Bacon |
Baldwin |
Bare |
Barrett |
Bendon |
Bengtson |
A Best |
E Best |
Bissen |
Blaine |
A highly respected and honored citizen of a past generation in Shelby county, Iowa, was Thomas Bacon, who was one of the most prominent and
prosperous farmers in this county at the time of his death, in 1909. Mr. Bacon was a man who had many rough experiences during his earlier years,
and lived and worked in many states before finally locating in Iowa. He was a man who richly deserved the success which attended his efforts as a farmer in Shelby county, and while he was concerned primarily with his own interests, yet he never neglected the duties which he owed to his community as a public-spirited citizen.
Thomas Bacon, the son of Thomas and Anna (Kerr) Bacon, was born in Jacksonville, Illinois, March 5, 1836, and died at his home in Harlan,
Shelby county, Iowa, May 9, 1909. His father was born in England and his mother in Edinburgh, Scotland. After the marriage of Thomas Bacon
and Anna Kerr they came to America and located in Jacksonville, Illinois, and near that place Thomas Bacon, Sr., farmed until his death. Of the four
children born to Thomas Bacon, Sr., and wife, only one, Andrew, is now living. The other three were Richard, Thomas and Fannie. Andrew is now
living in Jacksonville, Illinois.
Thomas Bacon, Jr., was educated in the schools of Jacksonville, Illinois, but left school early in order to work. His father died when he was very young, and he and his brother, Andrew, took charge of the farm and worked there until their mother's death. Thomas then worked out as a farm
hand by the day for a few years, and then went west to seek his fortune. He worked in Wyoming and Idaho for several years, driving a team of
mules and hauling freight from one town to another. He endured many hardships during the winter seasons while crossing the mountains in the
snow and sleet. After five years of this strenuous life, he and his brother bought a farm in Missouri. The two brothers bought and shipped cattle for
ten years in that state, and then Thomas Bacon came to Iowa and located in Poweshiek county. Here he fed out a drove of cattle and after his marriage, in this county, went to Washington Territory, on the Pacific coast, where he remained a year.
In 1877 Thomas Bacon and his family came to Shelby county, Iowa, where he bought four hundred acres of land at sixteen dollars an acre. Later he added eighty acres, so that he had a well improved farm of four hundred and eighty acres in Lincoln township, where he lived the remainder of his life. He also owned twelve hundred acres in Nebraska in addition to his holdings in Shelby county, Iowa. He took up stock raising in this county and bought stock all over the county, fattening and selling several car loads
each year.
Mr. Bacon was married October 28, 1875, to Emeline Miller, the daughter of Jacob and Armilda (Edwards) Miller, and to this union were born
six children, all of whom are living, Tuda, Alice, Richard M., Jane, Oliver G. and Max E. Tuda married Thomas McDonald, who died October 25,
1913, leaving two children, Margaret and Thomas. Alice is the wife of Dr. F. E. Brazee. Richard is a veterinary surgeon at Shelby, Iowa. Oliver and
Max are students in Ames College, while Jane is at home with her mother.
Mrs. Bacon was born in Poweshiek county, Iowa, and her father was a native of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and her mother of Missouri. Mrs. Bacon's
father was reared and educated in his native state at Pittsburg, and after leaving school, engaged in farming. He worked by the day on the farms in
Pennsylvania for a few years and then went west and located in Illinois. He was subsequently married at Quincy, Illinois, and remained in that city for
some time. He then moved to Mahaska county, Iowa, bought a farm and farmed there for several years, later moving to Poweshiek county, where he
lived until his death, May 12, 1876. His wife died May 28, 1908. To Jacob Miller and wife were born ten children, Andrew, Chancey, Jacob, John,
Stephen, Grant, Anastasia, Emeline, Angeline and Armilda. Of these children Chancey and Jacob are deceased, while the other eight are still living.
