Edward C. Bellows
Prominent among the successful, active and able farmers and
extensinve landowners of Allamakee county is numbered Edward C.
Bellows, now the proprietor of two fine farms, one in Union City
township and one in Iowa township. He is a native of Illinois,
born in 1846, a son of Porter and Angeline Bellows, both of whom
were born in the New England states, where their marriage also
occurred. In 1850 they came west to Iowa and settled in French
Creek township, Allamakee county, in pioneer times. The father
took up a government claim of a quarter section of land and also
preempted a large tract, adding to his original holdings from
time to time until at his death, which occurred in 1875, he owned
eight hundred acres, highly improved and developed. His wife
survived him many years dying about 1895. To their union wree
born eight children, three of whom have passed away. The others
are: (George) who makes his home in Waukon, (Charles) who resides
in New Albin, (Emily) the widow of Nicholas Betsinger, of
LaCrosse, Wisconsin, (Edward C.) of this review, and (Elmer) who
lives in Allamakee county.
Edward C. Bellows was only four years of age when his parents
removed to French Creek township and in Allamakee county he was
reared and educated pursuing his studies in the district schools.
He began his independent career at the age of twenty-one and for
some time thereafter engaged in various occupations, including
work in a Wisconsin pine lumber camp, where he remained for two
years. After he returned to Iowa he conducted a livery business
in Lansing for four years and then turned his attention to
farming, following this occupation for ten years thereafter as a
hired laborer. Eventually, however, he purchased land of his own,
buying three hundred and forty acres in Union City township, a
tract which forms a part of his present farm. From time to time
he has increased his holdings and now owns seven hundred and
forty-five acres seven miles from New Albin, divided into two
fine farms, both substantially improved. He engages in general
farming and stock-raising, and the two branches of his activities
have proven gratifying source of revenue to him, his good
business ability and close application having gained some rank
among the progressive and prominent agriculturists of the county.
He is in addition a stockholder in the Farmers Savings Bank of
New Albin and connected with other important business interests.
Mr. Bellows married, in 1882, Miss Ida Conkey, who was born in
Allamakee county, a daughter of O.H. Conkey, district judge for
many years. He passed away at an advanced age and his widow still
survives him, being now more than ninety years of age. In their
family were five children: (Heck) who resides in Michigan,
(Effie) who makes her home with her mother in Sanborn, Iowa,
(Ida) the wife of the subject of this review, (Mary) the wife of
Herman Canburg of Sanborn, and (Nettie) who has passed away. Mrs.
Bellows died in 1884, leaving one son Arthur C. He was born in
1884, and acquired his education in the public schools of
Allamakee county. He married Miss Emma Meyers, a native of
Germany, and they have three children: Ida, Allie and Harold. The
family make their home on a portion of the Bellows homestead.
Mr. Belows gives his political allegiance to the democratic
party, but has never sought nor desired public office. He has
lived to witness remarkable changes in Allamakee county during
the years of his residence here, and that many of his stanchest
friends are numbered among those who have known him from boyhood
is an indication that his has been an honorable and upright life
and one which well entitles him to the respect and esteem in
which he is uniformly held.
-source: Past & Present of Allamakee County; by
Ellery M. Hancock; S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.; 1913; page 339-340
-transcribed by Terry Bellows
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