Biography

Biographical Sketch of George Yousling

George Yousling, born on October 28, 1825, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, settled in Corwin Township, Ida County, Iowa, in 1879. A carpenter by trade, he transformed a 400-acre farm into a productive estate featuring a two-story residence and various outbuildings. Yousling served nine months in the Civil War with Company K, 192nd Regiment. He married twice, first to Eleanor Young, with whom he had three children, and later to Mary McFadden, with whom he had six children. His family and agricultural contributions mark his legacy.

Biographical Sketch of William C. Forney

William C. Forney, born on October 13, 1854, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, settled in Corwin Township, Ida Grove, Iowa, in 1882. He was educated at Millersville Normal School and initially worked in the boot and shoe industry before turning to farming and stock-raising. He married Emma J. Kinter, with whom he had four children: Margaret, Michael, Harry, and William Jr. William Jr. had two children, Ross and Arlo. The Forney family has roots in Pennsylvania, with connections to the Kinter family.

Biographical Sketch of Frank Correll

Frank Ferris Correll was born on February 27, 1859, in Chenoa, Illinois. After living in North Dakota, he moved to Iowa, where he settled near Hanover. He operated a grocery store in Galva, aiding his daughter, Myrtle. A talented fiddler, Frank entertained at local barn dances. He was a second cousin to Charles Correll, known from the radio show Amos and Andy. Frank married Elma J. Correll, with whom he had Myrtle, who taught her mother oil painting despite her arthritis.

Biographical Sketch of George Grouell

George Grouell, born on April 19, 1846, in Crawford County, Ohio, moved to Iowa with his family at age ten, initially settling near Lowden and later Wheatland. In 1883, he settled in Ida County, establishing a modest home. He was first married to C. V. Brown in 1870, with whom he had three children, before her passing in 1878. He married Mary A. Jamieson in 1882, and they had four children together. His parents were John Grouell and Christena Weaber, both of German descent.

Biographical Sketch of Sydney Cork

Sydney Stephan Cork was born on July 13, 1890, in Hartlip, Kent, England. After working on a farm post-education, he immigrated to America in 1913. Settling in Galva, Iowa, he earned a modest living through farm work. He married Florence Agnes Davison, who also emigrated from Kent, on February 28, 1917. The couple farmed together, raising flax during World War II and acquiring modern farming equipment in the late 1930s. They had one son, Wilfred Earl, born in 1920.

Biographical Sketch of J. T. Payne

J. T. Payne, born in 1851 in Clay County, Indiana, was the son of William Benjamin and Malinda Payne. Educated in Boone County, Iowa, he purchased land in Hayes Township, Ida County, in 1875, where he became an important early settler. He played a significant role in organizing Hayes Township and establishing local school districts. Payne married Georgiana Friott in 1880, and they had five children. His contributions to the community and family life reflect his commitment to the region’s development.

Biography of Richard Williams

Richard Williams was born in 1845 in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, to English immigrants. He served in Battery F of the First Illinois Light Artillery during the Civil War, participating in significant battles before returning to farming. In 1868, he relocated to Boone County, Iowa, where he contributed to the Illinois Central Railroad’s construction. Williams married Angeline Ewer in 1872, having eight children. A pioneer in Grant Township, he played a key role in organizing the township and was elected County Commissioner in 1891.

Biographical Sketch of John Preston

John Preston was born on June 27, 1857, in Forfarshire, Scotland, and immigrated to Battle Creek, Iowa, in 1872 at the age of 15. He worked on his brothers’ farm and later purchased several parcels of land in Maple Township, focusing on general farming and Shorthorn cattle. In 1882, he married Maggie Todd, also from Scotland, and they had four children together. Preston’s contributions to farming in Ida County reflect the immigrant experience and agricultural development of the era.

Biographical Sketch of Jonas Collin

Jonas Collin, born in Sweden on April 12, 1830, immigrated to America in 1869 with his family, initially settling in Iowa. After an 18-month stay in Benton County and a further period in Marshall County, he acquired 80 acres in Ida County, later expanding to 440 acres. Collin was dedicated to improving his land with various fruit trees. He married Johanna Segolson in Sweden, and together they had nine children, two of whom died young.

Biographical Sketch of Gilbert S. Usher

Gilbert S. Usher, born on September 22, 1837, in Ashtabula County, Ohio, was a resident of Battle Creek, Iowa, and a veteran of the Civil War. Raised on a farm in Linn County, Iowa, he attended a log schoolhouse. In 1862, he enlisted to serve in the war. Usher moved to Ida County in 1881, where he farmed after purchasing land in Grant Township. He married Amanda Marsh, and together they had ten children.

Biographical Sketch of John A. Brechwald

J. A. Brechwald, born in the German Rhineland on June 21, 1858, immigrated to Ida County with his parents in 1881. He co-founded the cigar manufacturing company Brechwald Bros. in Ida Grove. In 1907, he relocated to Florida, where he worked in the nursery business, carpentry, and real estate. Brechwald passed away on May 22, 1919, and was interred in the Ida Grove Catholic Cemetery. He left behind his wife, a daughter, and numerous siblings.

Biographical Sketch of R. S. Wasser

In 1885, R. S. Wasser and J. L. Bleakly established a grocery and queensware business in Ida Grove, Iowa, initially starting at a stand before relocating to a brick building. R. S. Wasser, born on November 17, 1860, in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, was the firm’s leader. He married Mollie L. Dutcher on September 19, 1888; she was from Franklin Grove, Illinois, and sadly passed away at a young age on August 1, 1891.

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.