History of Audubon County, Iowa - 1915

Audubon County >> 1915 Index

History of Audubon County, Iowa
H. F. Andrews, editor...Indianapolis: B. F. Bowen & Company, 1915.

Unless otherwise specified, biographies submitted by Dick Barton.

John Shacket Jenkins was born near Elizabeth, Meade county, Kentucky, October 14, 1799. His father bore the same name. His wife was Malinda Miller. He was a stone mason by trade and a farmer. He lived in Meade county until about 1838, when he moved to Perry county, Indiana; thence to Dablonega, Wapello county, Iowa, in 1850. This place did not please him and, in the spring of the year 1851, he started west again without any particular place in view, to discover a suitable place for a home.

At the Quaker Divide, near Winterset, Iowa, he fell in with Nathaniel Hamlin and his party, who were on their journey to settle in Audubon county. As stated elsewhere, the company arrived at Mr. Hamlin's claim on May 6. With him came his wife and children. He had three yoke of oxen, a cow and a horse. The next morning after the arrival at Hamlin's place he mounted his horse and rode over to the Nishua Botna river, to the site of the present town of Oakfield, where he selected a claim for his home, near the "Big Spring," and near where the old school house at Oakfield used to stand. To mark out his claim he blazed a basswood tree and upon it wrote, "This is my claim," and signed his name to it. Soon after a party of men came there from down river about Indian Town or Lewis, among whom was one Jerry Bradshaw, who took a fancy to the same location and proceeded to blaze trees to mark out a claim.

Mr. Jenkins soon learned about Bradshaw's operations and went to ascertain what he was doing. William Hamlin, who went with him, narrated the event many years ago. They were at first in doubt whether Bradshaw was attempting to "jump" "Uncle Johnny's" claim, but found where he had blazed trees on Jenkins's claim and soon discovered that he had cut down one of Jenkins's witness trees and thrown it into the river. This aroused the ire of "Uncle Johnny," who said to Mr. Hamlin: "This shows to me, sir, that they are not innocent progressors." Then they came to "Uncle Johnny's" blazed basswood, and found that Bradshaw had written beneath Jenkins's claim: "This is my claim and you had better get off." We shall have occasion to show later how Bradshaw was disposed of. Mr. Jenkins held his claim and soon built a cabin on it. this claim he sold in 1854 to Samuel B. Hopkins and it subsequently became the Hallock place and the town of Oakfield was located on part of it. Mr. Jenkins soon located in section 29 in what is now Exira township. At first he built another log cabin, later a commodious dwelling, which, if not the first, was among the earliest plastered houses in the county before 1865. This place he sold about 1870, and moved to near the present town of Brayton. He was a Kentuckian of the old school, a stern man, physically and morally, and of lofty sentiments; of the strictest integrity; honorable and trustworthy in every way. His word was reliable and always promptly defended and sustained. Nothing insulted him more than to dispute or cast doubt upon it. At the first election in the county, held at his cabin in April, 1855, he was one of the judges of election. A dispute arose between him and Walter Marsh over the candidates for county judge - Daniel M. Harris and Thomas S. Lewis - during which Marsh disputed his word and called him by a hard name. "Uncle Johnny" at once seized his rifle and took it down from the deer horns where it rested and attempted to shoot Marsh, but the bystanders prevented it,

In a large sense, Jenkins was one of nature's noble men. His marked characteristics were worthy of record. His courage was undaunted; but he was kind, friendly and courteous. In a rude way, his utterances often approached remarkable poetic charm and force. His hospitality was of the peculiar, old-fashioned Kentucky style, always with an open welcome, and to offer recompense for entertainment, even by a stranger, was nest to an insult - never desired and almost sternly refused, if tendered. His book learning was deficient; he was evidently reared in the stern surroundings of pioneer life - better acquainted with the methods of acquiring the necessaries of life than with the accomplishments of social enjoyment.