Mrs. Bacon and family are members of the Congregational church and deeply interested in its welfare. Mr. Bacon was a life-long Democrat, a
man who always took a deep interest in good government. He was active in promoting everything which pertained to the welfare of his county and no
measure which was advanced for its betterment failed to find in him a hearty supporter. His character was such that he merited the high esteem in which he was held by everyone who knew him. In his departure the county lost one of its most valued citizens.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 822 - 824.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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One of the enterprising and successful farmers of Shelby county, Iowa, who has succeeded in his chosen vocation through his perseverance and good
management is William Baldwin, the proprietor of the "Highland Park Farm" in Grove township. The qualities which have made Mr. Baldwin one
of the prominent and successful men of his township and county have also brought him the esteem of his fellow citizens, for his career has been one of well directed energy and honorable methods. He has taken a prominent part in the civic life of his community and is now serving as trustee of his township, a position which he is admirably filling.
William Baldwin, the son of John and Priscilla (Mayhen) Baldwin, was born December 22, 1869, in Canada. His parents were also both natives
of Canada, his father's birth occurring July 2, 1838, and his mother's in 1848. John Baldwin was reared to manhood in his native land and assisted
his father on the home farm until he was married, when he began farming for himself and continued to follow the life of a tiller of the soil until his
death May 26, 1912. His widow is still living at Manitoba, Canada.
William Baldwin is one of ten children born to his parents, nine of whom are still living. He was educated in the schools of his native country
and after leaving school farmed with his father for three years. He then married and came to Iowa, locating at Dunlap in 1892. After coming to the
state he worked for four years as a farm hand and then rented a farm of one hundred acres in Douglas township, Harrison county. He continued to
operate a farm in Harrison county for ten years and in 1907 came to Shelby county and bought his present farm of two hundred acres in Grove township. Since acquiring this farm he has placed more than six thousand dollars' worth of improvements upon it and now has one of the most attractive as well as one of the most productive and valuable farms of the township. He has a beautiful home, excellent barns and out buildings and everything about the estate indicates that the owner is a man of taste. He keeps graded live stock and feeds all of his grain to hogs and cattle, having found by experience that the farmer makes the most profit in this way.
Mr. Baldwin was married in March, 1892, to Hattie Lalone, the daughter of Fred and Mary Lalone, and to this union have been born eight children, Bessie, Myrtle, Pearl, Juliet, Jesse, William, Fred and John. Fred was killed by a horse some years ago and John died when he was two years of
age. The remaining children are still living with their parents. Mrs. Baldwin's parents were natives of Canada also, and came to Harrison county,
Iowa, in 1891, settling near Dunlap. Her father died some years ago and her mother is still living in Dunlap. Mr. Lalone and wife were the parents
of four children, all of whom are living.
The Republican party has claimed the support of Mr. Baldwin since reaching his majority. He has always been interested in everything pertaining to
good government and in the success of his party he has been particularly active. His worth as a citizen is indicated by the fact that his party nominated him for the position of trustee of his township, a position to which he was subsequently appointed. Fraternally, Mr. Baldwin is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, holding his membership in both lodges at Dunlap. Mr. Baldwin is a
man whose well-directed efforts have gained for him a position of desirable prominence in the life of his township and county and it is gratifying to
know that his energy and enterprise have been crowned by success.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 783 - 784.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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One of the oldest veterans of the Civil War living in Harlan, Iowa, is John Bare, who is now past four score and four years of age. In spite, of his
advanced years Mr. Bare is well preserved and is remarkably active for a man upon whose head the snows of so many winters have fallen. He has
been a resident of Shelby county for the past thirty-four years, although he has been retired from active farm life for several years. He saw three years of hard service during the Civil War and was a participant in all of the terrible battles which were fought around Vicksburg during the spring and summer of 1863. He went through the bloodiest battle of the Civil War, Champion's Hill, but came out at the end of the struggle without ever having been wounded or being seriously ill during his entire enlistment.
