1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa
Page Index:
Mrs. Marshall |
Mayne |
Mickelson |
C. Miller |
Mork
Morris |
Mortenson |
G. Nelson |
Nielsen |
Nissen |
Nyrup
The women of the pioneer days of Shelby county, Iowa, are entitled to as much
credit for the advancement of this county in every way as are their brothers,
husbands and sons. The present generation has little knowledge of the terrible
experiences which the anxious wives and mothers spent in this county during the
sixties, seventies and eighties. Many of the women of those years are still
living and one of them, who died in the fall of 1914, is Mrs. Hester McFadden
Marshall. She came from a distinguished family of Irish descent. Her forefathers
came to this country immediately after the close of the Revolutionary War and
located in Pennsylvania.
The late Mrs. Hester M. Marshall was born July 13, 1847, in Fayette county,
Pennsylvania, and died in Shelby county, Iowa, October 23, 1914. She was the
daughter of Joseph and Mary McFadden. Her father was born in Washington county,
Pennsylvania, March 17, 1794, and her mother was born in Fayette county,
Pennsylvania, April 8, 1811. The father of Joseph McFadden was Dr. William
McFadden, a physician in Dublin, Ireland, and when he heard that peace had been
declared between Great Britan and America, in 1781, he declared that he would
never give another physic in Ireland. Accordingly, he at once left the land of
his birth and came to America and settled in Pennsylvania.
Joseph McFadden was reared to manhood in Pennsylvania and married his first
wife, Rachel Newell, in that state in 1822. After her death he married Mary
Jamison in 1838, and to these two marriages fourteen children were born, all of
whom are deceased. Joseph and Mary McFadden came to Illinois from Pennsylvania
in 1866 and in 1872 located in Audubon county, Iowa, where they lived until
their death.
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Hester McFadden was married March 30, 1887, to Andrew Marshall, who was born
January 8, 1837, and was the son of William and Eliza Marshall, of Ohio. Andrew
Marshall was reared to manhood in Ohio and in 1857 came to Illinois, where he
found work as a farm hand. He was married, first, to Martha McDonald, of
McDonough county, Illinois, and in 1873 he moved to Iowa, settling in Poweshiek
county. He rented land in that county for a few years, after which he came to
Shelby county and purchased the two hundred acres of land, which his daughter
still owns. The first wife of Andrew Marshall died in 1886, and the year
following he married Hester McFadden. To this union one daughter, Mary, was born
November 21, 1889. Mary attended the country school and later finished her
education in the high school at Shelby. She spent one year at Drake University
at Des Moines and made her home with her mother until the latter's death,
October 23, 1914. Hester was buried October 26th from the Methodist Episcopal
church of Shelby, the funeral services being conducted by Rev. E. A. Moore,
assisted by Rev. C. N. Ward.
Andrew Marshall was a prominent man in Shelby county from the time he came here
until his death, May 26, 1912. He served as township trustee for eleven years
and was also a member of the school board. He built all of the buildings on his
farm of two hundred acres, set out about four acres of fruit trees and had one
of the most productive farms in the township. In 1908 he was able to retire from
the farm and moved, with his wife and daughter, to Shelby, where he lived until
his death. He was a man of integrity and honor, and that he was highly esteemed
by his fellow citizens is shown by the fact that he was so frequently honored by
official positions. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, as was
his wife, and a supporter of the church in all of its various activities.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 808 - 809. Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs.
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The farmer is the bulwark of the nation, and investigation has shown that a
large number of our best business men were reared upon the farm. George
Washington was a farmer and was proud of the fact; Abraham Lincoln was reared
upon a farm and, at the age the young men of today are in college he was
splitting rails to fence his father's little farm in southern Indiana; William
Jennings Bryan had his early training on the farm to account for his excellent
physique. There never was a time in the history of the world when the farmer was
as prosperous as he is today and no farmers of our own country are living more
satisfied lives than those of Iowa. One of the progressive farmers and stock
raisers of Shelby county, Iowa, who is making a name for himself is William H.
Mayne, the present trustee of Center township.
William H. Mayne, the son of John S. and Mary Jane (Paisley) Mayne, was born on
January 21, 1873, in Mercer county, Illinois. John S. Mayne was born in 1842 in
Ireland, as was his wife. He came to America in 1866 and located in Mercer
county, Illinois, and came to Keokuk county, Iowa, in 1876, and to Shelby county
in 1880 and located in Center township. He is the owner of three hundred and
fifty acres of land. John S. Mayne and wife have reared five children, William
H., Alfred (deceased), Perry, George L., of San Diego, California, and Francis,
who is at home.
William H. Mayne was given a common school education and remained at home
assisting his father on the farm until he was thirty years old. He then married
and began farming for himself on land which he rented from his father. He has
since lived on his father's farm, although he owns forty acres adjoining the old
home farm. Mr. Mayne is an extensive breeder of Hereford cattle and ships some
of his best cattle all over the state of Iowa for breeding purposes. He also
handles a high grade of horses and hogs and is recognized as one of the best
stock raisers of his county. He is a stockholder in the Shelby County Fair
Association and the Fine Stock Exchange of Harlan, being a director in the
latter.
