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Allamakee County >> 1913 Index Past and Present of Allamakee County Iowa G Unless otherwise specified, these biographies are submitted by Dick Barton. A
native of Linton township, Allamakee county, Albert H. Gast has become
prominent in that locality as one of the substantial farmers, owning
Sunnybrook Farm, a property largely devoted to stock-raising and
comprising one hundred and seventy-five acres, of which eighty-six are
in Linton township and the remainder in Paint Creek township.
He was
born May 15, 1863, and is a son of John and Catherine (Heimbruch) Gast,
both natives of Hesse, Germany.
The father was born September 12, 1839,
and now lives retired in this state, while the mother, who was born June
8, 1839, passed away June 6, 1911.
The father always followed farming
and was brought to this country by his forebears when but five years of
age.
The family first located in Canada, where he grew to manhood,
remaining there until about twenty years of age.
In 1861 he came to
Iowa and bought eighty acres of land, which is part of the farm upon
which our subject now resides.
It was then nothing but a wilderness,
abounding in game and not much else.
He cleared and improved this tract
and later added thereto until he owned more than two hundred acres, all
of which he cut out of the timber, our subject ably assisting him in
this deterring and slow labor.
The father continued there until 1910,
when on account of this wife's health he left the farm and went to
McIntire, Mitchell county, this state, where she subsequently passed
away.
Mr. Gast has continued to reside there since his retirement.
He
has always participated in any movements undertaken in the public
interest and for six years served as township trustee, also holding
various other local offices.
In his family were eleven children, of
whom Albert H. Gast is the second in order of birth.
He is one of
twins, his brother having died in infancy.
Albert
H. Gast, in the acquirement of his education, attended the school
in Linton township now known as the Big Foot school.
He worked at home
with his father from the age of ten years, early becoming used to the
hardships of agricultural life under pioneer conditions.
He remained at
home until twenty-six and then hired out as a farm hand, saving during
that year one hundred dollars, which he put out on interest and which he
has never touched since but is still drawing dividends. This
is
mentioned as an example of the determination, thrift, industry and
ambition of Mr. Gast, who by exercising these qualities has attained to
the prominent position which he now occupies.
After one year he engaged
in threshing during the season, finding this a very profitable
occupation, and in the rest of the time worked at the carpenters' trade,
continuing along both lines until 1895, when he married and bought his
present farm in March of that year.
He has made many valuable
improvements thereon, erected modern and substantial buildings and
instituted the latest implements and machinery.
Sunnybrook Farm
comprises one hundred and seventy-five acres, of which eighty-six lie
across the line in Linton township.
It is mostly devoted to stock- raising and there Mr. Gast gives his close
attention to these interests.
Everything about the place is up-to-date and modern and the farm has a
reputation of producing the largest yield and the best stock in the
vicinity.
Mr. Gast is also a stockholder in the Monona Creamery.
On
February 26, 1895, Mr. Gast was united in marriage to Miss Martha M.
Kelly, a native of Mason City, Iowa, born November 29, 1871.
She is a
daughter of William and Sarah (Lewis) Kelly, both natives of Harrison
county, Ohio.
Her father in early life was a farmer and became a
pioneer in this section of Iowa in the '50s.
Later he went to Mason
City, where he engaged in the mercantile business and then came to
Rossville, this county, where he opened and conducted a general store.
However, later he returned to his farm in Paint Creek township and
continued thereon with gratifying success until his death, which
occurred January 18, 1907.
He was nearly seventy-four years of age, the
date of his birth being April 7, 1833.
His wife survives and still
resides on the old homestead, making her home with a son.
Mr. Kelly was
prominent in official
circles, having served as county supervisor for
one term and also as township assessor and in other local offices.
He
was public-spirited, exemplifying in his life true American citizenship
and was ever ready to five of his time and money in the furtherance of
the public welfare.
Mrs. Gast is the seventh in order of birth in a
family of eight children and she became the mother of two, the first of
whom died in infancy, while the other is Esther Pearl, born July 6,
1898.
Both
Mr. and Mrs. Gast are members of the Presbyterian church at
Rossville.
In his political views he is a republican, although he often
votes independently, following his own judgment especially in supporting
local candidates.
He is a trustee of Paint Creek township.
Such
success as has come to him is highly merited, for it is the outcome of
strenuous and well directed labor.