John Bare, the son of Christian and Elizabeth (Miller) Bare, was born August 11, 1830, in Somerset county, Pennsylvania. His father was a native
of Switzerland, and came to America when he was twenty-one years of age with his brothers, John and Ole, and located in Somerset county, Pennsylvania. He was a weaver in his native land and after coming to America he followed the cooper's trade until his death in 1862. Elizabeth Miller was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, and lived and died in the county where she was born, passing away in 1870. Christian Bare and his wife both were members of the Mennonite church. They reared a family of nine children: Solomon, John, Abraham, Anna, Jacob, Christian, Katherine, Mary and Susan. All of these children are deceased with the exception of John, Christian, Mary and Susan. Jacob was a soldier in a Pennsylvania regiment and was frozen to death while on picket duty in the Civil War.
John Bare was educated in the schools of Somerset county, Pennsylvania, and remained at home until he was twenty-one years of age. In 1852 he went to Wayne county, Ohio, and worked upon a farm for two years, after which he went to Lagrange county, Iowa. From the latter place he removed to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and worked there until the opening of the Civil War. He enlisted on August 7, 1862, in Company F, Twenty-fourth Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered into the service at Mount Vernon, Iowa. The regiment to which his company was attached was sent to Helena, Arkansas, in the fall of 1862, and from that time until the surrender of Vicksburg, July 4, 1863, Mr. Bare was fighting around Vicksburg. He participated in many of the numerous engagements fought around that besieged city, and after its surrender was in the battle of Jackson, Mississippi. From Jackson his regiment was sent to New Orleans and subsequently took part in the Red River expedition. His regiment was finally taken by water to Washington, D. C., and during the winter and spring of 1865, fought in the battles of Winchester, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek. From Virginia his regiment was transferred to Savannah, Georgia, and there he was mustered out in July, 1865, receiving his final discharge at Davenport, Iowa.
Immediately after his discharge Mr. Bare went to Linn county, Iowa, and remained with his brother in that city for a short time. In the following year he married and began farming in Woodford county, Illinois, where he lived for fifteen years. In 1880 Mr. Bare brought his family to Shelby
county, Iowa, and located in Lincoln township, five miles west of Harlan, where he bought eighty acres of unimproved land and lived upon it until 1909,
when he sold it for one hundred and fifty dollars an acre and moved to Harlan, where he is now residing.
Mr. Bare was married October 26, 1866, to Rachel Blough, the daughter of Jonas and Elizabeth (Bowman) Blough, of Somerset county, Pennsylvania. Mr. Blough died in Pennsylvania May 3, 1862, aged fifty-five years. His widow moved to Woodford county, Illinois, in 1864 with her children, of whom there were seven: Josiah, deceased; William, of McLain county, Illinois; Mary, deceased; Rachel W., wife of John Bare; Susan, deceased; Caroline, of Chicago, Illinois, and Ellen, deceased. Mr. Bare and his wife are the parents of three children: Elizabeth, Ida and John W. Elizabeth is the wife of William Biddle, of Harlan, and has three children, Clarence, Elsie and Miller. Ida is still living with her parents. John W is a farmer living at South Range, Wisconsin. He married Blanche Dunlap and has two children, Nellie and Louis.
Politically, Mr. Bare has long been a stanch Republican, and one of the most active members of the Harlan post of the Grand Army of the Republic. While interested in political affairs he has never been a candidate for any public office, never having had any inclination for official life. His whole
career has been spent in farming and in the management of his farm he has been very successful. The fact that he received one hundred and fifty dollars an acre for his farm shows that he kept it in a high state of cultivation and that it was well improved in every way. He and his wife are now living in their comfortable home on South Seventh street in Harlan. The family are all loyal members of the Second Baptist church in Harlan and are interested in everything which pertains to its welfare. Mr. Bare is one of the oldest veterans of the Civil War in the county, and is highly honored and respected by every one who knows him.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1373 - 1375.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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It is interesting to note that a large number of the young farmers of Shelby county, Iowa, are living on the farms where they were born. A
prosperous young farmer of the county is Galen A. Barrett, now farming his father's estate of three hundred and twenty acres in Shelby township.
He has a high school education and studies diligently agricultural literature, thus keeping in touch with the latest agricultural ideas. The United States
government, through the Department of Agriculture, each year is issuing a large number of bulletins covering every phase of scientific farming, and
the up-to-date farmer keeps these bulletins for reference. Mr. Barrett is a wide-awake farmer, and time will prove him a most substantial citizen of this
county.
