1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa
Page Index:
Comstock |
Buman |
Brodersen |
Tague |
Buthmann |
Dales |
Andresen |
Christensen |
Stoelk
Agriculture has been the true source of man's dominion on earth ever since the primal existence of labor and has been the pivotal industry that has
controlled, for the most part, all the fields of action to which his intelligence and energy have been devoted. Among this sturdy element of Shelby county agriculturists who have made a deservedly prominent place for themselves in the community is the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this biographical, sketch.
William A. Comstock, farmer and stockman of Lincoln township, Shelby county, Iowa, is a native of the state of New York, born there March 29, 1866.
He is the son of Orville Comstock, born in New York in 1832, who was thrice married. Subject's mother was married before becoming the wife of Mr.
Comstock and owing to the fact that she died when subject was but four years old, he has lost the record of her maiden name. Orville Comstock came west in 1873, making the long journey from New York in one of the covered wagons familiarly known as "prairie schooner," which for a number of years formed an almost continuous procession from the over-crowded sections of the eastern and central states to the broad lands and golden opportunities of the west. He settled in Shelby county, Iowa, and homesteaded eighty acres of land in Lincoln township. There during the remainder of his life he made his home, his death occurring in January, 1911. On this farm he had made many improvements and it is there the immediate subject of this sketch makes his home, having lived there continuously since he was seven years of age. Altogether Mr. Comstock owns one hundred and five acres lying in Lincoln and Shelby townships. He carries on general farming, giving considerable attention also to the raising of live stock for the market.
Mr. Comstock chose as his life companion Miss Laura Mussehmann, born near her present home in this county, to whom he was united in marriage
December 14, 1881. They are the parents of an interesting family of eight children, namely: Edith, Vera, Grace, William, Luella, Letha, Earl and Eva,
all of whom are at home. Since attaining his majority, Mr. Comstock has given ardent support to the Democrat party. He is a quiet, unassuming man,
well known throughout the locality where he lives and where he has spent practically his entire life.
Laura Musselmann Comstock was born May 22, 1867, in Illinois, the daughter of Daniel and Sarah Musselmann, natives of Buck's county, Pennsylvania, and of German parentage. Her parents first settled in Illinois and in 1871 moved to Iowa and settled in Cass county, where they resided on two farms near Atlantic and Walden until 1879, when they settled in Lincoln township, Shelby county, where they had a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres. Daniel and Sarah Musselmann retired to Harlan in old age and Daniel died in May, 1900. Sarah died in Perry, Iowa, in November, 1913. They were the parents of seven children.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1342-1343. Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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Perseverance and sterling worth almost always are sure to win conspicuous recognition in all localities. Success is almost certain to come to that man who early in life decides upon what his life work shall be and then brings every power of his being to bear upon the accomplishment of his desires. Such seems to have been the attitude early taken by the subject of this sketch, who though still a young man has accomplished much of which a man of more years might well be proud. Agriculture opens up almost unlimited opportunities to the man who devotes whole-souled energy and enterprise to this vocation. Time was when the farmer was regarded in a rather unfavorable light and for the products of his wearisome labor he was forced to take whatever the markets chose to give him. Fortunately, however, all this is now changed and it is the farmer who makes the markets. Very definitely he has come into his own. While in this business as in all others there is a great amount of labor and responsibility, yet there is a degree of freedom and liberty peculiar to this vocation such as no other business man enjoys.
John Buman is a native of this county, born December 15, 1882, being the eldest son of Ludwig and Mary (Butcher) Buman, the former a native of Germany, born in 1854, and the latter born in Pennsylvania in 1853. When a boy, John Buman attended the schools of his home locality, receiving
a good practical education. From early childhood he also was instructed by his father in all that pertained to the secrets of successful husbandry. In
1896, when quite a young boy, he started farming for himself on land which he rented and a short time afterward made the purchase of one hundred and sixty acres of land located near his boyhood home. On this farm he has since made his home. When he purchased this tract there was not much on it in the way of improvements, but gradually he has made one improvement after another until he has brought the farm and its buildings up to an excellent state of cultivation. In these efforts he has expended about eight thousand dollars and a great amount of labor. He carries on general farming as practiced in this section, following only the methods most approved by modern usage and as a result he usually enjoys banner crops. He also pays particular attention to the breeding of live stock, his cattle being an excellent strain of the Shorthorn variety, while the Duroc Jersey hog has his preference in swine.
