|
History of
Cass County, Iowa A Unless otherwise noted, biographies submitted by Dick Barton. GEORGE ALLANSON has a farm of three hundred and twenty acres of land on section 26. He came here in the summer of 1876, and bought land, which was unimproved, but soon made many improvements, and now has a fine dwelling surrounded by a beautiful grove in which are over one thousand evergreens, from five to twenty feet high, barns and every means of keeping his large number of stock. This stock is of the most valuable kind, he having over one hundred head of steers. His farm is known as one of the largest and best stock farms in the county. Mr. Allanson was born in Lower Canada , on the 13th of July, 1827 , and when yet an infant, moved with his parents to Cherry Valley , Otsego county, New York State , and there remained several years, when he removed to Kane county, Illinois , where his father died. George was married in New York State , to Clara Marks, a daughter of David and Martha Marks. They have four children - Mary, wife of Samuel W. James, of Adair county; Edward G., Willis and Mabel C. Mrs. Allanson was born in 1830, in Cherry Valley, New York, and was a student of Alfred's academy of Alleghany, New York, for several terms, and is probably best known to her friends as "Emilie Clare," having for years been a contributor to the literary publications of Chicago and New York. Mrs. Allanson descended from an old New England family, her mother being a niece of the famous Hugh Mitchel, who figured conspicuously as a strong opponent of the Tory and Indians, in the revolutionary struggle. One of the poems written by Mrs. Allanson, is given in this connection, as it is really meritorious and worthy of preservation: A THOUGHT It speeds across the continent, From clime to clime, and sea to sea And swifter than an eagle's flight For thousands upon thousands wait And treasured as a thought may be E. D. Allen resides on the west half of section 6, where he owns eighty acres of land. He settled in this subdivision in the spring of 1870, buying the land of Solomon Smur. No improvements had been made until Mr. Allen bought the place, but it is now one of the finest farms in the township. Mr. Allen was born in the town of Fairfield, Columbiana county, Ohio, and when a boy he removed to Wood county, with his parents, and thence to Richland county. He was married in Richland county to Ruth Flutter, who died about five years after her marriage. Mr. Allen then removed to Williams county, and there worked at the boot and shoe trade, and was there married to Priscilla Smur, born in Ohio in 1824. In 1856, Mr. Allen came to Cedar county, Iowa, and was engaged in farming, and afterwards worked at his trade. He enlisted in the service in the Thirty-fifth Iowa Infantry, in 1862, and served three years. He was constantly with his regiment during the whole term of his enlistment participating in all the campaigns and battles, in which his regiment took part. He also took part in the Mexican war, serving under Taylor and Scott. Mr. Allen had two children by his first marriage, Frank W., now in Adams county, Iowa; and Esther, who died at the age of one year. He has had four by his second wife: Barrilla D., John E., Hugh S. and Harry E. Samuel Allen resides on section 19, Grant township, where he owns a farm of cultivated land, and raises fine stock. He was born in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England, in the month of September, 1843. His father, John Allen, was a native of England, and died in that country. Samuel received a good school education, and as soon as he became old enough, he was an apprentice with his father, at the trade of wagon-making. He was thus engaged until 1869, when he came to Dane county, Wisconsin, and resided near Madison for one year, when he went into that city, and was engaged in making car trucks for the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railroad company. He there remained some years, when he came to Cass county, and has since made it his home. He was married while in England, to Sarah A. Hartshorn, a daughter of Lawrence and Sarah (Morris) Hartshorn. They have been blessed with one child - John, who takes charge of the farm, and is working with his father. The family are members of the Episcopal church, and Mr. Allen is a member of the I. O. O. F. lodge, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. C. J. ANDERSON is a native of Sweden, born November 14, 1846. He came to America with his sister, Charlotte, now the wife of Mr. Olson, in 1860. He came to Jefferson county, Iowa, where he lived until 1862. He then went to Henderson county, Illinois, and worked by the month at farming for seven years. He became a citizen there on the 21st of October, 1868, at the circuit court, which was then in session in Warren county, Illinois. He came to Cass county, in 1869 and bought the farm he now owns and occupies. It contains eighty acres, located on section 22, of Bear Grove township, and is finely improved. LOUIS ANDERSON
is
a native of Denmark, born in 1856. In 1864 he emigrated to America and
located in Marquette county, Michigan. He came to Cass county in June,
1869, accompanying his parents, who took land and opened a farm upon
which they still reside. Louis was educated in this country and received
a liberal education. He was married December 25,1878, to Rossetta Brown,
and they have two children - Edith and Annie. Mr. Anderson owns a farm
of eighty acres, all under cultivation. At the time he came to the county
there was but one or two houses in Anita, and Atlantic was a small village. |