Ida County Iowa Genealogy Collections – Page 3 of 6

Biographical Sketch of Hector Baxter

Hector Baxter, a farmer of Maple Township, Ida County, Iowa, was born in Argyleshire, Scotland, June 16, 1834. His parents were John and Mary (McNeil) Baxter, natives also of that country where they lived and died. Hector was reared and educated in Scotland where he learned and followed the trade of shoemaker for many years. In 1877, he left his native land for the United States, and after landing in New York, purchased and improved 160 acres of wild land in Tama County, Iowa. He sold this land in 1881, and bought 320 acres in Ida County. He built a … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Hans J. Lund

Mr. Lund was born February 7, 1845 in Denmark and came to America in 1864. He traveled to Chicago. He came to Ida County in 1883 and lived on a farm until 1904 when he moved to Arthur, and came to Ida Grove in 1910. He married Mrs. Geo. Heitman November 3, 1883. One son, Max Lund, was born to this marriage. He had four step-children: Andrew Heitman, Frank Heitman, Mrs. Geo. Baker, and Mrs. Martha Weed. He died of blood poisoning, which followed as an aftermath of an operation that was performed at Sioux City May 3 at St. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of H. F. Gilbert

H. F. Gilbert resided on a farm of 160 acres in Section 3 of Maple Township, Ida County, Iowa. He settled on the land in Maple Township in 1888. His father had purchased the land in 1883. He was born in Herkimer County, New York, September 26, 1856, son of S. L. and Eveline (Seaman) Gilbert, natives of New York. His grandfathers were Amos Gilbert and Jacob Seaman. He married Mary E. Doherty in Jones County, Iowa, January 1, 1881. Mary was a native of Springfield, Massachusetts, and a daughter of P. F. and Mary Doherty. When Mrs. Gilbert was … Read more

Biographical Sketch of H. C. Dall

H. C. Dall lived in Maple Township, Ida County, Iowa and was a resident since 1881. He was born in that portion of Denmark which became a part of Germany in 1864. The date of his birth was July 31, 1845. He was the son of C. H. and Elizabeth (Iverson) Dall. He was raised in Denmark, attending school from the time he was seven until he was fourteen. In 1872, at the age of 27 years, he left his native land and came to America and settled in Lee County, Illinois. He engaged in farming on rented land. In … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Gilbert S. Usher

He is a citizen of Battle Creek, Ia., Ida County, and an ex-soldier of the Civil War. He was born in Ashtabula County, Ohio on September 22, 1837. He was raised on a farm in the Territory of Iowa, Linn County. He had his school lessons in a primitive log schoolhouse of Iowa. In 1862, he answered Lincoln’s call for more men for the Civil War. In 1881 he came to Ida County and bought a tract of land in Grant Township and engaged in farming. He married Amanda Marsh in Linn County, Iowa, when he was 22 years of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George Yousling

George Yousling of Corwin Township, Ida County, Iowa, settled here in 1879 on Section 26. He was born in Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pa., October 28, 1825, the son of George Yousling, Sr., a native of Switzerland. His mother was Elizabeth Yousling, also a native of Switzerland. George Yousling was reared and educated in Dauphin County, living there until 18 years of age where he learned the trade of carpenter. His present farm was south of Ida Grove where he redeemed the farm from its original wild state. His residence was two stories in height, with an added L the same … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George Grouell

He was a farmer of Battle Township, Ida County, Iowa, Section 23, and was born in Crawford County, Ohio, on April 19, 1846. When George was a lad of 10 years, his family came to Iowa and located near Lowden in Cedar County, later moved to Wheatland, Clinton County. In 1883, he came to Ida County and settled on new land. His cottage home is 14 x 20 feet, with an L, 14 x 16 feet. George’s father was John Grouell and his mother was Christena Weaber, natives of Germany. Mr. Grouell was first married in October, 1870, in Clinton … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Frank Correll

Frank Ferris Correll was born at Chenoa, Illinois on February 27, 1859. They lived in North Dakota and taught school in Mandan, North Dakota. When they came to Iowa, they came by train to Alta, Iowa. They were met by a bobsled with a pig in the back to keep their feet warm. They were taken to a farm near the Hanover community. They moved to Galva, Iowa, Ida County. He ran a grocery store with the aid of his daughter, Myrtle. Frank Correll often play the fiddle for barn dances in the area. Frank was a 2nd cousin to … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Enoch Jones

Enoch Jones, a well-known citizen of Battle Creek, Iowa, was a resident of Ida County since 1883, and of Iowa, since 1852. He was born in Bourbon County, Ky., March 6, 1825. He was reared and educated in Kentucky, and learned the trade of blacksmith. John Jones, his grandfather, married a native of Wales. He was a prominent hotel man of Culpeper, Va. Moving to Bourbon County, Ky., he settled on Boone Creek, and was a participant in many of the Indian wars. His son, James Jones, father of Enoch, was born in Va., and married Dicie Gregory, a native … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Edward Eckman

He was an Assessor of Hayes Township, Ida County, Iowa, and was born in Sweden in 1858. He was the son of Frederic and Sophia (Anderson) Eckman, natives of Sweden. Edward was reared and educated in the schools of Sweden and De Kalb County, Illinois, arriving there in 1875. He was engaged in farm labor and in 1878 located on his farm in Hayes Township, Ida County, which he purchased in 1876. He served as Road Supervisor for 4 years for Hayes Township, as Constable two years, and was Assessor beginning 1890. He had a brother Peter, a sister Augusta … Read more