Galen A. Barrett, the son of William G. and Alice (Hollister) Barrett, was born May 13, 1883, on the farm in Shelby township, where he is now
living. His father was born near Bucyrus, Ohio, in 1844, and his mother was born in Mahaska county, Iowa, in 1855. William G. Barrett came to
Iowa and Ohio with his parents and settled in Mahaska county. In the spring of 1877 he came to Shelby county, bought eighty acres of unimproved
land and as he prospered added to his land holdings until at the time of his death, in 1900, he owned two hundred and forty acres. William G. Barrett
and wife were the parents of three children: Galen A., Mrs. Mabel Schulte, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Sadie, who is living with her mother in Council
Bluffs, Iowa.
Galen A. Barrett received his education in the Shelby schools and after graduating from the high school returned to his father's farm and took
active charge of it. His father and mother had made many improvements upon the farm, now one of the most productive, as well as one of the most
attractive in the township.
Mr. Barrett was married December 22, 1909, to Julia E. Frazey, a school teacher, who is a native of Shelby county, born in 1885, the daughter
of John Frazey, born in 1849 in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, and an early settler of the county. To this union one son, William G., was born, February 17, 1911.
Politically, Mr. Barrett is a Republican, and is regarded as one of the leaders of the younger element in his party. He was appointed by the county
board of commissioners in 1913 to fill an unexpired term as township trustee, and acquitted himself with honor in the administration of the duties of this office. He and his wife are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Shelby. Fraternally, he is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons at Shelby. Mr. and Mrs. Barrett are both members of the Order of the Eastern Star.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1475 - 1476.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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A veteran of the Civil War and the present postmaster of Portsmouth, Iowa, is Simon A. Bendon, who has been a resident of this county for the past
thirty-five years. In fact, his whole life in Shelby county has been spent in or near Portsmouth, and therefore he is well known to all of the citizens of
that enterprising little city. As a carpenter and contractor he has built a large number of the houses in Portsmouth and the surrounding community
and has therefore been a prominent factor in the life of the community.
Simon A. Bendon, the son of Robert and Mary (Frexler) Bendon, was born June 8, 1843, in Cambria county, Pennsylvania. His parents were both
natives of Pennsylvania, his father's birth occurring in 1812 and his mother's two years later. Robert Bendon followed the carpenter trade all his life
and died in the state where he was born, October 13, 1859. His wife lived until March 10, 1908, dying at the advanced age of ninety-six years. Robert
Bendon and wife were the parents of eleven children, Elizabeth, Vannetta, Simon, Cecelia, Agnes, Matilda, Angela, Alice, John C., Gernis and Sepherina. Of these children, Gernis, Sepherina, Angeline and Elizabeth are deceased.
Simon A. Bendon was educated in the schools of Cambria county, Pennsylvania, but his education was very limited and in fact his schooling was limited to fifty-two days of actual attendance. After leaving the school room he farmed until he enlisted for service in the Civil War. He first enlisted as a member of Company K, One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and at the expiration of his enlistment re-enlisted,
on June 6, 1863, in Company V, Eighty-seventh Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered out June 29, 1865. His regiment saw
hard fighting in Virginia, and later fought at Gettysburg in the summer of 1863. He participated in the bloody battles of Antietam, Spottsylvania and
Winchester, and a score of other engagements in which the loss of life was heavy. His last battle was at Sailor's Creek in 1865.
After the close of the war, Mr. Bendon returned to his home in Pennsylvania, and after his marriage, in 1868, removed to Iowa and located in
Iowa county. In 1879 he moved with his family to Shelby county and located near Portsmouth, subsequently moving to the city. He had learned the carpenter trade as a young man with his father and has followed that occupation in Shelby county. He has built a large number of houses, barns and, out-buildings in the county and has always had all the work he could do in season.