Mr. Mayne was married on June 17, 1903, to Elizabeth A. Gibbs, who was born on
December 17, 1878, in Tuscola, Michigan. Her father, 0. 0. Gibbs, was born in
Tuscola county, Michigan, in 1853, and was one of the early settlers of Shelby
county, Iowa. At the present time he is farming in Saskatchewan, Canada. Mrs.
Mayne was a school teacher before her marriage. She was educated in the public
schools of Harlan and Drake University, and taught in the Harlan schools with E.
S. White, the historian of this work, for six years. She was principal of the
Harlan Park school for two years. To Mr. Mayne and wife have been born two
children, Alice (deceased), and John C.
The Republican party claims the support of Mr. Mayne and he has been active in
local matters. He is now trustee of Center township, having held the Office for
the past six years. He and his wife are members of the Episcopal church.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1128 - 1129. Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs.
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Every nation on the earth has contributed its quota to the population of the
United States, and no nation has furnished better citizens for our country than
has the little kingdom of Denmark. Thousands of the best citizens of that
country have come to the United States and have become the most substantial
citizens of the various localities in which they have settled. Fortunate,
indeed, is the locality which has Danish descendants numbered among its
citizens, for wherever they are found, they are always among the most
substantial people of the community. The habits of thrift and frugality which
they inherited from their ancestors always makes them valtiable assets to the
community at large. It is unquestioned that the example set by thrifty Danish
citizens has been very beneficial not only to our native Americans, but to the
citizens of other countries as well. Among the citizens of Danish extraction who
are now substantial men of the county there is no one who has attained more
definite success than Marius Mickelson, a successful farmer of Douglas township.
Marius Mickelson, the son of Christian and Marie (Peterson) Mickelson, was born
on March 4, 1853, in Denmark. His father was a miller by trade, his mill being
operated by wind power. In 1865 Christian Mickelson came to the United States
with his family and located in Nebraska City, Nebraska. For some years he was a
day laborer and then started a brick yard, which he operated for several years.
He then engaged in the grocery business in Nebraska City, but three years later
was unfortunate enough to lose everything he had by fire. He had small insurance
and consequently was left almost penniless, having invested all of his money in
his store. He continued to live in Nebraska City until his death, October 13,
1880. Christian Mickelson and wife were the parents of three children, Anna, who
married Andrew Jensen, and lives in Terre Haute, Indiana; Jennie, who died soon
after the family came to the United States, and Marius, whose history is here
presented.
Marius Mickelson was about twelve years of age when his parents came to this
country, and consequently received most of his education in his native land. He
remained at home until he was twenty-one years of age and then went to Avoca.
Iowa, where he clerked in a store for Messrs. Uhden & Nelson, remaining with
this firm for fourteen years. In 1889 he moved to a one hundred and sixty-acre
farm in section 12, Douglas township in this county, which he and his wife had
previously purchased with their savings. He had never been on a farm before and
knew absolutely nothing about farming. His first experiences as a farmer he now
recalls with a great deal of amusement. When they first started to plow, his
wife led the horses and he tried to handle the plow. He planted potatoes hut
planted them so deep that they never came up. Things were very discouraging for
the first year or two until they found out how to carry on the simplest kind of
farming. However, they persevered with true Danish courage and in the course of
time were the owners of four hundred acres of excellent land, all of which was
paid for. At the marriage of their son they gave him eighty acres, and have
since sold one hundred and twenty acres more. They still have two hundred acres
of land, which is highly improved and one of the most productive farms of the
county. He raises Shorthorn cattle and a good grade of hogs and horses.
Mr. Mickelson was married February 29, 1880, to Olina Erickson, who was born
March 26, 1852, in LaSalle county, Illinois, the daughter of Erick and Esther
(Olson) Erickson, natives of Norway and early settlers of Illinois, coming to
that state in 1849. Mr. and Mrs. Erickson were the parents of eleven children,
three of whom are now living, Erick, Jr., Mrs. Martha Johnson and Olina, the
wife of Mr. Mickelson. The deceased children are Martha, Henry, Erick, Ole,
Nicholas and three who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Mickelson have one son,
Carl Marion, of their own and one adopted child. Carl M. was born August 14,
1881 married Mary Ethel Reynolds and has two children, Normal and Ralph; Esther
Elizabeth, the adopted child of Mr. and Mrs. Mickelson, was born September 7,
1900, and is still living with her foster parents.
Mr. and Mrs. Mickelson are not active members of any church, although Mrs.
Mickelson was brought up in the Methodist church and he in the Lutheran faith.
Fraternally, he is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons at Irwin,
while both he and his wife are members of the Order of Eastern Star. He has also
taken the Chapter degree and is a member of the Royal Arch, Olivet Chapter, No.
107. In politics Mr. Mickelson is a Republican hut has never held any office
other than that of school director.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 708 - 710. Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs.