In his younger days it was considered honorable for men to engage in contests for physical superiority, with only such power and advantages as nature provided and for the mere gratification of deciding who was the best man in a hand-to-hand fight. We have heard him relate taking part in such contests. His friends and admirers once desired to match him with a noted champion on a public occasion for such a fight. He was then recovering from an illness and did not consider himself in condition for such a trial; but he was persuaded, against his judgment, made the fight, and was defeated. It wounded his pride and injured his reputation, and he decided to fit himself and fight the victor again. Another match was arranged at a general muster of the militia, and a long savage fight was pulled off, in which the combatants used every effort of skill known to such encounters, striking, grappling, wrestling, choking, gouging, etc. Mr. Jenkins won the victory and completely vanquished his antagonist. He added after relating the story: "But, my God, sir, how he gouged me! And my eyes have never been right since." The fact was noticeable that his eyes had been injured. Gouging, which was employed in such fights, consisted in the fighter forcing his thumb into the eye of his antagonist until sometimes the eye was forced from the socket. Barbarous and inhuman as this practice seems, such events were common in old times in Kentucky and elsewhere. A champion in such affairs was considered a popular, prominent citizen, and excited admiration. An old Kentucky favorite once remarked that in his youth every man was expected to be ready to fight at the drop of the hat, and "that unless he was a fighter the girls wouldn't have anything to say to him. That he was looked upon as a coward." What a marked evolution in public opinion on the subject exists today.

After Mr. Bradshaw attempted to jump Mr. Jenkins' claim, his party made claim to some of the land claimed by Doctor Ballard. The settlers collected and proceeded to defend the rights of the Doctor. The meeting was on the Botna, in the timber, near the county line. The Doctor was present, addressed the meeting, and explained what he was doing and desired to do; that he proposed to become an actual settler and desired a good-sized estate, which he had selected, and was able to pay for it, when it came into market and requested protection, etc. Bradshaw and his party urged that the action of the Doctor was unfair; that he was asking too much; that it deprived others from settling there, and added that they had equal right to the land as much as the Doctor had; that they had selected some of the land chosen by the Doctor, and intended to settle on and hold it.

This brought the matter to an issue. Mr. Jenkins, who was "captain" of the Settlers' Club, addressed the meeting and delivered an ultimatum. Said he: "Men, we think we understand you. Now, if you are for peace, we are for peace; but if you are for war, we are for war, by G--, sirs! Now, you get off from this land." It had the desired effect. None of the Bradshaw party settled on the land claimed by Doctor Ballard.

The early settlers endured many hardships and privations. There was hardly such a thing as sawed lumber in the settlement, unless it was a wagon box or some article of furniture of that kind. Nearly everything, except food or clothing, required for use had to be hewed from the forest trees by hand work with axes, saws, etc., or had to be obtained from a distance. There were neither mills, workshops or stores here, and the nearest were many miles distant. The settlers ground corn, buckwheat, etc., in hand mills, or grated new corn as a substitute for meal. On one occasion, about 1852, the supply of flour and meal was t low ebb. Mr. Jenkins and Benjamin Hyatt took a load of corn and grain, with an ox team, and started for mill in Missouri. Their route was down the Botna, and on reaching Indian Town (near Lewis) they met a company of Mormons, who were suffering for breadstuff, who requested them to set a price on their grain, for they must have it. They sold the load at two dollars and a half a bushel and returned home, took another supply of grain and proceeded to the mill in Missouri. On arriving there they were told that there was a large amount of custom work ahead of them, and that their grist could not be ground for two weeks, but they persuaded the miller to grind it sooner.

Jenkins once related that the Democrats here during war times prophesied that the "greenback" and United States bonds would become worthless, as continental money did in time of the Revolution. That he then had a few hundred dollars surplus money which he desired to invest for safekeeping. He consulted the county judge, A. B. Houston, Esq., for advice, who recommended him to let the United States money alone and to invest in Audubon county warrants, then worth seventy-five cents on the dollar, saying that they would pay six per cent interest, and that he (Houston) would assist him in getting them cashed. Afterwards Mr. Houston was elected county treasurer, and occasionally Jenkins called on him and presented his warrants for payment; but there were always other demands for the county revenue, and the warrants were not paid during Houston's term of office, but were paid by his successor, Van Gorder. In mentioning the matter years afterward, "Uncle Johnny" remarked: "I think that 'App' (Mr. Houston) pulled the wool over my eyes."