Mr. Bendon was married on January 14, 1868, to Anastasia A. Wagner, the daughter of Jacob Wagner, and to this union eight children have been
born, Victoria, Othia, Giles, Isadore, Gertrude, Ira, Nellie and Eldenia. Othia married Nora Headley. Giles married Anna Herkenrath. Ira married Angela Claudenburg. Nellie is the wife of Elmer Spracklen. Isadore is the husband of Rosa Hutchinson, while Gertrude is single and living with her parents. Mrs. Bendon's parents were natives of Pennsylvania and lived all their lives in that state. Her father was a prominent farmer of his community and a man of influence in his county.
Mr. Bendon is an active Republican in politics and has always been a leader in the party in his county. He has been serving for fourteen years as
postmaster of Portsmouth and giving universal satisfaction to the patrons of the office. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and deeply
interested in everything pertaining to the welfare of his local post. He and his family are devout members of the Catholic church, while he is a member
of the Knights of Columbus.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 773 - 774.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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Many nations are represented in the cosmopolitan population of Shelby county, but a preponderance of the number of foreign born citizens are of
Germanic descent. These citizens have been large contributors to the material, moral, educational and religious advancement of the county, and have
rendered their adopted country as true devotion as have the native born citizens. One of these German settlers who has been actively engaged in
farming in Clay township is Jesse P. Bengtson, who has taken an active part in the life of his community since he came here more than twenty years ago. He has filled various township offices, and in the administration of the duties connected with them, has shown that rare citizenship which is the stamp of the true American citizen.
Jesse P. Bengtson, the son of Andrew P. and Ellen (Lange) Bengtson, was born in Schleswig, Germany, in 1873. His father was a native of
Sweden, born in 1849, and his mother was born in Denmark in the same year. His father was a merchant and real estate dealer in Sweden and died
in that country in 1914. Andrew P. Bengtson was twice married. His first wife, the mother of Jesse P., died in 1880, and the four children born to this
first marriage are now all deceased with the exception of Jesse P. In 1893 Andrew P. Bengtson was married to Bernardine Carlson, who was born in
Sweden in 1864, and is still living in her native land. Two children were born to this second union, one of whom is deceased.
Jesse P. Bengtson was educated in his native land and when he reached the age of eighteen, came to America and settled in Shelby county, Iowa.
He worked as a farm laborer in Clay township for two years and then rented a farm for six years, after which he bought a farm of eighty-one acres. He
planted a grove of fruit and forest trees on this farm and in 1912 disposed of it at a good profit and bought his present farm in the same township of
one hundred and twenty acres. He has made many improvements on this farm and has just completed a beautiful country home at a cost of thirty-five
hundred dollars.
Mr. Bengtson was married in 1906 to Caroline Seymour, who was born in Clay township, in 1881. Her father, Monroe Seymour, was a veteran of
the Civil War. He was born in the state of New York in 1845 and is now living a retired life in Atlantic, Iowa. Mr. Bengtson and wife have two children, Lloyd and Gladys, both of whom are still living with their parents.
The principles and policies of the Republican party have always found in Mr. Bengtson a loyal supporter. His party has called upon him upon frequent occasions to serve in an official capacity and he has never been found wanting. He served as assessor for six years, and filled the important
position of justice of the peace for a period of four years. He and his family are loyal and consistent members of the Danish Lutheran church, in whose
welfare they are deeply interested and to whose support they are liberal contributors.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 741 - 742.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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The prosperity of the farmers of Shelby county, Iowa, affords ample
proof that this county is one of the garden spots of the world. With improved farming machinery and the introduction of the best farming implements it is possible for the farmer to get better results today than ever before.
One of the enterprising farmers of Shelby county is Arthur M. Best, who
has been renting a farm in Shelby township for several years. He is a young
man of good education and keeps in close touch with all phases of agriculture,
and the success which has attended him in his agricultural career indicates
that he has used his education to the best advantage.