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One of the German farmers of this county who has lived here for a period of
thirty-five years is Charles H. Miller, a progressive farmer of Union township.
He is a man of strong and upright character, an honorable and useful citizen,
and being a resident of his community for many years, is familiar with its
history. Since coming to this county he has taken an active part in the civic
life of his township and has served in an official capacity on more than one
occasion. He has been intimately associated with the general prosperity of his
community during the most progressive period of its history and always has been
found on the right side of questions which affected the development of his
locality. By the exercise of keen perceptions, unusual soundness of judgment and
honest dealing with his fellow men, he has earned a fair competency and is
justly deserving of the high esteem in which he is held by his fellow citizens;
Charles H. Miller, the son of Mathias and Mary (Knuckles) Miller, was born in
Luxemburg, Germany, January 25, 1868. His father was a laborer in Germany and
lived there several years after his marriage, coming to the United States in
1874. Upon arriving in this country, he located in Dubuque county, Iowa, where
he lived upon a rented farm for about five years. He then moved to Shelby
county, and located in Westphalia township, where he rented land for two years,
and then moved to Union township, where he lived until his death in 1895, his
wife passing away the same year about four months later. Mathias Miller and wife
were the parents of six children: Katherine, the wife of Michael Scheber; Lena,
who married, first, Peter Ruden, and after his death, married Nicholas Schram;
Anna, the wife of Jacob Ruden; Mary, wife of Emil Hertert; John P., who married
Lena Burger, and Charles, whose history is here recorded.
Charles H. Miller was only six years of age when his parents came to the United
States, and received all of his education in the schools in this country,
attending the schools of Cascade, Dubuque county, this state, and also went to
school for a short time after his parents moved to Shelby county. After leaving
school he and his brother began farming together, and this partnership continued
until he was married in 1891. He then bought a farm of eighty acres in Union
township, on which he is now living. After paying for the farm he added forty
acres more and now has one hundred and twenty acres of land on which he has
placed extensive improvements. He has built a new modern home, barns and.
various kinds of outbuildings in order that he might properly care for his live
stock. As a farmer he gives attention to all of those little details which mark
the successful farmer and consequently is deservedly classed among the
progressive farmers of his county.
Mr. Miller was married February 4, 1891, to Anna Schuering, the daughter of
Valentine and Barbara (Link) Schuering, and to this union have been born three
children: Matthew, John and Rose, all of whom are still single. Mrs. Miller's
parents are natives of Germany and came to this country in 1878, locating in
Virginia. Two years later they moved to LaSalle county, Illinois, where Mr.
Schuering farmed until 1889. In that year the family moved to Shelby county,
Iowa, and located in Union township, where Mr. Schuering followed farming until
his death, which occurred in 1900. His widow is still living in this county. To
Mr. and Mrs. Schuering were born nine children: Anna, the wife of Mr. Miller ;
Mary, the wife of John N. Kuhl; Rosa, who married M. A. Strunk; Elizabeth,
single John who married Lena Miller; Stephen, who married Elizabeth Rolfus;
Joseph, who married Susan Mumm and Edward and Elizabeth, single.
The Democratic party has claimed the hearty support of Mr. Miller, and he has
served his party in an official capacity on two different occasions, as township
trustee and as school director. In both of these offices he has rendered
satisfactory services to his fellow citizens. All the members of the family are
loyal adherents of the Catholic church and in its welfare are very much
interested. Mr. Miller is a member of the Knights of Columbus. He is a man who
attends strictly to his own affairs, yet has not neglected to take his share of
the burdens of community life, ever lending his enthusiastic support to such
measures and movements as are calculated to promote the public weal.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1446 - 1448. Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs.
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The kind attention of the reader is now directed to a short sketch of the career
of Hans Mork, one of the best known agriculturists of Shelby county, Iowa. While
it would be impossible to enter fully into the details of the interesting career
of the subject, touching the struggles of his early manhood and the success of
his riper years, enough may be stated to make apparent to the reader something
of the effort which he has put forth and to demonstrate that the success to
which he has attained has not been a matter of chance, but is the result of
consistent effort, the outcome of carefully considered plans.
Hans Mork is a native of the kingdom of Denmark, born near Hjorring, August 24,
1869, the son of Peter and Anna (Sorenson) Mork. The father is still living in
Denmark, his wife having died some years ago. He is engaged in agricultural
work. There is but one other member of the family in this country, a brother of
Hans Mork, who lived in Shelby county for a number of years. In 1911 Mr. Mork
made the trip back to the land of his birth to visit his parents and other
relatives, spending five weeks there. The contrast between the customs of the
people and the manner of living in his childhood home and those of the land of
his adoption strongly impressed Mr. Mork, bringing home to him relative
conditions which he had never fully realized until he revisited his native land.
