Iowa

Biographical Sketch of Hans J. Lund

Hans J. Lund, born in Denmark on February 7, 1845, immigrated to America in 1864, settling in Chicago before moving to Ida County in 1883. He farmed until 1904, later relocating to Arthur and then Ida Grove in 1910. Lund married Geo. Heitman on November 3, 1883, and had one son, Max, along with four stepchildren. He died from blood poisoning following an operation in Sioux City, with his funeral held at his farm home and burial at the Swedish Lutheran Cemetery in Kiron, Iowa.

Biographical Sketch of William Smith

William Smith, born on April 7, 1852, in Perry County, Pennsylvania, became the owner of Central Roller Mills in Ida Grove, Iowa. He succeeded Wilkinson Smith and transformed the mill from a buhrstone operation to a roller mill in 1887, increasing its capacity to 60 barrels per day. Smith, who moved west at the age of 25, married Matilda J. Shearer in 1883 and had five children. His contribution to the milling industry included the branding of products such as “Ivory Patent,” “White Pearl,” and “Oasis.

Biographical Sketch of Charles G. Kolb

Charles G. Kolb was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, on September 29, 1834, and immigrated to America at age 22. He settled in Pennsylvania after marrying Catherine Weiler and later moved to Ida County, Iowa, in 1880. Kolb significantly influenced local education and worship, establishing a Sunday school and serving on the school board. After moving to Ida Grove, he remained active in the community until his death in April 1919. He and Catherine had six children and are buried in Ida Grove Cemetery.

Biographical Sketch of Henry K. Ferguson

Henry and Eliza Jane (Anspach) Ferguson settled in Silver Creek Township in 1874, acquiring land before the arrival of the railroad in 1877. Facing challenges such as the absence of doctors and banks in Ida County, they transported goods by team to distant trading points. Henry constructed their home using lumber from Storm Lake, navigating the untamed prairie without roads. The couple endured hardships, including the devastating 1876 grasshopper invasion that threatened their crops, but persevered, raising their daughter Velma in this harsh environment.

Biography of David Nicoll

Rev. David Nicoll, born on February 22, 1841, in Delaware County, New York, was a minister of the United Presbyterian Church and a notable farmer in Battle Township, Iowa. Son of Scottish emigrants, he served in the Union Army during the Civil War, participating in significant battles and sustaining a gunshot wound. After his military service, he completed his theological education and became a pastor in Iowa. Nicoll also contributed to his community as a school board secretary and township clerk while managing his 320-acre farm. He and his wife Isabella had three children.

Biographical Sketch of William B. Fair

William B. Fair, born in 1833 in Fivemiletown, Ireland, learned carpentry from his father. At 40, he immigrated to America in 1875, settling in Wapello, Iowa. After marrying Rachael Pierce, he established a life on the prairie, enduring challenges and raising a family. They had several children, though three died young. The Fair family prioritized faith and community, hosting church services and visiting preachers. Their story reflects the persistence and resilience of early settlers in the American Midwest.

Biography of David Warnock

In the spring of 1869, the Warnock family, originally from Ireland, migrated from Dubuque County to Ida County, Iowa, settling on June 10 amidst only seven families. David Warnock, born in Pennsylvania in 1846, established a blacksmith shop in 1870 after marrying Mary Ferguson during their journey. He worked various roles, including a mail carrier for the pony express, and successfully defended his homestead claim against a land company. The family later transitioned from a soddy to a frame house, contributing to the area’s agricultural development as the railroad arrived in 1877.

Biography of D. P. Bullock

D. P. Bullock, born in St. Lawrence County, New York, in 1838, was the son of a War of 1812 veteran. He relocated to Illinois, where he enlisted in the Eighth Illinois Cavalry during the Civil War, participating in many significant battles. After the war, he farmed and worked in railroad shops before settling in Douglas Township, Iowa, in 1880. He married Delia E. Lake and fathered four sons, engaging in local governance and serving as postmaster in Cushing, Iowa.

Biography of Harrison Hackett

Harrison Hackett, born on May 6, 1832, in Orange County, Vermont, was a prominent figure in early Ida County, Iowa. He served in the Civil War and later worked for the Vermont Central Railroad before moving to Minnesota to farm. In 1876, he settled in Ida County, acquiring 320 acres and cultivating corn while raising livestock. He married Almina Hatch in 1852 and later Elizabeth Howser in 1889, blending families through this union. Harrison was active in his community and a member of the G.A.R.

Biographical Sketch of H. F. Gilbert

H. F. Gilbert, born on September 26, 1856, in Herkimer County, New York, settled on a 160-acre farm in Maple Township, Ida County, Iowa, in 1888. His father acquired the land in 1883. He married Mary E. Doherty, originally from Springfield, Massachusetts, on January 1, 1881. The couple raised five children: Earl L., Elva M., Irma L., Willie H., and Clifford D. Gilbert’s roots trace back to his grandfathers, Amos Gilbert and Jacob Seaman, both from New York.