Arthur M. Best, the son of Matthias and Mary (Mercer) Best, was born
in Shelby township, Shelby county, Iowa, in 1877. His father was born in
Mercer county, Pennsylvania, June 4, 1830, and was the son of Robert and
Margaret (Van Horn) Best, natives of Butler county, Pennsylvania and,
New Jersey, respectively. Matthias Best and Mary Mercer were married in
Cadiz, Ohio, on January 1, 1853, and in 1854, they moved to Muscatine,
Iowa, and bought a farm in that county. In 1873 Mr. Best and his family
came to Shelby county, where they bought one hundred and sixty acres of
unimproved land. He lived upon the farm until 1900, and then moved to
Harlan, and two years later sold the Harlan property and moved to Shelby,
where he lived until his death the same year. Thirteen children were born to
Matthias Best and wife: Mrs. Ella B. Tucker, deceased; Mrs. Sarah A.
Robinson, Shelby, Iowa; Mrs. Jennie I. Mowry, Shelby, Iowa; Mrs. Nassai
King, at home with her mother; Harry S., Manning, Iowa; Archie M., at
home; Alvin S., living in Colorado; Ernest L., whose history is presented
elsewhere in this volume; Frank B., of Omaha, Nebraska; Arthur M., whose
history is here recorded; Charles W., of this county; Martha B., deceased,
and Mary A., deceased.
Arthur M. Best received a good common school education and then
entered the Normal School at Woodbine, Iowa, where he took a commercial
course. At the age of twenty-one he returned to the farm and began working as a farm hand. After his marriage in 1900 he and his brother, Charles
W., began renting a farm of two hundred acres, but within a short time
Arthur took charge of his father-in-law's farm, and is still living on it. He
is an extensive breeder of thoroughbred live stock and shipped his stock for
breeding purposes to different parts of the state. He handles Poland China
hogs and a graded stock of horses, and has met with pronounced success in
stock raising.
Mr. Best was married in 1900 to Sadie Mattox, who was born in this
county in 1880, the daughter of H. O. Mattox, and to this union have been
born four children: Glen, Lloyd, Dorothy and Alice.
Mr. Best is a Republican in politics, but has never been an aspirant for
any political office. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church,
and are interested in its various activities.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1489 - 1490.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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For more than forty years the Best family has been prominently identified with the history of Shelby county, Iowa, and every place where the members of this family have settled, they have contributed in no small measure
to the welfare of their respective communities. A family of thirteen children
was born to the late Matthias Best and a majority of these are still living in
Shelby county. Ernest L. Best, one of the seven sons, has been a prominent
farmer in Shelby township and since the death of his father in 1902, has been
in active charge of his father's estate.
Ernest L. Best, the son of Matthias and Mary (Mercer) Best, was born
in Muscatine county, Iowa, in 1871. His father was born in Mercer county,
Pennsylvania, in 1830 and his mother was born in Belmont county, Ohio, in
1832. Matthias Best was the son of Robert and Margaret (Van Horn) Best,
natives of Butler county, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, respectively. Of
the nine children born to Robert Best and wife, Matthias was the eldest.
Matthias Best and Mary Mercer were married at Cadiz, Ohio, on New Year's
Day in 1852 and two years later they moved to Muscatine, Iowa, where they
lived until 1873. That year they came to Shelby county and located on one
hundred and sixty acres of unimproved land. On this farm Matthias Best
lived until 1900, when he moved to Harlan and retired from active farm life.
In 1902 he sold his city property in Harlan and moved to Shelby but died two
weeks afterwards. He was one of the most prominent men of the county
during his time and was active in political affairs. He held several township offices and always acquitted himself with credit in the administration of
the duties connected with them. He was an active member of the Presbyterian church and zealous in Wall good work. There were thirteen children
born to Matthias Best and wife: Mrs. Ella B. Tucker, deceased; Mrs. Sarah
A. Robinson, Shelby, Iowa; Mrs. Jennie I. Mowry, Shelby, Iowa; Mrs. Nissai King, who is living with her mother; Harry S., Manning, Iowa; Archie
M., at home; Alvin S., Colorado; Ernest L., with whom this narrative deals;
Frank C., Omaha, Nebraska; Arthur M., whose history is presented elsewhere
in this volume; Charles W., Shelby county, Iowa; Martha B., deceased; and
Mary A., deceased.
