enjoyed during the remainder of their earthly sojourn. There is no standard by which their beneficent influence can be measured;
their helpfulness is limited only by the extent of their knowledge and skill, while their power goes hand in hand with the wonderful laws of nature that
spring from the very source of life itself. Some one has aptly said, "He serves God best who serves humanity most." Among the physicians and
surgeons of Shelby county, Iowa, who have risen to eminence in their chosen field of endeavor is Dr. N. Jasper Jones, whose career is that of a broad-minded, conscientious worker in the sphere to which his life and energies have been devoted and whose profound knowledge of his profession has won for him a leading place among the most distinguished medical men of his day and generation in the city of his residence.
Dr. N. Jasper Jones, a practicing physician for the past thirty years in
this county, was born December 5, 1844, in Clinton county, Indiana. His
parents, Uriah and Elizabeth (Boyle) Jones, were both natives of Virginia,
his mother being born in the western part of the state which was afterward
erected into a new state under the name of West Virginia. Uriah Jones was
left an orphan when a child and made his own way in the world. He became
a contractor and builder in Indiana and followed the same business in Illinois
and Iowa. He migrated to Illinois in 1851 and in the following year he
located in Mt. Vernon, Iowa. He remained in that city until 1854 when he
went to Brooklyn, Iowa, and resided there until his death at the advanced
age of eighty-two years. His wife survived him ten years and was ninety-two years of age at the time of her death. Uriah Jones and wife were the
parents of thirteen children: John, Dr. Uriah, Martin, Timothy, Mattie,
Henry, Eldora, Robert, David, Dr. George, Jacob and Dr. N. Jasper, with
whom this narrative deals.
Doctor Jones was educated in the public schools of Mt. Vernon and
Brooklyn, Iowa, and then decided upon taking a literary course in the State
University at Iowa City. but changed his mind and determined upon entering
the profession of medicine. He taught school for seven years and in this
manner earned sufficient money to pay his expenses through college. He
entered the State University in 1864 and pursued the literary course until
1867. He then entered the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, in 1867,
and studied medicine there for one year, having previously entered upon the
study of medicine in 1864 under Dr. John Conaway, of Brooklyn, Iowa. After
leaving Ann Arbor he began the practice of his profession at Indianola and
for fifteen years he practiced in that city, Brooklyn and Blairstown. In the
year 1883 he again entered the University of Iowa and completed his medical
course, receiving his diploma and resuming his practice in Blairstown in which
city he had located in 1872. In 1884 he came to Shelby county and permanently located in the town of Shelby and has since been in continuous practice of his profession in this county. He keeps well abreast of the latest advances in medical science and is an active member of the American Medical, the State Medical and the Pottawattamie County Medical Societies.
Doctor Jones was married in 1871 to Esther E. Harbison of Indianola,
Iowa, who died in 1877, leaving one child, Lowell H., who married Gertrude
Shively and has one daughter, Gladys. In 1881 he was again married to Alice
J. Cummins of Mechanicsville, Iowa. Mrs. Jones was born in 1851 and was
the daughter of Doctor Frank and Harriet B. Ward, natives of New England.
Two children have been born to this union, Winifred, the wife of J. W. Cook
of Shelby, and Esther L., who is a graduate of the Methodist Episcopal
Church Nurses' Hospital at Omaha, Nebraska.
Fraternally, Doctor Jones is a member of the Independent Odd Fellows
and is prominent in the affairs of this order. He has filled all the chairs in
Odd Fellowship and is one of the leading officials of the fraternity in Iowa.
He has represented his local lodge in the Grand Lodge of the state on several
occasions and was Grand Master of the state of Iowa in 1900 and 1901. He
served as Grand Representative to the Sovereign Grand Lodge at Baltimore
in 1902 and at San Francisco in 1903. Politically, he is a stanch Democrat.
For twenty-one consecutive years he has served as health officer in Shelby
and served as a member of the city council for eleven years. He also has filled the office of county coroner for two, terms of two years each.
Doctor Jones is now past the allotted three score and ten years, yet is hale and hearty and possesses a keen and active intellect undimmed by time
despite his advancing years. Re is a man who is widely known throughout the county and his friends are legion. He is a man of very genial and obliging disposition, kind-hearted and friendly and has that rare sympathetic disposition which makes the successful physician.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 816 - 818. Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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Entirely dependent upon his own resources since coming to this country at the age of twenty-two, Chris C. Mellerop, a native of the kingdom of
Denmark, and one of the well known farmers of Polk township, Shelby county, has attained no insignificant success. Though he has, like most men
of affairs, encountered obstacles and met with reverses, he has pressed steadily forward to the goal he has in view. His tenacity and fortitude are due, no doubt, in a large measure to the worthy traits inherited from sterling ancestors and to his excellent early training. He has sought to perpetuate in every relation of life the high ideals and worthy principles which are his birthright.