It does not appear that Mr. Jenkins made any profession of religion; but that he was liberal in religious matters. In 1865 Elder Richard C. Meek, a noted preacher in his day, and his wife visited at the home of Mr. Jenkins several months, and while there held family religious services evening and morning. At bedtime good "Aunty Meek" would bring the large Bible and place it before the elder, who would read a portion of Scripture and then offered a prayer, in which he suggested, "We know not that we shall live to see the light of another morning," etc. Next morning he returned thanks for protection through the night, and again referred to the uncertainty of life and recommended preparation for the future. This constant reference at prayer time to the uncertainty of life went on with continual monotony for weeks, to the annoyance of Mr. Jenkins, until one day the elder and "Uncle John" took a stroll together. The elder made the mistake of again introducing the unwelcome subject, and advising the propriety of preparation for the hereafter. "Uncle John" called a halt abruptly. Said he: "Elder Meek, if you are going to die, sir, why don't you die like a man, and not be dying every day of your life, like a d--- coward?" He was a life-long Democrat; was elected county judge in 1865 and held the office one year. We shall have occasion to notice other events in his career at other parts of this work. He died at Brayton on July 11, 1886, and his wife died on March 10, 1882. Their children were as follow: Benjamin Franklin married Maria Byrd and Josephine Gilbert, John Taylor married Darthula Rogers, Sarah Blauset married Lee L. Bartlett, Isaac Hughes married Clarissa Chase and Mollie Devine, Harriet married George Cannon, George Washington married Caroline Woody.

Benjamin Franklin Jenkins (son of John S.), came to Audubon county with his father's family in 1851. He married, first, Maria Byrd. They were divorced, and she became Mrs. Joseph C. Yetzer, of Atlantic, Iowa. For his second wife he married Josephine Gilbert. He was a prominent farmer, and lived near Brayton, Iowa. He was a member of the board of supervisors. He died on December 24, 1887; his wife survived him and died later. To Benjamin and Josephine Jenkins were born these children: Olive, who married Clarence Keese Hallock; Charles W., who married Eva Walker; Hayden; Margaret, who married Charles Sykes; May, who married Ernest Cotton, and Pearl.

John Taylor Jenkins (son of John S.), was born in Meade county, Kentucky, November 14, 1838. He married, in Audubon county, on January 19, 1865, Darthula, daughter of Thomas and Sarah Rodgers, who was born in Illinois. He came to Audubon county with his parents in 1851. He lived at home with his parents until he enlisted in the Second Iowa Battery on August 19, 1861, and served in the Sixteenth, Seventeenth and Eighteenth Army Corps, under Generals Pope, McPherson, Sherman and Grant. He participated in the battles of Corinth, Vicksburg, Iuka and Tupelo, and was mustered out on September 4, 1864. Upon the organization of the Audubon county militia, the same year, he was elected second lieutenant of the Audubon Mounted Infantry company, which saw no service and became obsolete at the close of the war, the following year. Upon the return of peace, he became a prominent farmer near his former home, and is a large landowner. He was proprietor of the town of Brayton in 1879, and was a merchant in Brayton from 1879 to 1887, afterwards being a dealer and shipper of live stock. He was postmaster at Brayton. A life-long Republican, he has been an active worker in the party, and many times has been a delegate to Republican conventions. He has served as township clerk, township trustee, member of the school board and member of the board of supervisors. He has a fine home near Brayton and is the last survivor of the little company which first settled in Audubon county on May 6, 1851. He is a member of Pymosa Lodge No. 18, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Audubon Lodge No. 217, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Grand Army of the Republic.