January 15, 1907, John Buman was united in marriage with Miss Helen M. Rosman, who was born in this county April 14, 1883, and into their home
have come three children, Edwin, Corinne and Helen Bernice. Since attaining his majority, Mr. Buman has given his earnest support to the Democratic
party and his religious affiliation is with the Catholic church. While giving his efforts primarily to attaining success for himself and family, Mr. Buman
ever has borne in mind the principles of good citizenship and always is ready and glad to do whatever lies within his power to promote the moral, material or educational welfare of the community. In everything to which he has given his attention he has put forth his best effort and his growing success is but his just reward.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1343-1344.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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The office of county supervisor is a very important one, inasmuch as the incumbents of the office are the financial guardians and managers of the
county's affairs. It is essential and necessary for the best interests of the county that the membership of the county board be composed of men of
tried business ability who have made a success of their own individual affairs. Of such men is the Shelby county board of supervisors composed,
and Shelby county is fortunate in having as a member of the board the individual whose name forms the caption of this brief review. Hans Brodersen is a native-born resident of Shelby county and a son of Danish parents. For forty-three years he has resided in the county and has seen the prairie
wilderness develop with his own growth from boyhood to manhood and has witnessed one of the most wonderful transformations of a grass-covered
landscape into fertile and productive farms that it has been the lot of any man to witness.
Hans Brodersen, county supervisor, was born in a log cabin on a pioneer farmer in Jackson township, January 27, 1871, and is the son of Jacob
and Gine Brodersen, natives of Denmark. His fathers, Jacob Brodersen, emigrated in 1868 from the little country which has produced some of the
best and brainiest citizens of America and was first employed in the construction of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific railroad through the state of
Iowa. He was naturally an agriculturist and secured a farm of forty acres in Jackson township, sending for his wife and infant daughter in 1869. In
the year 1870 he located on his new and unbroken piece of prairie land, built a log cabin and proceeded to develop his acreage. The hardships of the family were many during these first years, but they bore them with the true fortitude for which the Danish people are noted. He later sold his first
"forty" and moved to another farm about one mile east and again developed a tract of prairie land. To this tract he moved his log cabin, but two years
later he erected another and more commodious house. Here the Brodersen family resided for over twenty years and prospered. Jacob Brodersen was
born in 1838 and of late years has resided in Harlan.
Mrs. Brodersen died in Harlan in the year 1910. To Jacob and Gine Brodersen were born the following children: Hans, of Harlan; Mrs. Dorothy Boysen, of Harlan; Christ, a prosperous farmer of Jackson township; Peter, on the old home place; Mrs. Ella Christenson, of Harlan; Charles, an automobile dealer of Harlan.
When a boy, Hans Brodersen attended the district school of the neighborhood, which was held in a rented room for a number of years. The schools of that day were rather primitive and the demands of the farm required the assistance of the sons of the family as soon as they were able to work. Consequently, Hans was brought up to become a farmer while acquiring his schooling. He was gifted with the predominant thrift and enterprise of the people of Danish nationality and early began farming for himself. His first farm was owned in Audubon county. He sold this farm after a brief ownership and moved to his father's place, in Jackson township, and resided on it for two years. He then bought a fine farm of one hundred and eighty-six acres in Jackson township, which he still owns. This farm is fairly well improved and in an excellent state of cultivation. In the year 1902 he rented his farm and invested in a general merchandise store at Jacksonville. He was engaged in the retail merchandise business for seven years and then disposed of his interests and removed to Harlan. Here he invested in a home and became one of the valued citizens of this enterprising city. Besides his farm holdings in Jackson township, he owns one hundred and twenty-four acres in Lincoln township, which gives him a total acreage in the county of three hundred and ten acres of fine land.