Subject was twenty-two years of age when he first emigrated to America, coming
almost directly to this county and state. He secured employment by the month at
farm labor on a homestead located about one mile north of where he now lives and
in this manner passed four years of his life. He lived very frugally, with the
one thought of getting a start on the upward road to competency, and at the end
of the four years was in position to make his first purchase. This was an
eighty-acre tract which has formed the nucleus of his present holdings. This
purchase was made in 1894 and he succeeded so well in his undertaking that five
years later he purchased an additional tract of one hundred and seventy acres
adjoining his first holdings in Polk township. However, he later disposed of
ninety-seven acres of this and at the present time owns one hundred and sixty
acres of as fine land as the county can boast. Since coming into possession of
this land, he has expended much time and money in raising it to the highest
possible standard of efficiency. It is thoroughly drained and all buildings and
appliances are of the most modern and approved type. The land lies in section 35
of Jefferson township and section 2 of Polk township, with the residence in the
former. This residence is one of the very finest in the county and has no
superior in the township. It comprises ten rooms with baths and all possible
modern conveniences, including furnace, hot and cold water, a private gas
illuminating plant and many other and lesser conveniences which add greatly to
the pleasure of the members of the family. In 1900 the large barn, one of the
best in the township, was built. This covers a space forty-eight by fifty-six
feet and is thoroughly adapted to its purpose. All other buildings are new and
thoroughly up-to-date, both the barn and hog houses being piped with gas for
illumination. On this farm there is also one of the finest orchards in the
county and to this Mr. Mork has given much time and attention, striving to make
it one of the most select and productive possible. Mr. Mork carries on general
farming, raising those crops which have proven most adaptable to this section,
and also devotes considerable attention to his cattle and hogs. He prefers a
mixed strain of Shorthorn and Hereford cattle, believing in this way he combines
the excellent qualities of both breeds and his hogs are all Duroc Jerseys. He
feeds his own raising of cattle and hogs. In addition to the duties and
responsibilities of his homestead, Mr. Mork also is interested in the Liberty
County Creamery Company, to which he gives considerable of his time and
attention.
On March 2, 1895, Mr. Mork was united in marriage with Miss Christena
Christensen, also a native of Denmark, born on March 16, 1873, the daughter of
Chris and Carrie (Peterson) Christensen. Her mother died in 1874 in the home
country when Mrs. Mork was an infant. There were two children in the family, the
other being Anna, who is now Mrs. Bramer, who lives in Jackson township, this
county. The father brought his little daughters to this country when Mrs. Mork
was but six years old. He located in Shelby county and being quite skilled at
his trade of carpentering hired the work done on the farm where he made his
home, thus being enabled to give his time to his trade. Before leaving Denmark
he again married his second wife being Maria Nelson who bore him three sons and
one daughter whose name is Carrie, the wife of Charles Christensen. The sons are
Chris Junior, Marinus and Peter.
Mr. and Mrs. Mork are the parents of an interesting family of five, namely:
Lydia, born May 24, 1896; Anna, born August 11, 1898; Estalla, born March 10,
1900; Roy, born November 1, 1902, and Levi, November 25, 1905. It has been the
desire of these parents that their children should be well grounded in all that
makes for happy and successful lives and to this noble labor they lovingly
devote thethselves.
Politically, Mr. Mork is a supporter of the principles of Republicanism, but has
never been a seeker after the honor of public office. However, he is known as a
man of some influence at the polls and those who have sought such honors have
been glad to reckon with his influence. Mr. and Mrs. Mork and the daughters
Lydia, Anna and Estalla, are members of the Danish Baptist church and take an
active part in the work of the local society. They live lives consistent with
the teachings of their faith and the influence of this excellent home circle
thus extends abroad wherever its various members may go. The family is highly
respected, moving in the best social circles of the community, and the genuine
hospitality of their beautiful home is extended to a wide circle of friends and
acquaintances. Mr. Mork is a man of very domestic temperament, finding his
keenest enjoyment in his home work and the society of his family and the notably
honorable and systematic methods he has followed have won for him the unbounded
confidence and regard of all with whom he has come in contact. He has always
been regarded as a broad-minded man of high principles, ever interested in
anything that would tend to promote the social or material life of the
community.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1432 - 1434. Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs.
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Agriculture has been an honored vocation from the earliest ages and as a usual
thing men of honorable and humane impulses, as well as those of energy and
thrift, have been patrons of husbandry. The free out-door life of the farm has a
decided tendency to foster and develop that independence of mind and
self-reliance which characterizes true manhood and no truer blessing can befall
a boy than to be reared in close touch with nature in the healthful,
life-inspiring labor of the fields. It has always been the fruitful soil from
which have sprung the moral bone and sinew of the country, and the majority of
our nation's great warriors, renowned statesmen and distinguished men of letters
were born on the farm and were indebted largely to its early influence for the
distinction which they have attained.