Chris C. Mellerop, who first saw the light of day on September 2, 1862, is the son of Christen Christenson and Bandena Christenson, and his early
years were passed under the parental roof. When he was seventeen years of
age he was taken into the home of a rich man who had taken a fancy to him.
This man's name was Lars Mellerop and as he had no sons of his own, he
promised to make young Christenson his heir on condition that he would
assume the name of Mellerop, which he has since borne. However, he did
not succeed in obtaining the estate, although Mr. Mellerop left it to him, as
relatives took the matter to the courts and the question was decided against
the young man.
When twenty-two years of age, Chris C. Mellerop came to this country, coming direct to Shelby county, Iowa, where he had acquaintances and here
he secured work on the farms of the neighborhood, receiving twelve dollars per month for his services. For eighteen months he was so employed and
as he was married at that time, he rented land on which he and his wife made their home. He was a renter for about fifteen years, when he made
the purchase of an eighty acre tract in Greeley township. In 1902 he disposed of that land and bought one hundred and sixty acres in section 10 of
Polk township, where he lived for six years. He then sold this farm to advantage and removed his family to his present farm of two hundred and fifty-three acres in section 5 of Polk township. He engaged in general farming and also pays considerable attention to the raising of live stock. He has
won quite an enviable reputation for himself at the local county fairs on his strain of Aberdeen-Angus cattle, ranking well up among the prize winners.
His hogs and horses are also of a good grade and of the latter he has twenty head. Mr. Mellerop has named his farm the "Spring Brook Farm" on account of the numerous springs that are scattered over his broad acres. This natural running water adds an almost inestimable value to the land and is especially excellent for the live stock.
On February 22, 1885, Mr. Mellerop was united in marriage with Anna Jensen, also a native of Denmark, born on August 5, 1866, the daughter of
N. P. and Christena Jensen. To their union has been born an interesting family of eleven children, four sons and seven daughters. Olga, the eldest
daughter, was born January 15, 1887, and is now the wife of Matthias Sinkey, living about three miles southeast of her father. She is the mother of two
little daughters, Edith and Irene. John, the eldest son of the family, was born May 30, 1889. Carl was born on February 12, 1892, and is located in
Canada. All the rest of the family remain with the parents. Raymond was born February 22, 1894; David, November 21, 1897; Myrtle, April 2,
1899; Gladys, September 15, 1901; Clara, May 15, 1904; Daisy, March 18, 1906; Pearl, December 7, 1909, and the baby of the family, Viola, January
21, 1913.
Religiously, the entire family are identified with the Danish Baptist church and do all within their ability to forward the work of the local organization. Mr. Mellerop's political affiliation is with the Republican party, but he has never sought to render public service along this line for the reason his own affairs have made such urgent demands upon his time he had no opportunity for public work. In addition to the regular work of the home farm, Mr. Mellerop has for several years operated a threshing outfit throughout the threshing season, which has taken him from home considerably. In the spring of 1914 he bought a forty-five horse-power tractor for road grading. Mr. Mellerop is a man of splendid personality and because of his industrious habits and persistent energy he has attained definite success in his chosen vocation and enjoys the respect and esteem of the community in which he resides.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 818 - 820. Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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One of the youngest and most enterprising farmers of Jackson township, Shelby county, Iowa, is Andrew H. Hess, who was born twenty-six
years ago on the same farm where he is now living. He is an enthusiastic farmer and deeply interested in everything which pertains to his chosen occupation. He has inherited those sterling characteristics which mark the Danish farmers of this county.
Andrew H. Hess, the son of Nicholas and Margaret (Hansen) Hess, was born March 18, 1888, on the same farm where he is now living. The
history of Nicholas Hess which is found elsewhere in this volume gives further information concerning the Hess family.
Andrew H. Hess attended school in Jackson township, and as a boy worked upon his father's farm during the summer seasons. He remained
at home until he reached his majority, then married and began renting land from his father. He and his brother first rented six hundred and forty
acres together for a period of two years, after which Andrew H. began renting two hundred and forty acres of the farm on which he is now living.
He raises about seventy-five acres of corn, sixty-five acres of hay and forty
acres of other farm products each year. He is a large stock raiser and
markets about one hundred and twenty-five head of hogs and twenty head
of cattle each year.
Mr. Hess was married March 31, 1909, to Hannah Christiansen, the daughter of Nels and Mary Christiansen, and to this union three children
have been born, Wilfred, Margaret and Everett.
Mrs. Hess' parents were born in Denmark, and came to America when young and settled in Shelby county and are still living in Jackson township on
a farm. They are the parents of six children, Senia, Hannah, Chris, James,
Otto and Elvinia. Senia married Nels Petersen, and all of the others,
with the exception of Hannah, the wife of Mr. Hess, are still single.