Mrs. Jenkins was a popular school teacher before marriage. Their children, born in Audubon county, are as follow: Jeanette, who married Horace M. Bartlett; Marion Elver, who married Mame Black, now deceased, and Frank Granger, who married Josephine Cypher.

Charles W. Jenkins

The grandparents of Charles W. Jenkins were the first people to bring with them their family for permanent residence in Audubon county. Mr. Jenkins' grandfather drove overland to Audubon county in a very early day from Kentucky. The Jenkins family, therefore, has been associated with the growth and progress of Audubon county from the very earliest times.

The father of Charles W. Jenkins was Benjamin F. Jenkins, who married Josephine Gilbert. Benjamin F. Jenkins was a native of Kentucky. He was brought to Audubon county, Iowa, when he was nine years old by his parents. He received his education in Audubon county and after leaving school, farmed for some time. He entered land from the government, paying one dollar and twenty-five cents as acre, and at the time of his death, December 25, 1873, he had six hundred and thirty-six acres. Mrs. Benjamin F. Jenkins died the following year, June 25, 1874. At this time Charles W. was not yet a year old. Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin F. Jenkins were the parents of six children, namely: Olive married Kees Hallock; Hayden is unmarried and lives in Idaho; Margaret married Charles Sykes, of Oakfield township; Mary married Ernest Cotton; Pearl, and Charles W., the subject of this sketch.

Charles W. Jenkins, who is an extensive farmer in Exira township, and who owns a farm of two hundred and fifty-six acres, was born in Oakfield township, Audubon county, January 2, 1873. He received his education in the schools of the county and after leaving school, he took up farming. He began on the old homestead and farmed there for three years, after which he was engaged in buying and selling stock in Brayton for a period of four years. At the end of this time he went to Oklahoma and was there married. He engaged in farming and stock raising in Oklahoma, having leased a ranch of three thousand acres. After remaining in Oklahoma for seven years, he came back to Audubon county and for five years lived on the old home place and farmed there. He then went to Canada and took up farming in that country for two years. In 1912 Mr. Jenkins purchased the farm on which he now lives. He is engaged in general farming and stock raising. He raises about one hundred and fifty acres of corn each year and about eighty acres of small grain. He raises seventy-five acres of hay and purchases about twenty-five hundred bushels of corn each year, which he feeds to about two hundred and fifty head of hogs.

Charles W. Jenkins was married on July 16, 1902, to Eva Walker, the daughter of William Walker. To this union four children have been born: Keith, Laura, Elouise and Charles. Mrs. Jenkins was born on the farm where she now lives. Her parents were early settlers in Audubon county. Her father was one of the largest landowners in this section of the state, having owned seventeen hundred acres in Audubon county. Mr. and Mrs. Walker had nine children: John, who lives in Cass county; Schuyler, who lives at Anita; Laura, who lives in Canada; Lulu, who resides in Des Moines; Olive, who lives in Exira; Eva, who is the wife of Mr. Jenkins; Jay, who also resides in Canada; and two who died when small.

Mr. Jenkins owns three hundred acres of land in Canada. He is now serving as a school director in Exira township. Politically, he is a Republican.

JAMES WILLIAM JENSEN

Although James William Jensen, a successful farmer of Greeley township, Audubon county, Iowa, is a native son of this country, his parents were natives of Denmark. They located in this country, however, more than a half century ago. For several years James William Jensen was a successful school teacher in Audubon county, but gave up this profession for farming. His valuable and highly productive farm in Greely township is an evidence of the wisdom of his choice in quitting the school room for the farm.

Mr. Jensen's parents were Hans and Bertha (Frederickson) Jensen, both natives of Denmark. Hans Jensen was a farmer in his native land and served the legal period in the Danish army. He came to America in 1863 when he was thirty years old. He first located in Wisconsin, where he bought a farm and farmed until 1869, six years after his arrival in America. In 1869 he removed to Shelby county, Iowa, and assisted in building the Rock Island railroad through Walnut. He also helped build the first house in Walnut. Later he purchased a farm in Shelby county. He lived in Shelby county for twelve years, and in the spring of 1881 he moved to Audubon county and purchased a farm. He farmed in Audubon county until 1894, when he retired, and during the succeeding years lived with his son, James William.