Ellis Frank Morris, a prosperous farmer and stock raiser of Lincoln township, in
this county, was born in 1877 in Shelby township, Shelby county, lowa. He is a
son of Demetrius and Mary C. (VanDuyn) Morris, his father being born in
A.shtahula county, Ohio, in 1838, and his mother in Seneca county, New York, in
1844. Demetrius Morris is a son of Dennis Morris, who was born in New York state
in 1814. Early in his life Dennis Morris moved to Ohio, and a few years later
returned to New York state. In 1842 Dennis Morris moved to Peoria county,
Illinois, and in 1850 bought land there and lived the life of a farmer in that
county until 1890. He then moved to Shelby county, Iowa, where he lived a
retired life until his death in 1900. Dennis Morris married Orpha Huff, who was
born in 1818 in Connecticut, and to their union eleven children were born.
Demetrius Morris was educated in Ohio and Illinois. At the opening of the Civil
War, he enlisted in Company H, Fifty-seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer
Infantry, and was in the service until 1865, when he was finally discharged in
the state of Georgia. He made a gallant record during the Civil war,
participating in many of the hardest fought battles of that memorable struggle.
After the close of the war he returned to Peoria county, Illinois, rented land
and farmed there until 1870. As soon as he came back from the war he was married
to Mary C. Van Duyn, and in 1870 he and his wife left Peoria county, Illinois,
for Shelby county, Iowa. Upon their arrival here they purchased eighty acres of
land in Shelby township and five years later added one hundred and sixty acres
more. They lived on this farm until 1896, when they traded the farm for property
in Harlan, where Mr. Morris engaged in the dairy business for a few years.
Demetrius has been an extensive land owner and a large breeder of Shorthorn
cattle and Poland China hogs. He made many exhibits of his stock at county fairs
and won many prizes. He is a stockholder of the Fair Association of Harlan, and
a man of influence in his county. Politically, he is a Prohibitionist. He is a
member of the Grand Army of the Republic post at Harlan and takes an active
interest in the affairs of that organization. Mr. and Mrs. Demetrius Morris are
the parents of four children: Charles, deceased; Allen, who is employed in the
postoffice at Harlan; Jennie B., who is still living with her parents, and Ellis
Frank, whose history is here recorded.
Ellis F. Morris received his education in this county and remained at home until
he was twenty-four years of age. At that time he began farming for himself and
lived upon his father's farm for the following three years. He then purchased
one hundred and twenty acres in this township on which he has a five-acre grove
of fruit and forest trees. He is making a specialty of stock raising, dealing in
Poland China hogs, Shropshire sheep and Polled Durham cattle. Sterling honesty
in his dealings with his fellow men and an exact sense of justice in every
transaction of life have been the principles that seem to govern his career.
Mr. Morris was married in 1902 to Nellie M. White, who was born in 1881 in
Jackson township. Mrs. Morris is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. White of
Jackson township, and a sister of Hon. Edward S. White, who is the historian of
this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Morris are the parents of three sons: Harold W., aged
nine; Elliott V., aged eight; and Robert F., aged six months.
Politically, Mr. Morris belongs to that large class of independent voters who
are breaking away from party ties and are voting for men rather than for eagles,
roosters and moose. Religiously, he and his family are members of the
Congregational church, and in the various activities of their denomination they
take a deep and abiding interest. At the present time Mr. Morris is the clerk of
his township and is performing the duties of this office in a manner which
brings him the commendation of all concerned. He is a man in the prime of life
and has a long and useful career before him. He has contributed much to the
material, civic and moral life of his community, and from the life which he has
led so far in this county, it is safe to predict that he will continue to he one
of the representative citizens of his township and county.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 829 - 831. Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs.
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Almost every farmer of Danish birth in Shelby county, Iowa, has been successful.
Peter Mortenson came to this country at the age of twenty-one and located in
Shelby county, Iowa. He worked four years as a farm laborer and gradually
accumulated land until now he owns two hundred and forty acres in Shelby
township. His career has not been spectacular, but by hard work and good
management he has won the success which he well deserves. He came to this
country with no money and despite this handicap has risen to a position of
prominence and influence in the community.
Peter Mortenson, the son of Jens and Catharine Mortenson, was born in Denmark in
1868. His father was born in 1813 and his mother in 1839, both of them having
died while Peter was a boy.
Peter Mortenson received his education in the schools of Denmark, and when he
reached his majority desired to come to America. Many of his countrymen had
already located in Shelby county, Iowa, and had been very successful. The first
four years after coming here he worked as a farm hand, then married and rented
land for thirteen years, when he bought a farm of his own. In 1903 he bought one
hundred and forty acres, but shortly afterwards sold it and bought two hundred
and forty acres west of Shelby. After farming four years he bought another two
hundred and forty acres in sections twenty-two and twenty-three of Shelby
county, and now lives there. He has made many improvements on this farm and now
has a beautiful country home and spacious barns. His cattle barn is fifty-two by
sixty feet and his horse barn is forty by seventy feet. While he deals in high
grade stock of all kinds he has made a specialty of Clydesdale horses and has
been more than usually successful in breeding them. He has a large grove of four
acres around his home. As a stock raiser he ranks among the best in the township
and averages about one hundred and fifty head annually.
Mr. Mortenson was married in 1894 to Mary Anderson, who was born in Denmark in
1868 and came to this country in 1893. Both parents died when she was a child.