Mr. Hess is a Democrat in politics but has never been active in the political affairs of his county. He is still a young man and has his future before him. The success which has attended his efforts thus far indicate that in time he will be one of the substantial and influential citizens of his township and county.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1138 - 1139. Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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The treatment of the diseases of animals has made great advances within the past few years. Many of our state colleges are giving courses in
veterinary science and there are several other colleges which are giving such instruction. One of the best courses in this new science is given by the
Iowa State College at Ames and its graduates are recognized as being peculiarly well equipped for this line of work. It is a fact that the farmers of
the country are being saved thousands of dollars each year because of skilled veterinary surgeons and no locality should be without a man who is
trained in the treatment of animal diseases. One of the best veterinary surgeons of this section of Iowa is Dr. James P. Jorgensen, who is practicing his profession in Elkhorn.
Dr. James P. Jorgensen, the son of Hans J. and Agnes (Petersen) Jorgensen, was born in 1881, in Kimballton, Iowa. His father was born in
Denmark in 1833 and was a farmer and stock raiser in Denmark until 1874. In that year he came to America and settled in Illinois, where he
worked as a farm hand for about four years. He then moved to Audubon county, Iowa, bought unimproved land and farmed until 1912. He then
retired from active farm work hut continued to live on the farm until his death, in 1914. Hans J. Jorgensen was twice married. His first wife,
Agnes Petersen, was born in Denmark in 1856 and died in Audubon county, Iowa, in 1892. Seven of the ten children born to this first marriage are
still living. In 1898 Mr. Jorgensen was again married, his second wife being Anna K. Anderson, who was born in Denmark in 1859. ; To this second union three children were born, two of whom are living. The widow of Mr. Jorgensen is now living at Kimballton, Iowa.
Doctor Jorgensen was educated in the schools of Kimballton and then entered Iowa State College at Ames, where he took the four years' course
in veterinary science. After his graduation he returned to Kimballton and commenced to practice his profession. He remained there until his marriage, in 1907, when he came to Elkhorn, where he is now residing. He has bought fifteen acres in the northern part of the city, where he is raising some pure-bred Duroc Jersey hogs. Since locating in this county, Doctor Jorgensen has built up a large and lucrative practice and has had the gratification of feeling that his services have been altogether satisfactory.
Doctor Jorgensen was married on June 26, 1907, to Minnie Rasmussen, who was born in this county in 1883. Mrs. Jorgensen is a daughter of
Peter M. and Karen (Miller) Rasmussen, natives of Denmark. Both came to America when young and located at Port Amboy, New Jersey, where
they were married. Later they moved to Shelby county, Iowa, and located in Clay township, where they lived the rest of their lives. Six children were
born to Mr. Rasmussen and wife, Jens M. and Rasmussen (twins), Minnie, Viggio and two deceased. To Doctor Jorgensen and wife there have been
born two children, Hans J. and Alvin P. The family are members of the Danish Lutheran church, in whose welfare they are deeply interested. Politically, the Doctor is allied with the Progressive party, but the nature of his business precludes him from taking an active part in political affairs.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 733 - 734. Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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No profession has made greater advancement in the last half century than the agricultural profession and today the farmer is making more money
with less effort than ever before in the history of the world. The agricultural colleges which are springing up all over the United States are doing an
incalculable amount of good for the farmers and the young man who takes a course in one of these schools is in a position to make farming a paying
proposition. Every year finds an ever increasing number of bright young men in agricultural schools and the future history of farming is going to
tell a different story as a result. The career of Francis L. Kerr shows what may be accomplished by a scientifically trained young farmer and the course in animal husbandry which he has taken in college will make him a leader in his county along stock raising lines.
Francis L. Kerr, the son of Calvin and Carrie (Lambert) Kerr, was born June 8, 1887, in Jasper county, Iowa. His parents were both born in
Ohio. His father went to Missouri with his parents in 1866 and in about
1873 or 1874 located with them in Jasper county, Iowa. In 1879 Calvin
went to Saunders county, Nebraska, where he had entered a piece of railroad
land and on this he lived for the next five years. He then returned to Jasper
county, Iowa, and a few years later located at Manilla, Crawford county,
Iowa. He now engaged in the vehicle and harness business and followed
this line of activity for the next seven years. In the meantime he had bought
eighty acres of land in Jefferson township in this county and in 1894 moved
on this farm. Later he bought another eighty acres adjoining and on this
farm of one hundred and sixty acres he lived until the fall of 1913 when he
retired and moved to Manilla where he is now residing.