James William Jensen was born on August 3, 1869, in Shelby county, Iowa. He received his education in the country schools and after leaving the common schools he attended high school at Atlantic, Iowa. Then he taught for several years. In 1895 he purchased one hundred and twenty acres in Sharon township, Audubon county, and was engaged in general farming there. He now has two hundred and forty acres, but it is located in Greeley township. He feeds about a carload of cattle every year, and seventy-five head of hogs.

Mr. Jensen was married on August 17, 1894, to Matilda Peterson, daughter of Peter and Johannah (Larson) Peterson. Three children have been born to this marriage, Harvey, Eleanor and Leonard; the last-named died in infancy. Mrs. Jensen was born in Denmark. Her parents, who were also natives of that country, came to the United States in 1890, and located in Atlantic, Iowa. After being there a short time, they rented a farm in Shelby county, and then purchased a farm in Audubon county. Mrs. Jensen's parents are now living retired in Exira. They had eight children, Lawrence, Marten, Chris, Louis, Anna, Matilda, Albena, and Peter, who is deceased.

Mr. and Mrs. James William Jensen are members of the Seventh Day Adventist Church. Mr. Jensen has been an elder in the church for a number of years, and is now serving in this capacity. He is identified with the fortunes of the Republican party, but has never been active in its councils. Nevertheless, he is interested in all civic matters and is considered a man whose support can always be depended upon when public improvements are proposed. He has done much to build up a wholesome and active community spirit and enjoys the confidence of his neighbors and fellow citizens.

GEORGE JESSEN, JR.

George Jessen, Jr., a farmer of Oakfield township, Audubon county, Iowa, the son of a veteran of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, was born on October 22, 1878, in Schleswig, Germany. His parents, George and Elizabeth (Christensen) Jessen, after coming to America in 1881, located at Atlantic, Iowa, where the father worked on the railroad for two years, and then moved to Audubon county, locating upon the farm where his son, George, nowlives. He began with a small tract of land and gradually increased his holdings until he owned six hundred and forty acres of fine farming land. Although he had very little when he came to this country, by earnest and unceasing toil, by careful management and frugal living, he has come to be very prosperous as a farmer and stockman. George and Elizabeth (Christensen) Jessen were the parents of four children, Chris, Mary, George and Theodore.

Educated in the public schools of Oakfield township, Audubon county, George Jessen, after leaving school, farmed with his father until twenty-eight years old, when he rented the farm upon which he now lives, and where he has remained since that time. Mr. Jessen raises on an average eighty acres of corn, eighty acres of small grain, and feeds most of the grain raised to live stock. He sells about one hundred and twenty-five head of hogs every year and three carloads of cattle. He is well known in this township as a breeder of Shorthorn cattle, and has been extensively engaged in this business for a number of years. Approximately ten thousand dollars has been invested in various kinds of improvements upon this farm, and it is one of the highly productive farms of the township.

On July 8, 1900, George Jessen, Jr., was married to Bertha Marie Jensen, the daughter of Klaus Jessen. Bertha Marie Jensen was a native of Denmark, as were her parents. To Mr. and Mrs. Jessen have been born six children, George, Nannie, Clara, Theodore, Bertha and Alice, all of whom are living at home with their parents.

George Jessen, Jr., is not identified with any particular political party. He is an independent voter, and has little faith in the platforms of political parties or the pledges of party candidates. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen ofAmerica, and also of the Danish Brotherhood. Mr. Jessen has always been deeply interested in the civic life of his township, and has filled the position of school director and also that of a member of the school boars of his township, and discharged the duties of these offices to the entire satisfaction of the community which he served.