Mr. Brodersen was married on March 7, 1893, to Minnie Nissen, a native of Scott county, Iowa, and a daughter of Danish parents. To Mr. and Mrs. Brodersen have been born three children: Jennie, aged twenty years, and a nurse in the Jennie Edmonton Hospital, located at Council Bluffs, Iowa; Leroy, aged sixteen, and a student in the Harlan high school; Raymond, aged ten, and a pupil in the Harlan public schools.
Mr. Brodersen is a pronounced Democrat in his political affiliation and is a firm believer in the national policies of his party as enunciated by
President Wilson. For many years he has been an active worker in the ranks of Shelby county Democracy and is a recognized leader of his party.
In the fall of 1912 he was elected to the office of county supervisor and should have taken his seat in January of 1914, but a vacancy occurring in
May of 1913, he was appointed to fill the vacancy. He is now serving his regular elective term. His children are regular attendants of the Congregational Sunday school. He is a member of the Loyal Order of Moose. It can truly be said of Mr. Brodersen that he is an excellent, honest and capable public official who realizes fully his obligation to the people of Shelby county and strives to do his duty as a man and official. His genial, warm and sunny disposition has endeared him to hundreds of friends, and no citizen of the county is more widely or more favorably regarded.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1344 - 1346.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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A substantial farmer and stock raiser of Douglas township, Shelby county, Iowa, is William B. Tague, who has spent his entire life in this county.
He is recognized as one of the leading stock raisers of the county and markets several car loads of stock each year. He has taken an active part in the welfare of his community and in everything which goes to make the good American citizen lie has not been found wanting. He is a man of genial personality and has a wide circle of friends and acquaintances throughout the county. William B. Tague, the son of George and Eliza (Cuppy) Tague, was born in Galland's Grove, in this county, July 28, 1862. He is one of nine children born to his parents, the others being as follows: Nellie, the wife of Daniel Terrill; Fanny, the wife of W. G. Goodner; Luella, the wife of G. Long, of Council Bluffs; Thomas, who married Maggie Larson; Elbridge,
who married Lola Purdy; Mace, who died in childhood; Jennie, who died in infancy, and one other who died in infancy.
George Tague was a native of Indiana, and came to Shelby county, Iowa, in 1849 with his parents. His father drove overland from Indiana in a
"prairie schooner" in that year, and was one of thirty other families from his neighborhood who made the trip west in this fashion. Most of the others
went on to California in search of gold. George Tague settled in Galland's Grove in this county with his parents and his father became one of the large
landowners of the county. George remained at home until he was married and then started out for himself, and at the time of his death owned one hundred and sixty acres of well improved land in the county. George Tague was a general farmer and a raiser of fine horses.
William B. Tague, the oldest child of his parents, was educated in the schools of Polk township. He remained at home helping his father on the farm until his marriage in 1882, and then started farming for himself by renting one hundred and twenty acres of land in Polk township. A few years later he moved to western Nebraska and worked for a short time helping to build the Baltimore & Maryland railroad through the sand hills of that state. After working a few years in Nebraska he returned to Shelby county, Iowa, and bought eighty acres of land in Polk township. He farmed there for
twenty-two years, and in 1912, moved to his present farm in Douglas township, where he is now living. He has added to his land holdings from time
to time until he now owns four hundred and forty acres of fine land in Douglas and Polk townships. He raises about two hundred acres of corn and
seventy acres of other grain each year and feeds all of it to his stock. He feeds about three hundred head of hogs and one hundred and fifty head of
cattle for the market each year. He is an extensive breeder of draft horses and has some of the best horses in the county. He also is a large breeder of
Shorthorn cattle, and now has a herd of thoroughbred Shorthorns numbering seventy-five, one of the finest herds in the county. Mr. Tague has had remarkable success in the raising of live stock and ranks among the best stock raisers in the state.
Mr. Tague was married September 5, 1882, to Ruth Holman, the daughter of Nelson and Susan (Tyler) Holman, and to this union six children have
been born: Edna Fern, Hoyt, Dwight, Linnie Eliza, Clifford and Orpha Ruth. Edna married B. B. Fiscus, and has three children, Amond Newell, Lois and Sedwick. Hoyt married Doris Dent and Dwight married Estella Jensen and has one daughter, Elaine. The other four children are unmarried and still living with their parents.