Francis L. Kerr is the only child born to his parents and after receiving
a good common and high school education entered the Agricultural College at
Ames, Iowa, and graduated from the course in Animal Husbandry in that
excellent institution in 1909. While in college he took the course which he
thought would benefit him on the farm and it is not too much to say he is
one of the best equipped farmers in the county. His success since taking hold
of his father's farm indicates that he will one day be classed among the best
farmers of the state. He keeps fully abreast of everything pertaining to the
farm and is rightly regarded as a leader in his county.
He has a good strain of Duroc Jersey red hogs and general purpose
horses. In the fall of 1914 he purchased a bull gas tractor which is adapted
to all kinds of farm work and will do the work of four or five horses. Mr.
Kerr built a silo in 1911. He was one of the first farmers to raise alfalfa
in northern part of the county and now has about seventeen acres which
he cut three times in 1914.
He is a breeder of Guernsey cattle and in 1910 brought the first cattle of this breed into the county. At the present time there is only one other herd
of the cattle in the county. He now has fifteen head of full blooded registered Guernseys and is all the time adding to his herd. He is secretary and
treasurer of the Iowa Guernsey Breeders' Association and is actively interested in the work of the association. In 1911 he exhibited three head of
his cattle at the Iowa State Fair and took first prize on one of his three-year-old heifers. His mother has taken first prize on butter at the Manilla corn
show for the past four years. He milks from twelve to fifteen cows the year around and has found it a very profitable business. No young man in the
county is making a better showing on the farm and his striking success so far presages promising things for him in the future.
Mr. Kerr was married June 4, 1913, to Lottie Vennink. She is the daughter of William and Georgiana (Helm) Vennink and was born February
18, 1889, in Crawford county, Iowa. To this union has been born one daughter, Madelyn Frances, born July 9, 1914. Mr. Kerr and his wife are both
members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is an independent voter and has never been an aspirant for public office. They are genial and friendly young people who have a large circle of friends and acquaintances throughout the county.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 756 - 757. Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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One of the valuable citizens of Center township is William Francis Kilpatrick, a man who takes a deep interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of his community. In educational affairs he is doing everything he can to promote the schools of his county and township, and as a member of the
school board, he is exerting his influence toward that end. He is deeply interested in the moral and religious advancement of his community also, and gives his unreserved support to all measures which make for better citizenship. As a farmer he is progressive in his ideas, while as a public-spirited citizen, there is no one in the county who stands higher in the estimation of the general public.
William Francis Kilpatrick, the son of John A. and Maria Jane (Westrope) Kilpatrick, was born in Cass county, Iowa, April 11, 1876. His father
was born in Galena, Illinois, in 1848, and his mother was born in Lafayette county, Wisconsin, in 1851. John A. Kilpatrick went with his parents to
Wisconsin when a lad and received his education in that state. He was married in Wisconsin and later removed to Cass county, Iowa, where he continued in farming until his death in 1909. Fifteen children were born to John A. Kilpatrick and wife, and of this number William F. is the only, one living in Shelby county. One died in infancy and Robert, May, Frank, Charles, George, Nell, Lela, Helen and Harry are still living in Cass county,
Iowa, where they were born; Esther lives in South Dakota; Otis in Nebraska; Leta in Nebraska, and Jennie lives in the state of Washington.
William F. Kilpatrick was educated in Cass county, Iowa, and after leaving school he farmed with his father for a year before going to make his
home with his grandfather Westrope. He remained with his grandparents for three years, and then began farming for himself in 1901 by renting fifty
acres from his uncle J. G. Westrope. After this, he lived on another rented place for five years and then went to Nebraska, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres and lived there for a short time. After selling out his farm in Nebraska he came to Shelby county, Iowa, to take charge of his father-in-law's farm, Isaac N. Morgan, and has since been living in this county. He rents eighty acres of his father-in-law and additional adjacent land, although he still owns one hundred and sixty acres of excellent land in Nebraska. He is a breeder of Duroc Jersey hogs, and has taken a number of prizes at Des Moines, Sioux City and other places. Five years ago he took third prize in a class of sixty-six boar pigs and won a number of first prizes at the Shelby county fairs. He raises about one hundred head of hogs each year for the market.
Mr. Kilpatrick was married January 19, 1905, to Lula Morgan, the daughter of Isaac and Louise (Stanley) Morgan, and to this union two children have been born: Bonnie Louise, and Bruce Morgan. Mrs. Kilpatrick's parents were among the earliest settlers in Shelby county, coming here from Hendricks county, Indiana. They were the parents of two children, Lula, the wife of Mr. Kilpatrick, and Stanley, who married Clara Colburn, and has three children, Roy, Fred and Ruth.