Ernest L. Best attended the country schools of his township and at
eighteen years of age, began working out as a farm hand for fifteen dollars
a month. Three years later he rented one hundred acres which he farmed for
two years, then he married and rented the Tucker farm for two years, after
which he took charge of the home farm. He has been making a specialty of
the breeding of Shorthorn cattle and is meeting with pronounced success in
this particular line of activity.
Mr. Best was married in 1897 to Laura A. Davis, who was born in
Shelby county, Iowa, in 1880. She is the daughter of Henry Davis, an
early settler of Shelby county, who now is living in Harrison county, Iowa.
Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Best: Ernest L., Jr., Agnes
A., Mildred L., Esther L., Henry B. and George W.
Since reaching his majority Mr. Best has given his support to the Republican party, but he has always preferred to give his time and attention to
his agricultural pursuits, rather than to engage in active political life. He
and his wife are loyal members of the Presbyterian church and interested in
all of the work of the church and Sunday school. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Best is a scion of a distinguished family and has done his share toward placing Shelby county in
the front ranks of the counties of his state. He is a man of genial disposition and highly honored and respected by every one who knows him.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1359 - 1360.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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Among the citizens of Westphalia township, Shelby county, Iowa, who
have built comfortable homes and surrounded themselves with valuable estates,
few have attained a higher degree of success than John Bissen. He is one of
the many sterling citizens of German birth who have made this county their
home. The thrift and frugality of the German peoples are proverbial and no
foreign country has sent more loyal or more energetic citizens to this country.
Whatever occupation they follow after reaching here, they always prosper
and become substantial citizens of their various communities.
John Bissen, the son of Nicholas and Elizabeth (Huberta) Bissen, was
born November 11, 1857, in Luxemburg, Germany. His father was a veterinary surgeon and farmer in his native country until he came to this country
in 1869 with his children. His wife died in Germany in 1866, and, desiring
the better opportunities offered by the United States, he came here and settled in Dubuque county, Iowa. He bought a tract of timber land for five
dollars an acre and he and his sons cleared it, selling the timber for more than
enough to pay for the land. Nicholas remained on this farm for eight years
when he sold it for forty dollars an acre and moved to Shelby county. Here
he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of laud in Westphalia township
from Emil Hertert, paying thirty-three dollars and thirty-five cents an acre
for it. On this farm Nicholas lived until his death, January 8, 1882. To
Nicholas Bissen and wife were born five children: Peter, John, Mary, Eva
and Theresa. Two of these children, Peter and Mary, are deceased.
John Bissen was twelve years old when he left his native land with his father. He had already received the rudiments of an education. After coming to this state he attended school but, because of his unfamiliarity with the English language, derived little benefit from his schooling. At an early age, he began work upon the home farm and continued to assist his father until the latter's death in 1882. He then worked out for a couple of years and, after his marriage in 1884, started farming himself. That he has been remarkably successful is proved by the fact that he now has a fine farm of
five hundred and eighty acres in Westphalia township. He also owns a ten-acre tract in the Everglades, Florida, and a lot in a new town there. His
land is well improved and yields a handsome income annually, mainly from the sale of live stock. He keeps all of the latest improved machinery upon
his farm, having found that better results are obtained.
Mr. Bissen was married May 6, 1884, to Mary Gaul, the daughter of William and Albertina (Tinner) Gaul, both natives of Germany. William Gaul and wife reared a family of several children: Paul, Peter, Nicholas, Theresa, Katherine, Rosa, Jacob, and Mary, the wife of Mr. Bissen. To Mr. and Mrs. Bissen have been born nine children: Nicholas, Lena, Katherine, Jacob, Paul, John, Joseph, Peter and Barbara. Nicholas married Clara Bock and has two daughters, Hilda and Mary. Lena is the wife of Hubert Jacoby and has four children: Mary, Leander, Mercedes and William. Katherine married Herman Esser and has three children: Alexander, Anthony and Marcello. Jacob died August 8, 1912. The rest of the children are still living with their parents.