Biographical Sketch of Thomas Bassett

Thomas Bassett, born on August 2, 1828, in Cornwall, England, immigrated to America in 1854, settling first in Zanesville, Ohio, and later Greene County, Iowa. In 1877, he moved to Ida Grove, Iowa, where he became influential in the local contracting and building sector, constructing many prominent buildings alongside his son, William H. Bassett. He married Eliza A. Rouse and had six children, contributing to the community’s development during its formative years.

Biographical Sketch of William Crane

William Crane, born on May 16, 1841, on the Isle of Man, was the son of a British soldier who died young from cholera. He married Margaret Bolt and moved to Ida County, Iowa, in 1884 after living in Jones County for 30 years. Crane purchased a 160-acre farm in Corwin Township and fathered ten children. He was also involved in local education as a member of the School Board, reflecting his commitment to community and family.

Biographical Sketch of Thomas S. Brannan

Thomas S. Brannan, an attorney-at-law in Ida Grove, Iowa, was born on August 15, 1839, in Keyesville, New York, and raised in Canada before settling in Ida County in 1879. He served in the Civil War with the 10th Iowa Volunteer Infantry, where he was wounded twice. Admitted to the Iowa bar in 1883, he also served as Clerk of the District Court. Married to Rachael Tiser, Brannan had five children and was of Irish descent, with connections to the Hudson Bay Fur Company.

Biographical Sketch of Dennis Cain

Dennis Cain was born on December 26, 1844, in New Jersey to Irish immigrants William and Mary Cain. The youngest of nine, he moved to Illinois with his family at age 12. Dennis began farming in 1861 and served honorably in the Civil War. He married Anna Scott in 1871 and moved to Ida County, Iowa, in 1876, acquiring 266 acres. They had six children. Cain passed away on June 6, 1912, and is buried in Ida Grove Cemetery, Iowa. Anna died on April 22, 1922.

Biography of Emeline J. Harris

Emeline J. Harris, born in Licking County, Ohio, married Samuel Allison in 1852. They had eight children while residing in Delaware County, Iowa, before moving to Sac County in 1881. Samuel was a stock raiser, involved in the Democratic Party and tragically died in 1888. Emeline passed away in 1896. Their children, Oscar, Anna, Mary, Minerva, and Laura, also settled in Iowa and Dakota, marrying and raising families while contributing to agriculture and community life.

Biographical Sketch of Bros. Bownam & Kranz

Bowman Kranz Bros., established on July 1, 1886, in Holstein, Iowa, succeeded the S. H. Bowman Lumber Co., the area’s first lumber dealers. The firm operated from a substantial facility near the railroad depot. H. G. Kranz, born in Germany in 1865, began his career with the Bowman Lumber Co. after emigrating at age 18. His brother, J. C. Kranz, also from Germany, worked as a farmhand before joining the business, actively contributing to local banking and development initiatives.

Biographical Sketch of E. B. Baird

E. B. Baird was born on November 6, 1837, in Onondaga County, New York, and raised on a farm. In 1872, he relocated to Maple Township, Ida County, Iowa, where he purchased land. He first married Harriet Conover, with whom he had one son, Edmund C. Baird, before marrying Matilda Preston in 1877, with whom he had three children. Baird was active in his community, serving as vice president and director of the Maple Valley Savings Bank and on the Maple Township School Board.

Biographical Sketch of Collins F. Tillotson

Collins F. Tillotson, born December 7, 1846, in Onondaga County, New York, settled in Maple Township, Ida County, Iowa, in 1874, acquiring 417 acres of wild prairie land. He was educated in local schools and Monroe Collegiate Institute. His ancestry includes a Revolutionary War soldier and a participant in the War of 1812. At 24, he married Mary J. Clark, with whom he had six children. Tillotson’s homestead featured various structures and livestock facilities, reflecting his dedication to farming.

Biographical Sketch of Mathias Clouse

Mathias Clouse, born in Alsace-Lorraine, France, in 1843, was a pioneer in Silver Creek Township, Ida County, Iowa. He emigrated to America with his family, initially settling in Erie County, New York, before moving to Iowa. Mathias married Isabella Cunningham in 1869 and established a farm in Ida County in 1874. He served in the Civil War, participating in significant battles and earning an honorable discharge. The couple had five children, and Mathias was actively involved in the G.A.R. after the war.

Biographical Sketch of James Brown

James Brown, born January 16, 1843, in Perry County, Ohio, purchased land in Ida County, Iowa, on October 10, 1873, and settled there on March 29, 1874. Coming from a large family, he was the son of John Brown, an Irish immigrant. After marrying Margaret and farming in Jackson County, he plowed the first furrow in Battle Township. An active community member, he served as county supervisor and held various township offices, with notable local landmarks named in his honor.