Mr. Kilpatrick is a Republican, and has taken an intelligent interest in the political affairs of his township, county and state. He is serving as secretary of the school board, and give much attention to the school interests of his township. The family are loyal members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Bowman's Grove, and Mr. Kilpatrick is now a steward and trustee of his denomination. He is a man of strong character and high ideals, and has so lived as to win the high regard of everyone with whom he has been associated.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1189 - 1190. Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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There are more than a thousand occupations recognized by the United States census of 1910 and new occupations are springing into existence each
year. The advent of the automobile brought several distinctive occupations into the field; the invention of the dictaphone, the stenotype and a score of
other inventions have created distinctive fields of work. But there is one occupation which has existed from the time of Cain, which employs more
men than any other in any world, which is the most independent of all occupations. No other is so free from panics, so sure of a never failing income
and so necessary to the very existence of life itself. It is needless to say that the farmer has the sole monopoly of this all-important occupation and
it is gratifying to note that there is more attention being paid to farming than ever before in the history of the world.
A good example of the progressive farmer is seen in William Hunter, one of the wide awake agriculturists of Union township, Shelby county, Iowa. He was born in Linn county, Iowa, June 6, 1856, and is the son of David and Lura (Reynolds) Hunter. His father was born and educated in Ohio and came to Iowa with his parents in 1842. They settled four miles north of Cedar Rapids at a time when there was only one house on the site,
and that was a rude log cabin. Shortly after locating there the father of
David Hunter was offered a half section of land, now covered by the business
part of the city, for the paltry sum of one dollar and a quarter an acre. What
fortune might have been his had he only been able to foresee what was to
happen. Instead of buying on the site of Cedar Rapids, the father of David
Hunter bought between four and five hundred acres north of the future city.
David Hunter continued to farm there after his father's death and upon the
outbreak of the Civil War enlisted in an Iowa regiment and served through
a part of that terrible struggle. After the war he returned to his farm near
Cedar Rapids but shortly afterward sold it and bought another farm of one
hundred and sixty acres in Louisa county. In 1875 David Hunter moved
with his family to the western part of Oregon, where he bought a farm of one
hundred and five acres, part of it being covered with a heavy growth of timber. On this farm he lived for the next twelve years and then located in
Portland, Oregon. A year later he went to eastern Oregon and settled in Pendleton, where he lived until his death. To David Hunter and his first
wife were born five children, Samuel, John, William, Katherine and Eldorado. After the death of the first wife in 1861, he married Katherine M. Abel and
to this second marriage were born six children, Henry, Hattie, Dora, George, Albert and Audrey.
William Hunter was educated in the schools of Linn and Louisa counties, Iowa, and, after leaving school began to work out as a farm laborer. He
worked as a laborer in Portland, Oregon, for two years and in 1883 came to Greeley township in Shelby county, Iowa, where he began to live upon a,
rented farm. He lived upon several different farms in Shelby county during the next eight years, and then moved to Livingston county, Missouri, where
he remained six years on a rented farm. He then bought forty acres in that county and lived upon it for four years. He finally decided that there was
no place like Shelby county, returned here and located upon a rented farm of one hundred and forty acres in Union township. He managed this farm
four years and then moved to the two hundred acre farm where he lived until he opened a hotel at Defiance. In 1912 he bought eighty acres and tilled this in connection with the two hundred acres which he rented until he moved to Defiance. Recently Mr. Hunter traveled for the Dowing hotel in Defiance, Iowa. He has sold his farm and he and his wife will devote their time to running a first class hotel and a livery stable.
Mr. Hunter was married March 23, 1884, to Anna Francis Ray, the
daughter of William and Helen (Longenecker) Ray and to this union there
have been born five children, William, Mae, Helen, John and Glen. William
married Velma Kanause and has two children, Audrey and Basil; Mae is the
wife of Albert Ruffcorn and has one son, Howard; all the rest of the children are single and still living with their parents. Mrs. Hunter's parents
were natives of Iowa and Pennsylvania, respectively. William Ray received his education in Muscatine, Iowa, and then took up farming, following this
occupation all his life. To William Ray and wife were born three children, Annie, John and Joseph.
The Democratic party has always claimed the hearty support of Mr. Hunter but he has never been an aspirant for any public office. While living
in Missouri he served as justice of the peace for three years, that being the only official position he has ever held. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 837 - 839. Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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In the summer of 1896 there came to Earling, Iowa, a young man of German birth, who had no knowledge whatever of the English language and
no capital except a strong constitution and a willingness to work. Today this same man is the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of excellent farming land in Westphalia township and is regarded as one of the most prosperous and substantial men of his township. Such, in brief, is the history of Michael Kimmen, than whom there is no more highly respected citizen in Shelby county. His life shows what can be accomplished by a young man when he has a definite goal in view and then adheres strictly to his own affairs in accomplishing it. There are scores of men in Shelby county today who have the same opportunities which Mr. Kimmen had and many more advantages and yet have laid by nothing for their declining years. The life of Mr. Kimmen illustrates the difference between the successful and the unsuccessful man.