Politically, Mr. Tague is a member of the Democratic party, and always has been actively interested in its welfare.. He has served on the school board
of Polk township and ever lends his hearty influence to everything which he feels will benefit the school interests of his township. The members of the
family are all loyal adherents of the Church of Christ and generous contributors to its support. Mr. Tague is a high-minded and patriotic citizen who believes in supporting all measures of public welfare, and for this reason is held in high esteem by his fellow citizens.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1346-1348.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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Among the many highly respected citizens of Shelby county, Iowa, of German birth, none stands higher in public esteem than he whose name heads
this article. Possessed of the honesty and energy which are marked characteristics of his nationality, he has by means of these pleasing attributes won for himself a comfortable station in life and has also won a reputation for integrity which might well be the boast of any man.
Henry J. H. Buthmann was born in Germany on July 18, 1853, being the son of Henry J. H., Sr., and Anna K. (Vogt) Buthmann. The father died
when subject was a small boy of five years, and in due time the mother married again, subject remaining with them until he came of age. In 1875 he
emigrated to this country, being preceded by a half-brother who had located at Avoca, this county. Mr. Buthmann first settled in Davenport, where he
remained one year, and then came on and joined the half-brother above mentioned. In i88o subject purchased eighty acres of land in Jefferson town-
ship, within a few years added forty more and still later purchased eighty additional acres, making two hundred in all. On that land he lived, being
engaged in general farming and the raising of live stock, until the year 1911, when he purchased a nice town property in Irwin and has since made
that his home. The step-father died in the old country and the mother then, in 1883, rejoined her Sons in America and here lived until her death in 1896.
Mr. Buthmann has been twice married. His first wife was Dora Rohr to whom he was united in marriage on February 2, 1883. She was also a
native of Germany, born on February 11, 1863, the daughter of Henry Rohr. Her death occurred in 1890 and she left three sons: Henry H., William and
Louis. Henry, the eldest son, lives also in Irwin. His wife was Gertrude Miller and they have two children, Harold and Irma. Henry has a rural
mail route. William, the second son, married Muriel Shealy and they have three children: Guy, Eva and Basil. William is a farmer and lives on the
farm owned by subject. Louis, the youngest son, married Tillie Thompson and lives on a farm about three miles south of Irwin. They have one child,
Henry.
In April of 1901, Mr. Buthmann again married, his bride being Helena Jessen, born in Germany on May 20, 1870, the daughter of H. J. Jessen. Her
mother's maiden name was Retlefsen and the family came to this country about 1890, locating in Shelby county. Mr. Buthmann has a family of three
children by his second marriage, namely: Jessie, Otto and Alma. Mrs. Buthmann was a widow at the time of her marriage to subject, her first husband
having been Henry Tielker, by whom she had one daughter, Katie. Both Mr. and Mrs. Buthmann are members of the German Lutheran church, to the
support of which they contribute liberally of their means and take an active part in the work of the church whenever possible. Politically, Mr. Buthmann
is a strong adherent of the principles of the Republican party, but has never had any desire for public office, feeling that his own interests demanded his undivided attention. At the time he purchased his town property, he also bought a tract of eighty acres with it and being very fond of farm work and
too active to retire, he keeps himself employed by raising some horses, cattle and hogs on his eighty acres. He is one of the pioneer settlers of Shelby county, and the pretty town site of Irwin was only a corn field for some time after he came here. The nearest post office for this section was at Harlan, a goodly distance, and later on mail for this locality was received by stage coach from Dennison, which was considered a vast improvement. A short time before the railroad came through this section, there was a general store and postoffice opened up just south of the creek, which was dignified by the name of Tibhittsville, but before it had assumed any encouraging proportions, the, railroad arrived, the growing settlement clung close to the steel artery and came to be called Irwin. This is now a thriving town, located in a prosperous district and modern conveniences and improvements are becoming common throughout this enterprising countryside. Mr. Buthmann has kept pace with the progress of events and has always been regarded as one of the substantial citizens so necessary to the best growth and development of a new community Throughout the years of his residence here he has impressed all with whom he came in contact with his sterling qualities of head and heart and few men are more generally liked and admired than he. For the part he has played in the development of this section, he is eminently entitled to representation in a work of the scope intended in the present volume.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1414 - 1416.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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One of the best known men of Shelby county, Iowa, prominent in the affairs of Jefferson township, is David G. Dales, farmer and stock raiser. Mr. Dales is a man whose ambition and enterprise have led him into various business ventures and to different parts of the country and now that he has
elected Shelby county as his permanent home, he takes a commendable interest. in its various affairs.