Mr. Gast, however, has not only
brought about his own prosperity but has been a valuable factor in
raising agricultural standards in Allamakee county and promoting
agricultural development here.
He is conceded to be one of the
influential men in his section and enjoys in full measure the high
regard of all who know him.
He is also very progressive and up-to-date,
being the first man to install a telephone in his neighborhood and he
purchased the first automobile taken south of Waukon, it being a Ford
which he still runs.
A
prominent representative of the Norwegian race in Allamakee county and
owner of a valuable farm of two hundred acres improved with splendid
buildings, G. A. Gilbertson is one of the foremost citizens of Paint
Creek township and one of its most prosperous and progressive
agriculturists.
He was born in Nordre land, Norway, January 16, 1848, a
son of Osten Gilbertson, also a native of Norway, who emigrated to
America in 1853.
For two years the father worked in the pineries of
Wisconsin, having a hard struggle to make a living as he came to this
country empty in pocket, even owing his passage money.
In 1855 he drove
an ox team and covered wagon to Allamakee county and, having husbanded
his savings while working in Wisconsin, was enabled to buy one hundred
and sixty acres of wild land.
He endured many hardships and
difficulties and during his first summer lived in his covered wagon and
a rail pen.
He then built a small log house and as he cleared his land
and brought his acres under cultivation gradually acquired the means
which enabled him to supplant this primitive structure with a more
substantial brick residence, which still stands today.
The father died
about four years ago on this farm, to the cultivation of which he had
given his unwearied labor, the mother having passed away about fifteen
or sixteen years before that time.
Osten Gilbertson was married when he
left his native land, having contracted a union there with Miss Isabelle
Hanson, and to them two children were born in their native land:
G. A.,
of this review; and Martin, who died at the age of twenty years.
A
sister of our subject, Isabelle, born in Allamakee county, is now Mrs.
J. P. Bakke, a resident of Center township.
G.
A. Gilbertson was reared under the parental roof and amid the
primitive conditions of pioneer life learned endurance and the value of
industry and honesty.
His education was but limited and, such as it
was, received in the district schools of the neighborhood, but he has
since acquired much valuable knowledge in the school of life.
He
remained with his parents, assisting his father in the work of the farm
and learning the value of thorough methods, the proper processes of
cultivation and the details of stock-raising.
He later came into
possession of the old homestead, to which he has since added forty
acres, his farm now comprising two hundred acres.
What buildings were
on the place he has greatly improved since taking charge and his
property presents a pleasing aspect of prosperity.
He follows general
farming, giving attention to grain raising and live stock.
As the ears
have passed he has became recognized as one of the most substantial men
of his district and his labors have not only brought him prosperity but
have been a factor in raising the agricultural standards in Allamakee
county.
Mr.
Gilbertson was married to Miss Isabelle Gilbertson, a native of
Norway and a daughter of Andrew and Caroline Gilbertson, who came to
Allamakee county about 1865.
They were farming people of Makee
township, where the father died several years ago.
The mother
subsequently made her home with Mr. and Mrs. Gilbertson of this review
and passed away upon their farm in 1912.
Mr. and Mrs. Gilbertson have
seven children, Melia, Ida, Augusta, Oscar, Carl, George and Marcus.
Of
these George is married and follows agricultural pursuits in Paint Creek
township.
Mr.
and Mrs. Gilbertson are members of the Lutheran church, in the work
of which they take an active and helpful interest.
He gives his
political allegiance to the republican party and has held official
positions such as township trustee, in which capacity he served for one
term, and has also done efficient work as a member of the school board.
Although nearing his sixty-sixth birthday, Mr. Gilbertson is still
actively looking after his varied interests and occupies himself with
the operation of his farm.
He is highly respected and esteemed in his
township, not only for what he has achieved but also on account of his
high qualities of mind and character which have made possible his
success.
A.
T. Gronna, closely associated with agricultural interests of Paint
Creek township as the owner of a fine farm of two hundred acres, was
born upon the property a portion of which he now operates on the 1st of
May, 1851.
He is a son of Thomas and Emeline (Thoen) Anderson, natives
of Norway and pioneers of Allamakee county, of whom further mention is
made elsewhere in this work.
A.
T. Gronna acquired his education in the district schools of Paint
Creek township and when not engaged with his books assisted with the
work of the homestead, becoming a practical agriculturist before he was
of age.