Michael Kimmen, the son of Cornelius and Margaret Kimmen, was born in Luxemburg, Germany, April 19, 1874. His father followed farming in
Germany until his death in 1909 and his mother is still living in the land of her birth. Seven children were born to Cornelius Kimmen and wife, Peter,
John, Mary, Eugene, Josephine, Ellis and Michael. Peter married Mary Wiedott and Mary became the wife of Michael Mindoch, while all of the
other children except Michael are single and living in Germany.
Michael Kimmen attended school in Germany and after leaving school,
took up the weaving trade which his father followed intermittently during
his life. He worked at the weaving trade during the winter season and
assisted with the work on the home farm during the summer months, until
he reached the age of twenty-two years. He then decided to break off home
ties and come to a country where better opportunities awaited him. Consequently, he took ship for America and on landing in this country immediately
proceeded to Shelby county, Iowa, where many of his countrymen had previously located. He first stopped in Earling temporarily and worked as a
farm hand by the month for the first two or three years. He then married and rented a farm about six years, all the time saving his earnings with the
intention of securing a farm of his own. He then bought one hundred acres of land and subsequently added sixty more acres, so that he now has a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Westphalia township. He is a hard-working, progressive farmer, who thoroughly understands every phase of agriculture, and is getting the maximum results from his efforts.
Mr. Kimmen was married in 1898 to Anna Stronk, the daughter of Peter and Katherine Stronk, and to this union four children have been born, Margaret, Katherine, Lawrence and Clara. Clara is the wife of George Gross and has one son, Albert. Mrs. Kimmen's parents were both natives of Germany and came to this country in the seventies and located in Green county, Iowa, remaining there for several years. They then came to Union township, Shelby county, where they lived until a few years ago, when they moved to Earling. Mr. and Mrs. Stronk were the parents of three children: Anna, the wife of Mr. Kimmen; Katherine, the wife of Matthew Weis, and Nicholas, who married Rosa Schuering. Mrs. Stronk died in 1907.
The Democratic party has claimed the support of Mr. Kimmen since acquiring the right to vote in this county and he has always been more or less
interested in local politics. For four years he was an efficient member of the school board of his home township, and in this capacity advocated every
measure which might help the schools in any way. He and his family are devout members of the Earling Catholic church in whose welfare they are
intensely interested and to whose support they are generous contributors. Mr. Kimmen deserves a great deal of credit for the success which has attended his efforts since coming to this county, and yet while working industriously for his own advancement, he has not neglected to take his share of the burdens of community life.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 795 - 797. Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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The biographies of successful men are instructive as guides and incentives to those whose careers are yet to be achieved. The examples they
furnish of patient purpose and consecutive endeavor strongly illustrate what is in the power of each to accomplish. The gentleman whose life history is herewith briefly set forth is a conspicuous example of one who has lived to good purpose and achieved a definite degree of success in the special sphere to which his talents and energies have been devoted.
Elmer L. Martin, a substantial farmer and stockman of Lincoln township, this county, was born January 25, 1862, in Keokuk county, Iowa. His
father, Edward M. Martin, was a native of Ohio, his birth having occurred in Holmes county in 1830, while his mother, Eliza Goss, was born in the
Hardin county, Ohio, in 1838. Edward M. Martin came to Shelby county in 1882 and purchased land in Douglas township. He put out a grove and
orchard on this place and continued to live there for nine years, when he sold it and rented land for one year. In 1902, he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land and farmed it until his death in 1906. His wife is now living on the farm with her son, Elmer L. To Edward M. Martin and wife were
born seven children: one, who died in infancy; Mrs. Elizabeth Hubbard, of Spencer, Iowa; Mrs. Bertha Merritt, who died in 1907; Guy, of Sand Point,
Idaho; Mrs. Catherine Whitney, of Harlan, Iowa; Joseph, a farmer of Jefferson township, and Elmer, whose life history is here presented.
Elmer L. Martin received his education in Keokuk county, Iowa, and at the early age of eighteen years started in to farm for himself. He rented a
farm for several years and in 1908 purchased his present farm in Lincoln township. He has made many improvements on this farm since acquiring
it and now has one of the most attractive farms of his county. While keeping high grade stock of all kinds, he has made a specialty of the raising of
high grade Percheron horses, and at the county fair at Harlan in 1913 he won second prize on one of his Percheron colts.