David G. Dales was born on October 20, 1856, in Guernsey county, Ohio, the son of Andrew and Mary (Gawly) Dales. Both were natives of Ireland, having been born in the city of Belfast and emigrated to this country immediately after their marriage. It was their intention upon coming over to remain for a few years only, hoping to be able within that time to accumulate some wealth and then to return to their native sod. This wish, however, they never saw fulfilled and both lie buried in the land of their adoption. They located first in Ohio, where they partly reared their family of ten children, namely: Eleanor, deceased; William; David, the immediate subject of this sketch; John, Andrew, Sadie (Mrs. Clark), Mary (Mrs. Veach), Marguerite (Mrs. Wilfong), Belle (Mrs. Moore) and Agnes( Mrs. Fords).
When nineteen years old, in 1875, David G. Dales first came to Iowa, being attracted to the state by stories of the opportunities it offered to energetic men. He located first at Newton, in Jasper county, where he worked out among the farms by the month and later rented and farmed some land. In 1880 he first came to Shelby county, settling in Jefferson township, where he purchased a tract of eighty acres, which he farmed for two years. He disposed of this farm and returned to Jasper county, where, in 1881, he was united in marriage with Nannie Veach, whose death occurred in 1883,
while they were still living in Jasper county. She left a small son, Earl, who grew to maturity, married Rhoda Moore and is now the father of two
children, Nannie and Kenneth. After the death of his wife, Mr. Dales returned to his childhood home in Ohio and spent the winter with his parents. By spring he had induced the family to return to Iowa with him, which they did in the spring of 1884 and located in Shelby county, where the parents
spent the remainder of their lives. The mother passed away on February 15, 1900, the father living until March 31, 1908.
After bringing his parents to this county, Mr. Dales purchased a farm of eighty acres in Jefferson township, and here remained until the spring of
1886, when he went to Wyoming and secured employment with a railroad company. He remained in that position for four years, when he again came
to Shelby county and purchased another farm of eighty acres, which is where he now makes his home. However, he retained the ownership of this
land for only two years, when he disposed of it to A. W. Dales and removed to Cedar county, Nebraska. There he bought one hundred and sixty acres
of land, hut remained there only one year, when he disposed of his farm and went to the town of Randolph, Nebraska, where for one year he was
engaged in the livery business. He built a fine barn at Randolph and had it well stocked, but, disposing of his interests there, he went to South
Dakota, where he engaged in the same line of business, remaining there until 1894. In that year he disposed of his stable and became associated with the ownership of a string of five race horses, which he successfully campaigned, going about the different leading courses in that section. Not finding the tracks to his liking, however, he disposed of his horses and again engaged in the livery business, in which connection he remained until 1898, when difficulties between our country and Spain having arisen which resulted in the Spanish-American war, he enlisted as a non-commissioned officer in the Third United States Volunteer Cavalry, known as "Grigsby's Rough Riders," and served with that troop throughout the period of hos-
tilities. However, he did not see any active service and after being mustered out of service, in September of 1898, he again was united in marriage, his bride being May Watson, born on February 10, 1871, in Benton, Wisconsin, a daughter of John and Emma (Ferris) Watson. John Watson and wife are still living in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the former being English by birth, a native of Durham, England. He came to this country in 1865, after
the close of the Civil War, and to him and his wife were born nine children, namely: George, May, wife of the subject of this sketch; Henry, Alfred,
Nettie (Mrs. Woolam), Daisy (Mrs. Hudson), Emma (Mrs. Anderson), Ida (Mrs. Cronk), and Josephine, deceased. To Mr. Dales, by his second
wife, have been born two children, Flora and Logan.