Six children have been born to Mr. Mortenson and wife, four of whom are living
at home with their parents: Arthur, Carl, Emma and Margaret. There are two
children deceased: Jens and an infant.
Mr. Mortenson is a Democrat but has never aspired to public office. preferring
to give all of his time and attention to agriculture. He and, his family are
members of the Presbyterian church and are active in the support of its various
interests. Mr. Mortenson is an excellent example of a man who, though unaided,
wins a place of honor among his fellow citizens.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1158 - 1159. Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs.
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Every community has men of more than usual ability, men who in one way or
another rise above the mass of their fellow citizens and command the confidence
and respect of those with whom their lives are cast. At times this ability is
evidenced by its possessor's easy acquirement of worldly goods; at other times
its possessor is recognized as a natural leader among men, but wherever it
appears when coupled with honesty and integrity, the man so fortunately endowed
takes his place in the world of men and affairs, though his beginning may have
been amidst humblest surroundings. This in a measure may be said of the man
whose name forms the caption of this review, who, born under another flag, came
as a stranger to this land and beginning at the very bottom of the ladder of
success, is winning his way financially and stands high in the esteem of those
who know him. George Nelson is a native of the kingdom of Norway, born on
September 15, 1861, near Bergen, the son of Nels and Gertie (Jergenson) Nelson,
being the second of a family of four children. The others are Carrie, who
married Samuel Eide, Iver and Helen, the latter two having passed from this
life. Subject's mother was a daughter of Jergen Jergenson and both she and the
father dying when subject was still a small child he was taken into the home of
a kindly old lady by the name of Martha Nelson. She resided in the country and
he remainder under her roof until he was fifteen years of age, when he went to
the city of Bergen and for three years was employed there in a store. Hearing
many tales of the golden opportunities for young men in this country, he decided
to cast his lot with this nation, and in 1881 landed on our shores. He went
directly to Illinois, securing employment on a farm near the town of Morris. For
six years he worked out at farm labor by the month and then came to this state,
locating in Shelby county. Here for two years he continued as he had been
employed in Illinois, and then made his first purchase of land, this being a
tract containing sixty-two and one half acres located in section 4 of Polk
township. In 1907 he purchased land adjoining his first purchase and now owns
one hundred and twenty-five acres of excellent farming lands. In 1903 he
remodeled his first home, making additions thereto, and now has a commodious
home of eight rooms with many modern conveniences. He has an excellent barn
twenty-four feet high, with a floor space of fifty-two by fifty-two feet, which
was completed in 1913 and which is especially adapted to his needs. Mr. Nelson
engages in general farming as practiced in this section of the state and also
devotes some attention to the raising of live stock. At the present time. he has
thirteen head of horses, seventy-two head of cattle, about sixty hogs and
possibly one hundred and fifty chickens. None of his live stock is of the most
superior strain, but all is of good quality, carefully selected with an eye to
his needs.
On December 2, 1887, Mr. Nelson was united in wedlock with Miss Julia Thompson,
daughter of Muns and Christina (Jergenson) Thompson, born on January 31, 1871,
near Morris, Illinois. Her parents also were natives of Norway, coming to this
country in 1861 and locating in the state of Illinois, near Morris. There were
in all twelve children in their family, seven of whom have passed away. Two of
their children died at sea and were there buried while they were on their way to
this country. Those of the family still living are Julia, wife of the subject;
Inger (Mrs. Nelson), Anna (Mrs. Axline), Molly (Mrs. Munson) and Andrew. There
were originally five daughters and seven sons, but one of the latter surviving.
In the year 1883 the Thompson family came to this county, having two years
before purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Polk township. Mr.
Thompson's life has closed, but Mrs. Thompson still lives and makes her home on
the farm above mentioned.
To Mr. and Mrs. Nelson have been born five children, four of whom survive. They
lost their second child, a little daughter named Clara, this same name being
later given to the fourth child which came into their home. Mabel, the oldest
daughter, was born on February 21, 1889, and is the wife of Sorris Munson
residing in Polk township. She is the mother of three children, Edwin, Fern and
Alma. Emma, was born on September 1, 1894, and is the wife of Eli Stockline,
residing in Spiceler, Minnesota. Clara was born on April 4, 1898, and Grace
first saw the light of day on June 11, 1901; these two still remain with the
parents. In addition to caring for their own family, Mr. and Mrs. Nelson have
raised a niece, Lina, the daughter of Thomas Thompson, born May 18, 1891. She is
the wife of Bennie Benson and lives at Spiceler, Minnesota.
Politically, Mr. Nelson is a stanch supporter of the principles of the
Republican party and has done much to promote its welfare in his community. He
is now serving as secretary of the school board, was township trustee of Polk
township for nine years and served as township assessor for eight years.
He also was chairman of the township Republican committee for many years and
discharged all the duties thus devolving upon him with such conscientious care
as to win the approval of all concerned. Both Mr. and Mrs. Nelson hold their
religious membership in the Lutheran church, and spare themselves no effort nor
pains to promote the interests of the local society.