Mr. Martin was married December 16, 1883, to Emma Kanauss, the daughter of George W. and Elizabeth (Vanarsdale) Kanauss. Mrs. Martin
was born in Harrison county, Iowa, January 13, 1863. George W. Kanauss was born March 12, 1839, at Circleville, Ohio, and came to Harrison county, Iowa, in 1855, where he purchased land and farmed until 1873. He then moved to Shelby county and purchased a farm on which he lived until his death in 1912. His wife, Elizabeth Vanarsdale, was born in Elkhart county, Indiana, in 1843, and is now living at Defiance, Iowa. George W. Kanauss and wife were the parents of four children: Samuel, deceased; Mrs. Rosa Crabb, a resident of this state; Emma, the wife of Mr. Martin and Mrs. Nancy Terwilleger, who lives in Defiance, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Martin are the parents of five children: Orris, living in South Dakota; Clifford, an automobile mechanic at Mason City, Iowa; Glenn, who is assisting his father on the home farm; Hal, who is a barber at Kimballton, Iowa, and Lyle, at home.
Mr. Martin has never taken an active part in politics although he has always been identified with the interests of the Republican party. Fraternally, he is a member of the Woodmen of the World and takes a deep interest in the work of that fraternal organization. In every avenue of life's activities Mr. Martin has performed his full part as a man and stands "four square to every wind that blows." Because of his genuine worth and high character
he has enjoyed to a large degree the respect and confidence of his fellow citizens.
(Notes from transcriber: Knauss is correct surname of Elmer's wife, Emma. Her mother's maiden name was Van Arsdol.)
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 797 - 798. Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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In the history of Shelby county, as applying to the agricultural interests, the name of Christopher Lorenz occupies a conspicuous place, for through a
quarter of a century he has been one of the representative farmers of Greeley township, progressive, enterprising and persevering. Such qualities always win success sooner or later, and to Mr. Lorenz they have brought a satisfactory reward for his well directed effort. While he has benefited himself and community in a material way, he has also been an influential factor in the educational, political and moral uplift of the community favored by his residence.
Christopher Lorenz, the son of Cassimir and ---------- (Helmright) Lorenz, was born April 10, 1863, in Tuscarawas county, Ohio. His parents
were both born in Germany, but came to this country at different times during the years 1850 and 1855, and were later married in the state of Ohio.
The first wife of Cassimir Lorenz died in 1865 and about a year later he married Mary Neischweitz. To this second union were born two children.
Christopher Lorenz was given a good common school education in the
schools of Ohio and remained at home until he was twenty-one years of age.
He then married and continued to work for his father for two years, receiving one hundred and fifty dollars a year for his labor, out of which he had to
pay his house rent. He then worked for a few more years, receiving two hundred dollars a year for his services. In March, 1889, he came to Shelby
county, Iowa, with his family and purchased forty acres of land in section 29, of Greeley township, where he has since lived. Later, he added forty
acres adjoining his farm and now has a well improved farm of eighty acres on which he has placed practically every improvement which he has today.
He and his wife planted a grove of trees and during the quarter of a century that they have lived upon the farm, have had the satisfaction of seeing them grow to become trees of good size. Mr. Lorenz has always done general farming and stock raising and in 1913 had eleven head of horses, forty-two head of Shorthorn cattle and one hundred head of hogs upon his farm. He makes a specialty of the raising Poland China hogs and markets about one hundred head each year.
Mr. Lorenz was married October 10, 1885, to Phoebe Hoffman, who was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, May 11, 1865. Mrs. Lorenz is a
daughter of John and Louise (Barnhart) Hoffman, natives of Germany. To Mr. and Mrs. Lorenz have been born four children, John C., Clara E.,
Bertha E. and George W. John C. was born October 21, 1886, married Mattie Pulver and has three children, two of whom are living, Helen and
Howard. He lives in Douglas township on a farm. Clara E., who was born November 13, 1889, married Fred Wiley, a farmer of this township and
has one child, Lester L., born May 21, 1914. Bertha E., who was born August 10, 1892, married Carl Kelley and has one son, Delbert, born August 16,
1914, Mr. and Mrs. Kelley are now living with her parents. George W., who was born May 18, 1904, is still living at home with his parents.
Mr. Lorenz has always been identified with the Democratic party and has been active in local political matters. He is a stanch believer in good
government and has always cast his vote for such men as he believes will best represent the interests of his fellow citizens. He has been school director for two years and in this capacity has favored every measure which would benefit the public schools in any way. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and take an active part in all church and Sunday school work. Mr. Lorenz is a man of genial disposition, with a ready wit and takes an optimistic view of life.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 798 - 800. Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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One of the pioneer settlers of Shelby county, Iowa, and a distinguished veteran of the Civil War, is Edward F. Kington, who is now a prosperous
farmer of Jefferson township. He is a man of strong and upright character and an honorable and useful citizen, and his life history presents many
features of more than ordinary interest. Particularly is this true of his career as a soldier and it is probable that some of the incidents which are
related in this connection have never been published before. It is not often that a soldier is thrown into such circumstances as was Mr. Kington on one memorable occasion. The instance which is subsequently related in connection with General Sherman is of intense interest. It is needless to say that Mr. Kington has played an active part in the building up of his county, for, no man has been more interested in its welfare, and no one has had
better opportunities to advance his county's interests.