Mr. Bissen is a Democrat and takes an active interest in local affairs. He has been road supervisor for thirteen years and in that capacity has performed efficient service. He and his family are members of the Catholic church and contribute generously to its maintenance.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1188 - 1189.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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The chief wealth of Shelby county, Iowa, lies in its rich farming land
and it is safe to say that the farmers of the county furnish the largest majority
of the hank depositors. Among the substantial farmers of Douglas township is William Edgar Blaine, proprietor of Farvue Stock Farm, who was
born in this township in 1876 and has spent most of his life in the township
where he was born. He is a man of excellent education and is deeply interested in the welfare of his county. Such a man certainly lends stability to
the community honored by his residence.
William Edgar Blaine, the son of Lewis and Eliza (Smith) Blaine, was
born in Douglas township, Shelby county, Iowa, November 7, 1876. His
father was born in Perry county, Pennsylvania, January 25, 1841, and his
mother was born in the same county in 1845. His parents were married in
Perry county, Pennsylvania, and reared a family of three children: Anna,
William Edgar and Nora. Anna married Thomas Moller and after his
death James Woods. Nora is the wife of Isaac Ferry.
Lewis Blaine farmed in Pennsylvania until the opening of the Civil War,
when he enlisted as a member of the forty-seventh regiment, Pennsylvania
Volunteer Infantry, and served throughout the whole struggle. Upon returning to his home in Pennsylvania after the war, Lewis Blaine took up the
shoemaker's trade and followed it for a short time. He then came west with
his family and located in Poweshiek county, Iowa, where he bought one hundred acres of timber land. He continued to reside in this county until 1876,
when he moved to Shelby county and located one-half mile east of Kirkman,
where he bought one hundred and twenty acres of land on which he erected
a small log cabin in which he began his successful Iowa career. Subsequently,
he doubled his acreage and at the time of his death, January 25, 1907, he
owned two hundred and forty acres of well improved land. His widow survived him about three years, passing away April 16, 1910.
William Edgar Blaine received his education in the schools of Kirkman
and after completing the course in his local schools, entered the Normal
School at Woodbine, Iowa. Later he spent two terms in Highland Park College, at Des Moines, Iowa, where he made an excellent record as a student.
After leaving college he became a locomotive fireman on the Northwestern
railway. After four years of this service he was promoted to the position of
locomotive engineer and remained in the employ of this company from 1898
to 1908. Though his "run" was out of Sioux City, he made his home at
Carroll, Iowa. When his father died he took charge of the home place and
has since been managing it. He now has two hundred acres in Douglas
township and also has charge of one hundred and sixty acres in South Dakota.
He raises on an average of seventy acres of corn each year which averages
fifty bushels an acre. All this he feeds to his hogs and cattle and even buys
corn in addition. He feeds out about one hundred and eighty head of hogs
each year as well as three car loads of cattle and is justly ranked among the
most progressive stock raisers of his township.
Mr. Blaine was married October 31, 1900, to Pearl Carter, the daughter
of James and Ellen Carter, who was born in Center township. To this union
have been born three children: Vivian, Ercyle and Helen. The parents of
Mrs. Carter had eight children: Cass, Nettie, Abbie, Frank, Charles, Pearl,
Clara and one who died in infancy.
Politically, Mr. Blaine gives his loyal support to the Republican party
and always has taken an intelligent interest in the various questions which
have come before the general public along political lines. Mr. Blaine and his
wife are earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Kirkman and
the former is a member of the official board of his denomination at the present
time. Fraternally, he is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons,
belonging to the lodge at Harlan. He is a member of the Brotherhood of
Locomotive Firemen and Engineers and served as chairman of the grievance
committee of that organization from 1904 to 1908. Mr. Blaine is a wide-awake and patriotic citizen and takes an active interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of his locality, thus meriting the high esteem in which he
is held by his fellow citizens. Since the consolidation Mr. Blaine has been a
member of the school board of Kirkman and his strong influence ever is
thrown in the direction of better schools and the broader education of the
youth of his community. His home, the Farvue Stock Farm, is situated one
and three-fourths miles southeast of Kirkman and is one of the show places
of this fine agricultural region.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1336 - 1338.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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