Mr. Nelson is a man of whom it may truly he said that he stands "four square to
every wind that blows." To the best of his ability he measures up to his ideal
of the full stature of manhood in every relation of life and the estimation in
which he is held by friends, neighbors and business associates proves how well
he has succeeded. He is regarded as among the county's most worthy and
substantial citiezns and is therefore eminently worthy of mention in a book of
this character.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1402 - 1404. Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs.
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Among the citizens of Polk township, Shelby county, Iowa, who are winning places
and names for themselves in the community, is Anders C. Nielsen, a comparatively
new resident. Mr. Neilsen is a native of Denmark, born on January 24, 1874, near
Hjoring, a son of Christian and Christena (Mortinson) Neilsen. He is one of a
family of eight children, four of whom have passed into the great beyond. One
other beside the subject is a resident of this country; this is a brother, Niels
P. Another brother, Jens, and a sister, Petrina who is the wife of Chris
Nicholison, remain with the mother in the old country. The father's death
occurred in 1898. On March 1, 1909, Mr. Nielsen arrived in Harlan, this county,
bringing with him his wife and child, and the next year he purchased
ninety-seven and one-half acres in section 2 of Polk township, where he has
since made his home. He engages in general farming and finds the raising of live
stock a lucrative side line. While he keeps no full blooded cattle, he has a
good grade never the-less which brings him excellent returns for the time and
money expended on them.
Before coming to this country, Mr. Nielsen was united in marriage, November 27,
1900, with Ingar Marie Michelsen, daughter of Anders and Pauline Michelsen. Mrs.
Nielsen also is a native of Denmark, having been born near Norre Sundby on March
8, 1875. Her father is dead, but the mother is a resident of Polk township, this
county. There are also two other daughters in this country, Johanna (Mrs.
Sorensen) and Anna Marie (Mrs. Hansen). To Mr. and Mrs. Nielsen has been born
one child, Axel, who first saw the light of day in Denmark on April 7, 1904.
Politically, Mr. Nielsen is affiliated with the Republican party, while both he
and his wife are members of the Danish Baptist church, being devout members of
the same. Mr. Nielsen is a man of sterling characteristics and during the short
years of his residence here has won for himself many friends who hold him in
high esteem because of his genuine worth. He also is suc-ceeding admirably in a
material way, bringing to bear in his business venture the best of his brain and
brawn. He has recently erected a large barn, size forty by forty-eight, which is
equipped. especially to meet his needs. Since obtaining possession of his farm,
Mr. Nielson has added many improvements thereby increasing the value of his
holdings. The farm is kept up to the highest standard of agricultural excellence
and its general appearance and the method of his operation reflects great credit
on the sound judgment, wise discrimination and indefatigable energy of the
owner. In all his operations, Mr. Nielson is actuated by the highest motives,
his relations with his fellow citizens having been such as to win their
confidence and good will, and be-cause of his unassuming manner and genial
disposition he has earned and retains the sincere regard of all who know him.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1438 - 1439. Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs.
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It would be very interesting to trace the individual history of the many
thousands of Shelby county citizens and find where they came from and the
motives which induced them to settle in this county. Nearly every state in the
Union and most of the European countries are represented in the citizenry of
this county, but it is certain that Germany has contributed more citizens than
any other country of Europe. There can be no question but that the excellent
farming land of the. county has been the magnet which has drawn them here and it
is equally certain that this is what has kept them here. No better soil can be
found than that of Shelby county and with any skill whatever the average man can
make a good living on a farm in this county. The Danish have been unusually
successful as farmers and Hans Nissen, of Jackson township, is one of the many
who have helped to place this county in the front rank of the agricultural
counties of the state.
Hans Nissen, the son of Nis Nissen and Lena M. (Hans) Datter, was born October
6, 1850, in Schleswig, Germany. His father was born in 1822, farmed all his life
and died in Germany in 1878. His mother was born in 1819 and died in her native
land in 1860.
Hans Nissen was one of five children, all of whom are living. He was educated in
his native land and came to this country in 1870 when he was twenty years of
age. He worked the first year in Scott county, Iowa, and then went to Arkansas
and worked for six months with a railroad construction gang. He next found
employment on the canal at Keokuk, Iowa, and worked there for one year. His next
work found him in Rock Island, Illinois, where he remained until 1878. In that
year he married, came to Shelby county and commenced farming on a farm of two
hundred and forty acres of land in Jackson township. Two years later he bought
one hundred and sixty acres in the same township for nine dollars an acre and
has added to this from time to time until he now has four hundred and forty
acres of excellent farming land in this township. He has made extensive
improvements, built a house, barns and outbuildings of all kinds, and drained
and fenced his whole farm. He raises a large amount of live stock each year and
feeds most of his grain to his stock.
