Ida County IA

John Wesley Somers

John Wesley Somers, one of Ida Grove’s oldest and distinguished residents, died Saturday morning, August 2, 1919, at the age of 84 years, 8 months, and 15 days. The funeral was held at the late home Monday, in charge of Rev. John T. Pierce. The interment was at the Ida Grove Cemetery. The pall bearers were Charles S. Macomber, W. J. Scott, James E. Easton, B. S. Noble, A. Sykes, and Card Kiner. Mr. Somers was born at Rockford, Surrey County, North Carolina, on November 17, 1834. While still in youth, he moved to Rockford, Illinois, where he met Sarah … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Thomas Bassett

He came to Ida County in 1877 and was identified with the contracting and building interests in Ida Grove, Iowa. He located there when the town was just starting and put up many of the best buildings in the city. Thomas Bassett and his son, William H., were partners for a number of years. Thomas was born in the County of Cornwall, England, August 2, 1828, son of Thomas & Jane (Pierce) Bassett. He married Eliza A. Rouse in his native land; and in 1854, came to America. He remained in Zanesville, Ohio, until 1875 and went to Greene County, … 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 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 E.A. Porter

E.A. Porter, proprietor of the Porter House, is a native of O.; moved to Guthrie County, Ia., in 1856, and engaged in the grain business. He came to Ida Grove in 1881, and opened the above named house, which was newly furnished. It is a first-class house with good sample rooms.

Biographical Sketch of Thomas S. Brannan

He was an attorney-at-law in Ida Grove, Iowa, and was a resident of Ida County since 1879. He was born in Keyesville, Clinton County, New York, August 15, 1839, and reared in Canada East until 14 years of age. In July 1861, being in the state for a visit, he enlisted in Co. C., 10th Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and re-enlisted in the same company and regiment in January 1864 and served until the close of the war. He was twice slightly wounded. He was a member of the G.A.R., Matthew Gray Post No. 93. He was a Past Commander. In … Read more

1923 Garfield Township, Iowa Farmers Directory

Last First & Middle Section Township County State Anderson N L 2 Garfield Ida Iowa Anderson W A 14 Garfield Ida Iowa Anderson Alex 20 Garfield Ida Iowa Bower Andy 31 Garfield Ida Iowa Broders Meinhard 17 Garfield Ida Iowa Brown Chester 19 Garfield Ida Iowa Bubke Emil 2 Garfield Ida Iowa Buck Gilbert 4 Garfield Ida Iowa Bumann Wm 17 Garfield Ida Iowa Bumann Rudolph 36 Garfield Ida Iowa Burton Clinton 21 Garfield Ida Iowa Burton Homer 21 Garfield Ida Iowa Bush Ed Jr 15 Garfield Ida Iowa Carter Alonzo Jr 17 Garfield Ida Iowa Caughey Albert 13 Garfield … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Isaac Bunn

Isaac Bunn, clerk of the courts, is a native of England; came to America in 1851 and located at Cleveland, O.; removed to Dubuque, Ia., in 1856; thence to Ida Grove in 1871, where he engaged in wagon making and blacksmithing. He was elected to his present office in 1874, and has been re-elected each term since.

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

Nippert, Charles Elsworth – Obituary

Charles Elsworth Nippert, son of George and Sarah Nippert, was born at Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin, November 18, 1863, and died at his home in Galva, Iowa, January 5, 1942, having attained the age of 78 years, one month, and 18 days. He came to northwest Iowa in early manhood when it was still raw prairie and a part of the national frontier. At the age of ten years, he came with his parents in a covered wagon. The family settled near Minden in Pottawattamie County, and it was there he grew to manhood. He was married to Elizabeth Hessler … Read more

Biography of D. P. Bullock

D. P. Bullock, a farmer of Douglas Township, Ida County, was born in St. Lawrence County, New York, July 21, 1838, a son of Daniel B. Bullock, a native of Fulton County, N.Y. His father, also named Daniel, was a soldier in the War of 1812. His mother, nee Eunice Buckley, was born in New York, a daughter of Peter Buckley, a native of Connecticut. Mr. Bullock was reared and educated in New York to the age of 15 years, when he located near Sycamore, De Kalb County, Ill., and was employed in farming until the fall of 1861. When … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John Nott

John Nott, postmaster, was born in Wis. in 1847; moved to Ida, Ia., in 1874; thence to Willow dale, near the present town of Battle Creek, and engaged in the mercantile business. He was appointed postmaster in 1876; the office was moved to Battle Creek in 1877; he also moved there, having sold his business, and is still in office.

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 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 H.H. Perry

H.H. Perry, proprietor of Ball’s Hotel, is a native of Ill.; moved to Marshalltown, Ia., in 1868, and engaged in the mercantile business. In Dec. 1881, he became landlord of the above house. This hotel is a first-class house, has large sample rooms, and all the comforts required by travelers.

1906 Silver Creek Township – Iowa Farmers Directory

Able, W. R. Albrecht, Emil Anderson, Edward Anderson, James Anderson, F. A. Anderson, W. J. Anspach, George Anspach, Milt Baie, Frank Baie, Joseph Baxter, Robert Benedict, Ed Bennett, Chas. E. Bennett, Etta S. Bennett, D. D. Bennett, E. A. Bennett, W. J. Berman, Wm. Bieschke, Julius Blair, W. S. Bleakly, C. Bresnahan, Dan Brown, Thos. S. Buck, Charles Buck, John Buhler, Jacob Burgert, Frank Buss, Bert E. Carlberg, Andrew Carlberg, Otto Clapsaddle, George Clapsaddle, W. L. Clark, Edward Clouse, Louis Clouse, Mat Coalter, George Coalter, Jim Coalter, Thomas Collin, S. Collin, Jonas Collin, Joel Collin, John Compton, Ed Craig, J. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William Smith

William Smith was owner and proprietor of the Central Roller Mills, Ida Grove, Ia. He succeeded Wilkinson & Smith in the milling business, this firm having succeeded Brown & Ream. Mr. Brown was the founder of the milling plant and erected the a two-story structure building in 1883. It was a buhrstone mill having a capacity of 40 barrels. In 1887 it was changed to a roller mill by Wilkinson & Smith and its capacity increased to 60 barrels per day. Mr. Smith then erected a new engine house, removed the old slide valve and replaced it with a Reynolds-Corliss … Read more

Biographical Sketch of C.P. Lund

C.P. Lund, dealer in agricultural implements and stock, was born in Denmark in 1834; came to America in 1861 and farming in Wis. In 1870 moved to Ida County, Ia., and in 1877 came to Battle Creek and engaged in stock and lumber business. In 1881 engaged in the above business.

Biographical Sketch of Sydney Cork

Sydney Stephan Cork was born in Hartlip County of Kent in England on July 13, 1890. He had 8 brothers and sisters but only one sister came to America. His parents were John Isaac Cork and Mary Anne Rose Cork. After he completed his 8th grade, he went to work on a farm. At the age of 22, he came to America in the spring of 1913, traveled by ship to New York, and then by train to Galva, Iowa, Ida County. The trip from England to Iowa cost $80, and he earned $28 per month from spring to fall … Read more