Mr. Jessen is a man who uses only the most improved modern methods in his farming operations, and has been very successful in this chosen vocation. He is a popular young citizen of Oakfield township, and already is recognized as having made a good start in life.

PETER M. JESSEN

Specific mention is made in this volume of many of the worthy citizens of Audubon county, citizens who have figured in its growth and development and whose interests have been identical with its every phase of progress. Each has contributed in his place to the well-being of the community in which he resides and to the advancement of its normal and legitimate growth. Among this number is Peter M. Jessen, a successful and well-known farmer of Hamlin township. Peculiar interest attaches to Mr. Jessen's career from the fact that he is one of those men born in a foreign land who has carved out his success in a new and strange country, where, for a time, language, manners and customs were entirely different.

Peter M. Jessen was born on January 6, 1870, in North Schleswig, Germany, the son of Peter A. and Marn (Juhler) Jessen, who also were natives of the same country while it was a province of Denmark. The elder Jessen was a farmer by occupation, but also worked at carpentering and masonry work. Peter A. Jessen and wife were the parents of nine children, six sons and three daughters, Jens C., Peter M., Martin A., Chris A., Marie Stone, Mrs. Christena M. Peterson, Mrs. Ottolena Petersen, Andrew and Nes, all of whom are living in Audubon county, having come from their native land. The family came to the United States at different times, Martin and Jens coming here first in the fall of 1888. In the spring of 1889 Peter M. came to this country and the rest of the family came later, the parents coming last in 1893.

Peter M. Jessen, after arriving in this country, came directly to Marn, Cass county, Iowa, where his two brothers were located. He obtained work on a farm and has followed agriculture ever since. He worked out by the month for three years and then rented a farm in partnership with his brother, Martin, although he had purchased his present farm previous to this. He rented land for three years and then purchased an old house of four small rooms and moved it to his farm. He built some straw sheds and then moved to his own land. He lived in this house for nine years, when he built his present eight-room home. He had erected barns, cribs, hog houses and a windmill before that. The land was new prairie and nearly all of it had to be broken for the first time. This land cost him twenty-two dollars and a half per acre, but is now worth many times that amount.

In December, 1891, Marn Smith, who became the wife of this subject, came to the United States, locating first in Chicago, where her parents already lived. She was born on March 9, 1873, in North Schleswig, Germany, near where Peter M Jessen was born, and was a daughter of Hans and Hannah (Brandt) Smith, who also were natives of Schleswig, where Hans Smith was a general laborer. Hans Smith and wife were the parents of four children, Mrs. Elsie M. Paulsen, Mrs. Rosie Petersen, Arthur H., and Marn, the wife of Mr. Jessen. In April, 1892, Marn Smith came to Audubon, where she was married to Mr. Jessen on July 12th of that year.

Peter M. Jessen and wife are the parents of eight children: Marne Hansina, born May 12, 1893, married Peter Hundebl, and they are now living in Allerup Tjarefborg, Denmark, and have one child, Kattie; Walter P., born on May 27, 1895; Hannah, born on November 17, 1897; Thomas P., born on August 31, 1901; Marlow H., born on July 4, 1904; Rosie, born on June 6, 1907; Lillie, born on March 27, 1909; Ethel, born on June 16, 1912.

Mr. Jessen does general farming and stock raising. He is a stock-holder in the West Hamlin Creamery Company, and has been on the board of directors for a number of years, being now president of the board.

The Jessen family are earnest and devout members of the Danish Lutheran church, and Mr. Jessen was one of the organizers of the St. John's Lutheran church in Oakfield township. Politically, Mr. Jessen is an adherent of the Democratic party, but, with the exception of serving of the board of school directors, he has not held public office, nor has he been especially active in political affairs. Mr. Jessen is one of the well-known citizens of Hamlin township, progressive in his methods and broad-minded in his viewpoint. He is admired and respected by his neighbors and acquaintances.