When he was twenty-seven he bought from his father two hundred
acres of land and he has made his home upon this property since that
time, standing today in the front ranks of progressive farmers.
Upon
the land he has made substantial improvements, erecting a fine barn and
outbuildings and in 1883 a modern stone dwelling, each year witnessing
his increased prosperity.
The buildings are all substantial and
adequate, the machinery of the modern, labor-saving type and the entire
place reflects the owner's many years of care and labor.
Mr.
Gronna married Miss Olena Smeby, of this county, a daughter of Hans
and Helen Smeby.
She passed away in 1905, leaving two children.
Theodore was educated in the district schools of Paint Creek township,
in Luther College in Decorah and at the State Agricultural College at
Ames, and he has also a diploma from the Wisconsin Agricultural College.
He is now at home assisting his father with the work of the farm.
The
other child born to Mr. and Mrs. Gronna is a daughter, Helen.
Mr.
Gronna is a member of the Lutheran church and he gives his political
allegiance to the republican party.
He has been honored by his fellow
citizens by election to various important public offices, having served
as secretary of the school board and as township clerk for many years.
He is numbered among Allamakee county's most representative and
progressive native sons and his influence has been a tangible force for
good in the community where his entire life has been spent.
K.
T. Gronna is one of Allamakee county's most progressive and
successful native sons and is operating the farm in Paint Creek township
upon which he was born on the 23d of March, 1857.
He is a son of Thomas
and Emeline (Thoen) Anderson, natives of Norway.
The father as a young
man crossed the Atlantic to America and settled in Rock county,
Wisconsin, in 1846, residing there until 1850, when he came to Allamakee
county among the pioneers in this part of Iowa.
On section 12, Paint
Creek township, he bought one hundred and sixty acres of wild land and
built upon it a log shanty, in which he resided for some years, later
replacing this by a more modern home.
Through the years success
steadily attended his well directed labors and he became a prosperous
and substantial farmer, owning four hundred and forty acres of excellent
land, upon which he died when he was ninety-one years of age.
He was a
stanch republican in his political beliefs and a member of the Lutheran
church, to which his wife also adhered.
In their family were seven
children:
Andrew, of Paint Creek township;
Betsy, who died at the age
of twenty;
Christian, who passed away in Minnesota leaving a large
family;
Sarah, who died at the age of twenty;
Caroline, the wife of P.
S. Narum, postmaster of Waukon, Iowa;
Maria, who married John Anderson,
of Canada;
and K. T., of this review.
Since the death of their father
all the sons have changed their family name, assuming that of Gronna,
under which they are now known.
K.
T. Gronna acquired his education in the district schools of his
native township and in Luther College at Decorah, Iowa.
Upon the death
of the father he inherited two hundred and thirty-three acres of the
estate, including the homestead, and upon this he has since engaged in
farming and dairying, his business ability and his knowledge of the best
agricultural methods making both branches of his business important and
profitable.
Upon the farm he has erected a fine set of buildings and
made other substantial improvements and the property is today worthy of
comparison with the best in this section of the estate.
Mr. Gronna
gives a great deal of this time to his stock-raising interests and for
many years raised full blood Holstein cattle but now confines his
attention to the breeding of a fine grade of shorthorns.
His business
interests are capably and carefully conducted and have brought him a
gratifying measure of success, placing him among the township's most
substantial and representative agriculturists.
Mr.
Gronna married Miss Ellen Anderson, a native of Winneshiek county
and a daughter of Anon and Caroline Anderson.
Mr. and Mrs. Gronna have
two children.
The eldest, Thomas A. Ferdinand, spent five years in
Luther College in Decorah, and afterward enrolled in the Iowa State
Agricultural College at Ames.
He now assists his father upon the farm.
Amy spent three years in a ladies' seminary at Red Wing, Minnesota, and
is now at home.
Mr.
Gronna is a member of the Lutheran church.
He gives his political
allegiance to the republican party and is prominent and active in public
affairs, believing that official service is one of the duties of a good
citizen.
For thirty years he acted as treasurer of his school district,
has been road supervisor and is now serving his third term as township
trustee.
In the community where he was born and where his entire life
has been spent he is held in high regard, his genuine personal worth,
his loyalty in citizenship and his many excellent qualities of character
having gained for him the respect and esteem of all who know him.
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