Mr. Nissen was married in 1878 to Julia Christensen, the daughter of Christopher
Mortensen. Mrs. Nissen was born in Denmark in 1853 and came with her parents to
Rock Island, Illinois, in 1872. In 1876 Mr. Mortensen located in Cass county,
Iowa, and two years later settled in Iowa, where he and his wife lived until
their death. To Mr. and Mrs. Nissen have been born five children, Nis H., Chris,
John R., Alfred J. and Holger M.
The Democratic party has claimed the support of Mr. Nissen since he came to this
country and he has always been active in local politics. He has served for
twenty years as township assessor and held the office of township trustee for
six years. He has also been on the school board of his township. Mr. Nissen and
his family are all loyal members of the Danish Lutheran church and contribute of
their means to its support.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 814 - 815. Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs.
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Click photo to enlarge
Shelby county, Iowa, has been singularly fortunate in securing so many high
grade citizens from Denmark, for they have come here for the purpose of
developing her rich resources and have spent every effort to better their
condition. While doing this they have not neglected their duties of citizenship
and have, without exception, supported the institutions of this country and been
loyal to the government which secures them their life, liberty and pursuit of
happiness. All the citizens of this county who are of Danish extraction have
become prosperous and substantial men and have given their influence to all
worthy movements. John C. Nyrup, a native of Denmark and a resident of this
county for more than forty-five years, has been one of the most highly respected
citizens of the county, and is a fine example of the native sons of the little
peninsula of Jutland.
John C. Nyrup, the son of Christian and Christina (Martin) Nyrup, was born on
April 10, 1864, in Denmark. His father was born in 1832, and his mother in 1830,
and were reared and married in their native land. In 1869 Christian Nyrup and
his family left their native land in order to come to the United States, where
they might give their children better opportunities for advancement. They first
settled in Pennsylvania and ten months later, in March of 1870, came west to
Shelby county and settled in Monroe township, being among the first pioneers of
the county. Christian Nyrup entered land from the government and built a oneroom
shack, in which he and his family of six children lived for five years, starting
in with absolutely nothing but their willingness to work. The family prospered,
improved their farm, and upon the death of Christian Nyrup, in 1887, he was the
owner of a fine farm, which was all paid for. His wife died in 1911, both being
buried in Cuppy's Grove cemetery. To Christian Nyrup and wife were born six
children: Mrs. Mary Christiansen, of Harlan, Iowa; Mrs. Anna Byers, whose
husband is a minister of Cottonwood county, Minnesota; Mrs. Lillie Wilson, of
Harlan, Iowa; Minnie, deceased; Mrs. Christina Rasmussen, whose husband is a
farmer of Center township, and John C., whose history is here related.
John C. Nyrup was five years of age when his parents came to this country, and
consequently all of his education was received in this county. He was given such
education as the country schools of his home township afforded at that time and
when a small boy began to assist with the work upon the farm. Upon his father's
death, in 1887, he took charge of the home farm and farmed it for two years, and
then purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Center township, which he
still owns. Five years later he added one hundred and twenty acres to his farm
and is now the owner of two hundred and eighty acres of land, on which he has
placed twelve thousand dollars' worth of improvements. There is no farmer in the
county who raises finer stock or has better crops than Mr. Nyrup. As a breeder
of Shorthorn cattle he takes first rank in his section of the state, having
repeatedly won. first, second and third prizes, and now has a collection of more
than fifty ribbons which he has won at fairs throughout the state of Iowa. He
has been no less successful as a breeder of Poland-China hogs, and for the past
fourteen years has shipped some of his hogs to various parts of the United
States. In addition to handling a highgrade class of cattle and hogs, he also
handles Percheron horses. In 1914 Mr. Nyrup had one hundred acres of corn, which
averaged sixty bushels to the acre, as well as twenty-five acres of alfalfa and
thirty-five acres of oats.
Mr. Nyrup was married on March 10, 1890, to Catherine Byers, who was born on
November 13, 1869, in Schleswig, Germany. To this union have been born three
children, Enoch, Mabel and Harold, all of whom are still living with their
parents.
Catherine (Byers) Nyrup is the daughter of Nis and Christina (Dahm) Byers,
natives of Schleswig. Nis Byers died when Catherine was three years old, leaving
two children, Nels, residing in Minnesota, and Catherine. The mother of Mrs.
Nyrup later married Hans P. Boysen, and to this union were born two children,
Laura, wife of Jacob Nelson, of Harlan, and Nis, of McDonald, Kansas. Mrs.
Nyrup's mother died in February, 1896. The family came to America in 1891 and
located in Curtis township on a farm. Hans P. Boysen died in the spring of 1910.
Mr. Nyrup has always been a Republican, but has been so engaged in his own
private affairs that he has had no time or inclination to indulge in the game of
politics. However, there is no citizen of his township who is more interested in
good government, and his hearty support is always given to such measures as he
feels will benefit the general welfare of the community in any way. He and his
family are members of the Baptist church and in its advancement have always been
actively interested. Mr. Nyrup has a fine home, which is fitted up with all
modern conveniences. His farms now known throughout this section of the state as
"Fairview Stock Farm," is one of the most attractively kept and productive farms
of the county.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1112-1114. Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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