Charles Johnson

The respect which should always be accorded to the brave sons of the North who left home and peaceful pursuits of civil life to give their services and their lives, if need be, to preserve the integrity of the American Union, is certainly due the memory of the late Charles Johnson, to a brief review of whose life the following lines are devoted. He proved his love and loyalty to the government on the long, tiresome marches, in all kinds of situations, exposed to summer's withering sun and winter's freezing cold; on the lonely picketline a target to the unseen foe; on the tented field and in the flame and smoke of battle, where the rattle of musketry mingled with the terrible concussion of the bursting shell, and the deep diapason of the cannon's roar, which made up the sublime, but awful, chorus of death. Among these valiant defenders of the Union and of Old Glory, the late Charles Johnson was one.

Charles Johnson, one of the pioneer settlers of Audubon county, Iowa, was born in February 11, 1823, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. When a young man he removed from Philadelphia to Bucks county, Pennsylvania, where he was reared to young manhood. Subsequently he removed to Princeton, Illinois, where he worked as a farm laborer for the same man who had employed him in Pennsylvania.

The late Charles Johnson was married on April 20, 1858, to Barbara Ball, and after their marriage they settled in Putnam county, Illinois, where they lived until the outbreak of the Civil War. After the close of the war they moved to Macon county, Illinois, and lived there for eleven years on a rented farm. In 1875 they moved to Greene county, Iowa, and in 1882 sold their fine farm in Greene county and came to Audubon county. Here Mr. Johnson purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, raw prairie land, wholly unbroken, for which he paid seven dollars per acre. Here he erected a small house, consisting of one room down and two rooms upstairs. He later added five rooms to this house, and this became in time a good house. Subsequently, he erected a fine barn on this farm, and the family lived on that place for twenty-one years, at the expiration of which time they moved to Audubon and bought a comfortable residence. Mr. Johnson also became the owner of one hundred and twenty acres of land in Guthrie county, Iowa, and was accounted a very substantial citizen. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson began life with nothing, and during all of their early struggles, Mrs. Johnson practically supported the family from the proceeds of her poultry and the dairy. Mrs. Johnson now cultivates three lots in Audubon, and is hale and hearty despite her seventy-seven years.

In 1862 the late Charles Johnson enlisted for service as a Union soldier in the Civil War, in Company C, One Hundred and Thirteenth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served eighteen months. He contracted lung fever during his service and was not able to perform strenuous war duty, part of the time being detailed to hospital duty. Charles Johnson was a Republican and served as constable while living in Illinois, discharging the duties of this office in a creditable manner. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were lifelong members of the Presbyterian church, and Mrs. Johnson is still an active worker in this church, in whose welfare she is deeply interested. Fraternally, Mr. Johnson was a member of Allison Post, Grand Army of the Republic. He was also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and filled all the chairs in that lodge. His death occurred on December 20, 1910, and he was buried on December 22, 1910, under the auspices of the Grand Army of the Republic and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Charles Johnson's widow, Mrs. Barbara (Ball) Johnson, was born on September 9, 1837, in Belmont county, Ohio. She is a daughter of Vachel and Frances (Everett) Ball, who were natives of Virginia and Ohio, respectively. Vachel Ball was a descendant of the Ball family of Virginia, which was related to George Washington. In 1849 the family went by steamer to La Salle, Illinois, and then by train they removed to Princeton, in that state, and settled on a farm four miles west of Princeton. During the eighties Vachel Bell removed his family to Poweshiek county, Iowa, and there his death occurred at the advanced age of ninety-four years.

To Charles Johnson and wife were born two sons, Charles, Jr., and Eugene M. Charles, who lives near Stuart, Iowa, married Nora Reddy, and they have five living children, Nellie, Grace, Wilbur and Willie (twins) and Gerald. Eugene M. lives at Audubon, where he is engaged in the automobile and garage business. He married Mary Snyder, to which union three children have been born, Glen, Iola and Charles Leon.

Mrs. Johnson is a member of the Woman's Relief Corps and also belongs to the Daughters of Rebekah, and takes an active interest in both these organizations.