After his second marriage, Mr. Dales located in Archer, Iowa, where he operated an elevator for the Emerson & Lonager Elevator Company. He
remained with them one year, after which he secured employment with the Illinois Central railroad in the capacity of brakeman and was with that company and up in South Dakota until 1902, when he again returned to Shelby county and has made this his home ever since. Politically, Mr. Dales is a Republican, but also looks with favor upon the principles of the Prohibition party. He is active in the affairs of the township and for five years has
served Jefferson township as superintendent of road construction. He also was a rural mail carrier for one year and owned and operated a general
store in the town of Botna for three years. In 1911 he returned to the old home place which he once owned and has since devoted himself to agricultural work. In addition to his general farming, he meets with fair success as a raiser of live stock. His cattle are of good quality and he has an excellent strain of Chester White hogs, raising on an average of seventy-five to one hundred hogs per year. He also does a considerable business as a buyer throughout this section, and in the course of a year buys and ships a goodly amount of live stock. In addition to his other duties, he is also serving as a member of the school board at present and both himself and wife are active in the work of the Nazarine church, of which both are devoted members.
Because of the active part which Mr. Dales takes in the upbuilding and progress of the community, he has merited the high esteem in which he is
held by his fellow citizens. He gives his support to all movements which have a tendency to advance the interests of the people, and being a man of
genial personality, he has won and retains a host of friends throughout the community.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1412 - 1414.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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Shelby county has been fortunate in securing so many high grade citizens from the German empire, for they have come here for the purpose of
developing the rich resources and have made every effort to better their condition. While doing this they have not neglected their duties as citizens,
having, without exception, supported our institutions and been loyal to our government, and it is to be expected that they have retained their love for
their fatherland, which is natural and right, even though they found it to their advantage to leave it for a land of advanced opportunities and freer
government.
John H. Andresen, the son of Andrew and Minnie (Dorhm) Andresen, was born August 30, 1879, in Germany. The parents came to this country
when he was less than two years of age and settled in Arcadia, Carroll county, Iowa. Here Andrew Andresen and his wife lived until his death,
in February, 1906. They were the parents of six children: John H., whose history is here recorded; Gustave, William, Julius, Peter, deceased, and
Minnie, deceased.
John H. Andresen received all of his education in this country and remained at home until he was married. He then, in 1903, moved to Shelby
county, where he has since continued to live. He first rented one hundred and ninety-nine acres of land in sections 18 and 19, of Jefferson township,
ahd within ten years purchased the farm. He feeds all of his surplus feed and grain to stock, which he sells for a good price. He handles Poland
China hogs and cattle, handling only the best kind of stock. In 1913 he had over three hundred head of hogs on his farm at one time. He is also interested in Plymouth Rock chickens and raises about five hundred chickens annually. He puts out about seventy-five acres of corn every year and fifty acres of other crops.
Mr. Andresen was married February 11, 1903, to Marie Witt, who was born February 26, 1883, in Carroll county, Iowa. She is the daughter
of George and Marie Witt, who also were natives of Germany. They were the parents of a large family of children, six of whom are still living:
George, Julius, Mrs. Katy Jones, Marie, Mrs. Elizabeth Anton and Mrs. Sophia Dose. Mr. and Mrs. Andresen have three children: Lester, born
December 6, 1905; Leona, born January 6, 1907, and Velma, born January, 1911.
Politically, Mr. Andresen is a member of the Republican party, but the activities of politics have never held any fascination for him and he has
never been a candidate for any public office. In his fraternal relations he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. He and his wife are attendants of the Lutheran church and give it their earnest support, although they are not members of that denomination. Mr. Andresen is well known in
his community as a man who has done all in his power for the benefit of the common welfare and his whole life in this county has been such as befits that of the true American citizen.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1416 - 1417.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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The little kingdom of Denmark is one of the most prosperous countries in Europe and few of its people have ever felt it necessary to emigrate to
another land. However, many adventuresome spirits have left their native land to seek homes in the new world, and among these is Nels Christensen, a prosperous farmer of Jefferson township, Shelby county, Iowa. No thriftier, more economical or honest citizens are to be found in this country today than those who have come to this country from Denmark. Wherever they have settled they have become useful citizens of their adopted land. Coming here without any knowledge of the language, or of American customs, these people quickly learn the language and assimilate our customs so that within a few years they are good American citizens in every sense of the word.