Edward F. Kington was born in Hancock county, Illinois, September 24, 1838, and is the son of John and Catherine (Bryant) Kington. John
Kington was the son of Francis and Fanny (Harmon) Kington, and was
born in Virginia. The Kingtons are an old English family and came to the
United States in colonial times. Catherine Bryant was the daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Edward Bryant. John Kington and his family moved to
Appanoose county, Iowa, in 1839, where they lived for eleven years. They
then moved back to Illinois, where they were living when the Civil War
began.
Edward F. Kington enlisted October 12, 1862, in Company I, Fifty-seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close of
the war, being mustered out in July, 1865. He was with General Sherman
on his famous march to the sea, and later participated in the grand review
at Washington, D. C., at the close of the war. He is justly proud of the
fact that he served under General Sherman and recalls a very interesting
conversation which he overheard one day between a general on Sherman's
staff and a colonel. Mr. Kington was sitting on the ground back of a large
tree when this general and colonel rode up on their horses and stopped in the
shade of the tree and began to discuss the campaign. The conversation between the general and the colonel has always remained vividly in the mind
of Mr. Kington and is here reproduced as he told it to the historian.
After exchanging courtesies, the colonel remarked to the general that he wondered if General Sherman wasn't afraid, or whether he didn't wish
he had not started on the campaign. The general replied as follows: "I asked him (General Sherman) just yesterday whether he did not wish he
had not undertaken the trip and he told me, No, I am not, why should I be?' He said: See the bayonets I have! see the sabers I have! see the artillery -I have! I have confidence in my men and they have confidence in me and I defy the whole southern confederacy to attack me.'"
Additional interest attaches to this conversation from the fact that it
has never been noticed in print before. Mr. Kington was in many severe
engagements but was never wounded or taken prisoner. At the close of the
war he returned to Illinois, where he was married in 1868, and he continued
to reside in that state until 1877, when he came to Shelby county, Iowa. He
first purchased forty acres of land near Kirkman, and in 1884 sold that and
bought three hundred and twenty acres in Jefferson township. Re has since
disposed of eighty acres of this tract and now owns two hundred and forty
acres of fine farming land one mile north of Irwin. He and his wife came
to this county with scarcely anything and now have all of their farm paid
for, a beautiful home and every comfort and convenience in life. This is a
record which is a source of gratification to them and is illustrative of what
has been accomplished by many other people who have made this county
their permanent home.
Mr. Kington was married November 12, 1868, to Rachel Huddleston, who was born December 18, 1843, in Jasper county, Missouri. Her parents,
Josiah and Anna (Adams) Huddleston, were natives of Tennessee and Ohio, respectively, and reared a family of six children, Mrs. Abigail Smith,
Mrs. Margaret Steward, Thomas, Sarah (deceased), William and Rachel, the wife of Mr. Kington. Mr. and Mrs. Kington have reared a family of
seven children, Emma, William J., Sophronia, Ora, Lela, Orlo and Edna. Emma was born August 10, 1869, married George Townsend, has one son,
Leland, and lives in Rock Island, Illinois; William J. was born December 8, 1871, married Lula Graham, lives in this county, and has two sons, Edward
and Myron; Sophronia was born March 11, 1874, married Charles McConnell, of Wayne, Nebraska, and they have two children, Lucile and Merritt;
Lela was born April 8, 1876, and married Albert Heck, of Underwood, North Dakota; Ora was born January 30, 1879, married Maud Hansen, lives in
Dunlap, Iowa, and has one daughter, Gladys; Orlo was born April 12, 1882, married Minnie Paulsen, is still living with his parents, and has two children, Dorothy and Mylon; Edna, the youngest child of Mr. and Mrs. Kington, was born December 6, 1886, married W. L. Lawhorn, and lives in Garner,
Iowa.
Mr. Kington is the only one of the three children living born to his parents. He had two brothers, John Elbert and Henry, who died in childhood. His father married the second time and had eight children by this union, Leander, Marion, Ira, Henry, William, Mrs. Martha Beal, Mrs. Mary Perkins and Mrs. Adaline Clifford.
Politically, Mr. Kington has been a stanch Republican all his life but has never held any kind of a political office. He is a loyal member of the
Grand Army of the Republic post and takes an interest in the organization. He and his family. are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and take
an active part in church work. Mrs. Kington joined the church when she was sixteen years of age and has been an active worker all of her life. Mr.
Kington joined the church at the age of fourteen years. Mr. and Mrs. Kington have made a success of life and have sacrificed nothing in the development of their character to bring about their success. They are well-informed people and their family and domestic life have been all that could
be possibly desired. Their children have been reared to lives of usefulness and honor and have taken their places as useful members of society, with
credit to themselves and honor to their parents.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1096 - 1098. Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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