Biographical Sketch of E. B. Baird

He was born in Onondaga County, New York, November 6, 1837, and was raised on a farm. In 1872, he came to Iowa and bought land in Maple Township, Ida County, Iowa. Mr. Baird was married at age of 30 to Harriet Conover, daughter of Isaac Talmage, in Scholarie County, New York. Their child was Edmund C. Baird. Mr. Baird married Matilda Preston in 1877. She was the daughter of John Preston, who was born and educated in Scotland. They had three children: Andrew E., Preston, and Mabel Laura. E. C. Baird was vice president and director of the Maple … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Dr. E.C. Heilman

He located at Ida Grove, Iowa, August 20, 1877. He was born in Cedar County, Iowa, July 18, 1856, son of Samuel and Mary (Ranck) Heilman. His parents were natives of Pennsylvania and of German descent. He was reared in Iowa, received his literary education at Cornell College and took his medical course at the Medical College of Ohio at Cincinnati, graduating at the latter institution in March 1877. Upon his arrival here he entered into a partnership with Dr. F. D. Seeber, & was associated with him for 2 years. After conducting his practice alone for 2 years, Dr. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Dennis Cain

Dennis Cain, a farmer of Section 22, Blaine Township, Ida County, was born in Monmouth County, New Jersey, December 26, 1844, a son of William and Mary (Noon) Cain, natives of Roscommon County, Ireland. The parents were married in Ireland, but in an early day came to America, locating in New Jersey. In 1856, they opened a farm near Libertyville, Lake County, Illinois. They were the parents of 9 children: Thomas (a furniture dealer of Racine, Wisconsin), Ann (married John Linberry of Libertyville, Illinois), Ella of New Jersey, John (resided near Libertyville), Kate (married James Mark of Chicago), William of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of D. Countryman

D. Countryman was a farmer and stock raiser of Section 31, Grant Township, Ida County, was born in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, in 1841, a son of Peter and Margaret (Nicholas) Countryman. He was reared and educated in Rock County, Wisconsin. He began farming for himself in Linn County, Iowa. In 1875 he came to Ida County, and was the first settler in what is now Grant Township (then Maple Township). He bought 65 acres of raw Iowa land on the West Soldier River. He at once began improving the land, and erected a small shanty. After breaking 20 acres, he … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Collins F. Tillotson

Collins F. Tillotson was a farmer of Maple Township, Ida County, Iowa. He purchased wild prairie land in February, 1874, when he came to Ida County and resided on 417 acres in Section 18. He was born in Onondaga County, New York, December 7, 1846. His father was Sanford P. Tillotson born in Connecticut and was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. His mother was, before her marriage, Miss Nancy Jane Ward. His grandfather, David Tillotson, was a native of Connecticut and served in the war of 1812. Collins was reared in New York and received his education in the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Claus Rochau

Claus Rochau of Galva Township, Ida County, Ia. resides on Section 3. He has been a resident of the township since 1877, and is one of the old settlers. He was born in Germany, near Holstein, in 1842. He was the son of Hans and Catherine Rochau, both natives of Germany. In 1860, Claus crossed the great waters to America. He married Minnie Bower in Davenport, a native of Germany. She came to America with her parents, Mr. & Mrs. Carl Bower, when quite young. Claus and Minnie had 10 children: Gusta, Herman, Annie, Lizzie, Minnie, Emma, Willie, John, Katy, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Charles Hansen

Charles Hansen was born on March 25, 1856 in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. He came to the United States in 1873 at the age of 17. He married Anna Margret Jepsen on September 18, 1882 at Dixon, Illinois. Anna has come to America in 1881. She was born on June 3, 1861 at Assens, Fyen, Denmark. A few years later they moved to Ida County, Iowa and farmed until 1917 when they moved into Ida Grove, Iowa. Charles had two brothers, James of Clifton, Illinois, and Louis of Kankakee, Illinois. He had one sister, Carrie Kraft of Queensland, Australia, and a half-sister … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Charles G. Kolb

Charles G. Kolb was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, September 29, 1834. When he was 22 years of age, he came to America, making the journey on a Sailing Vessel that required 40 days for the passage. Altogether in his life, he crossed the Atlantic Ocean 13 times, the second trip being to bring back a bride, Catherine Weiler. The last journey was in 1910 when he visited his fatherland. He lived two years in New York State along the Hudson before he went for his bride. Upon their return, they settled on a farm near Harrisburg, Pa. in 1858. In … Read more

Biographical Sketch of C. C. Zupp

He was born September 18, 1835 to George Peter Zupp (a native of France), and Elizabeth Zeuder of that country. They came to America and located in Pennsylvania. C. C. Zupp was born in Lancaster County, Pa., and when he was 3 years old they went to Wyandot County, Ohio. Three years later, they moved to Hillsdale County, Michigan. At the opening of the Civil War, he enlisted in the Eighteenth Michigan Infantry. After its close, he returned to Michigan, and moved to Buchanan County, Iowa. In 1869, he moved to Section 3, Douglas Township, Ida County, Iowa. At the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of C. C. Van Houten

C. C. Van Houten lived on a farm near Battle Creek, in Maple Township, Ida County, Iowa, and was identified with the agricultural interests of this place since 1882. Mr. Van Houten was born in Clarion County, Pa., April 24, 1856. John Van Houten, his father, a native of the Keystone State, served during the Civil War as a member of Company K, One Hundred and Forty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He then resided near Cushing, Iowa. John married Miss Mary Ann Boyles, a native of Pennsylvania. They had seven children, 3 sons and 4 daughters. C. C. Van Houten was … Read more