Nels Christensen, the son of Chris and Elsie (Christensen) Christensen, was born in Denmark January 8, 1871. Nels was eleven years of age when
his parents came to this country and they immediately located in, Shelby county, Iowa. Chris Christensen worked as a day laborer for about two
years and then rented a farm for seven years, at the expiration of which time he purchased one hundred and fifty acres of land in Clay township, where he is still residing. He and his wife were the parents of eight children, seven of whom are still living: Mrs. Mary Larsen; Nels, whose history is here
recorded; Chris M., Mirinous, Mrs. Anna Fish, Mrs. Rebecca Petersen and Christena. The baby which died also was named Christena.
Nels Christensen was given the rudiments of a good, common school education in his native land, as the schools of Denmark are recognized as
being among the best of those on the continent and are the pride of the people there. Upon coming to this country, at the age of eleven, he had
little schooling, due to the fact that he had no knowledge of the language. However, he quickly took up the language, and in the course of a few years
was able to read and speak the English language as well as a native born American. He continued to live at home until he was twenty-one years of
age and then rented a farm and lived on it by himself for two years. Feeling that he needed assistance in his domestic duties he married and then continued to rent for nine more years. In the spring of 1902 he purchased his present farm of one hundred and twenty acres in section 17, of Jefferson
township. In 1903 he moved to this farm and during the past eleven years has made extensive improvements, whereby the land is much improved in
productivity and the farm given a more attractive appearance. He has erected all of the buildings that are now on the place and has spent several
thousand dollars, bringing the farm to its present high state of efficiency. He is a breeder of live stock, specializing in pure bred Shorthorn cattle, and in 1913 had seventeen head of these cattle. He annually raises from fifty to sixty head of hogs for the market and always find a ready sale for them at a good price.
Mr. Christensen was married July 19, 1894, to Carrie L. Frederickson. who was born July 9, 1874, in Clay township, in this county, the daughter
of Ole and Elsie E. (Hansen) Frederickson, who were both natives of Denmark. Ole Frederickson came to this country in 1850 and bought land in
Shelby county. His wife did not come to America until about 1865, and their marriage occurred after she came here. They were the parents of four
children, John C., Mrs. Mary E. Shannon, who lives in Australia; Carrie L., the wife of Mr. Christensen, and Mrs. Anna Christensen, who is a resident of California. Mr. and Mrs. Nels Christensen are the parents of ten children, five of whom are living: Mary, born September 8, 1895; George, born April 22, 1897; Clarence, born October 28, 1904; Oliver, born March 26, 1908; Shelby, born May 18, 1910; the other five children died in infancy.
Fraternally, Mr. Christensen is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Danish Brotherhood. Politically, he holds to the Republican party, which honored him by electing him trustee of Clay township. At the present time he is school director in Jefferson township, and favors every
movement which he feels will advance the educational interests of his home schools. He is a man who began at the bottom of the ladder and his success can be attributed to hard work and good management. He is a man of domestic tastes and is devoted to his home life.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1417 - 1419.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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This section of the country has opened up the golden opportunity to
many men who have availed themselves of what she offered and are accordingly today men of means and fair repute. Some there were who came here in the early days of this section and fancied the mere possession of a pleasing number of acres would in some miraculous manner insure them wealth, but this shiftless class soon learned the secret of the broad smiling prairie and being unwilling to expend the necessary toil and ambition to win what they desired, they gave up their vague dreams and moved on. But to the man who came here with grim determination to win his way, seeing ahead to the time when he would receive a happy recompense for all his hard labor, the broad acres amply have fulfilled their promises and these men have won success commensurate with the brain and brawn they put into their undertakings. Of this latter class none is better known hereabout than Henry Stoelk, who from a very humble beginning has won for himself a pleasing competence for his riper years and the esteem of those who have known him throughout his residence here.
The subject of this biographical sketch is a native of the great German empire, born near Holstein, Germany, on June 6, 1862, the son of Jurgen
and Minnie (Dittman) Stoelk, who were the parents of a family of' nine children, three of whom died in infancy. The others were Sophia (Mrs.
Christopheson), Margueritta, deceased; William, a retired farmer who lives at Arcadia, Iowa; Minnie, Henry, the immediate subject of this sketch, and
J.urgen, who lives in Holstein, Germany. The parents were of the farming class, and subject remained under the parental roof until he was twenty-four
years of age. Then, filled with a desire for greater opportunity than his native country offered, and having heard much of the promise of America,
he decided to emigrate and arrived in this country in 1885. He first located in Gladbrook, this state, where for just one month he remained, having secured employment with the railroad company. He then took up his residence in Clinton county, remaining there until 1890, when he removed to West Side, remaining there for a year. He then moved to a farm about three miles west of his present home. All this time, however, he was employed on the railroad and was saving his money to the best of his ability. He received for his labor anywhere from seventy-five cents to one dollar and a
quarter per day and after practicing the greatest frugality for years, he was able, in 1903, to make a purchase of land. This was a tract of one hundred
and twenty acres in Audubon county, being located on the line adjoining Shelby county. In 1906 he purchased another hundred and twenty acre
tract, lying just across the public highway from his first purchase, but situated in Shelby county. The same year he moved on to the farm last purchased, which since has been his home and to its operation he has given his entire time. He does general farming and is also quite successful in raising various kinds of live stock. He usually plants from five to eight acres to potatoes, about one hundred acres to corn and from sixty to eighty acres to oats. His cattle are of the Hereford breed and his hogs are Duroc Jerseys. He has a breeding stable and keeps imported Belgian animals, usually having from twenty to twenty-five head of horses about the place. Since first coming here he has prospered in his venture, and in 1912 remodeled the farm residence, adding greatly to its convenience and appearance and in the same year he constructed a large corn crib, size thirty by forty feet. It is two stories, having a granary above and an elevator for conveying the grain up to the different bins. It holds in the lower portion thirty-five hundred bushels of corn besides the provision for smaller grains above.
On August 5, 1887, Mr. Stoelk was united in marriage with Miss Dora Stuhr, born on July 3, 1866, near Holstein, in Germany, the daughter of
Henry and Lena (Clearson) Stuhr. They came to this country in 1880, locating in Philadelphia, where they remained one year and then came westward into Iowa, locating in Clinton county. Here the father secured employment on the railroad, also working some at farm labor. Mrs. Stoelk was one of thirteen children, the others being William, who died when twenty-four years old; Molly (Mrs. Bohnsock), Theodore, Charles, Louise (Mrs. Windesh), Crist, Henry, Minnie (Mrs. Frahm), John, Tillie (Mrs. Bohnsock) and Effie (Mrs. Krouse). To Mr. and Mrs. Stoelk have been born seven children. William, the eldest, was born in Clinton county on July 17, 1888. His wife was Nellie Irwin, and they have one child, Clive, who was horn July 14, 1913. Frank also was born in Clinton county April 25, 1890, and remains at home with the patents. Charles was born in Crawford county on December 10, 1891. He is employed in a garage in Manning, this state. Harry was born in Crawford county on October 24, 1893, and is also at home. Albert, born in Crawford county on February 18, 1895, finds employment on the farms near home. Lawrence, born in Audubon county on March 22, 1897, also works in Manning, and Ella, the only daughter and youngest child, was born in Crawford county on December 23, 1903. Mr. Stoelk's children are all promising young people, the boys making their own ways in the world. Frank, one of the sons at home, owns a threshing outfit and is well known throughout this section.
Politically, Mr. Stoelk is aligned with the Democratic party, but takes no active interest in same, his own business entirely engrossing his time.
Both he and his wife are members of the German Lutheran church, living lives in strict accordance with its teachings and in this faith they have reared
their family. In every phase of his chosen vocation Mr. Stoelk has exercised good judgment and wise discrimination and is eminently successful,
winning the praise and confidence of all who know him because of his energy, indomitable spirit and the success which has come to him is richly deserved.
Source: 1915 Past and Present of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 1419 - 1421.
Contributed by: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs
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