Unless otherwise noted, biographies submitted by Dick Barton.

John Richardson Bassett

[County Government]

We have seen that the first township election was held in 1854, but at that time the county was still under the jurisdiction of Shelby county.  A petition was circulated, and, in 1855, Crawford became a separate political entity.  Temporary officers were elected in April and permanent officers at the regular election, which was then held in the month of August.  These first permanent officers were, John R. Bassett, county judge; B. F. Wicks, treasurer and recorder; and Thomas Dobson, district clerk.  The county judge was in reality the entire government.  He acted not only as judge but was, in and of himself, the board supervisors.  Judge Bassett, our second county judge, is worthy of more than passing comment.  He lived to a ripe old age, each year but adding to the love and esteem in which he was held.  We quote from the sketch of his life published at the time of his death, in 1892:

"John Richardson Bassett was born in Cayuga county, New York, November 9, 1811.  He was married, to Sophia Nobles, on February 5, 1835, and removed to Crawford county, Iowa, in 1854.  Upon the organization of the county he was elected county judge and served successive terms for ten years.  Under his supervision the county seat was located, named, and the present courthouse built.  He was baptized and became a member of the First Baptist church of Denison in May, 1860, under the ministrations of Rev. J. W. Denison, the pastor.

"Judge Bassett was one of the oldest citizens of the county.  His first home was in a log cabin in Coon Grove, three miles south of Denison.  This home was known for miles around, as the Judge and his wife were noted for their hospitality.  It was while living here that he acted as county judge.  In the early days this was the most important office in the county.  The Judge was greatly adverse to debt, and it was due to his strong stand that Crawford county was not plunged in indebtedness in the years of its early history.  He also filled the posts of justice of the peace, township clerk, school director and road supervisor, and in every capacity he always placed the public interest foremost, and discharged every trust with fidelity.  He was not merely personally honest, but he saw to it that no one else robbed the public - which is quite a different thing and requires a higher degree of moral courage.

"For seventeen or more years he lived in the pretty woods one mile northeast of Denison.  Later he resided in Dow City, in South Dakota, and finally in Arion.  After leaving the farm, he ever made his home with his only daughter, Mrs. Richards.  Not the least of the nobler qualities of the judge was shown in the tender care he gave his invalid wife for many years when she was so helpless that her time was spent in bed or in a comfortable chair.  On February 5, 1885, their friends gathered at their home to celebrate their golden wedding.  The testimonials of esteem bestowed at that time showed clearly the high consideration in which they were held by all who knew them.

"Judge Bassett died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Ellen Richards, at Arion, on Saturday, December 17, 1892, at 10:00 P. M.  The funeral services were conducted at the Baptist church in Denison on Monday at 2:30 P. M.  The sermon, preached by Rev. Coffee, of Dow City, was most appropriate.  Speaking for the old settlers, Mr. E. S. Plimpton gave the deceased many fitting words of praise.  The pallbearers were Morris McHenry, Edmund Howorth, George Barr, W. W. Coon, David Rush and George Shinn, the four first named being old settlers of the county.  The attendance at the church was large.  Burial was made in the Denison cemetery.  Mr. and Mrs. Richards and their daughters, Mr. and Mrs. Slocumb, Mr. Charles Noble and son, Marion, were the immediate relatives in attendance.

"Judge Bassett was a devout Christian, a doer of good deeds.  Despite the adversities of life, he seemed always cheerful and hopeful.  His life is an example of the honors which can be obtained by conscientiously doing one's duty, fearlessly and honestly before God.  His life work was well done and he is now at peace with his Father above."

In regard to the other county officers; the clerk held an office which would correspond, today, with that of auditor and clerk of the court.  Going back to the records, now housed in our beautiful courthouse, we find a musty old volume, the pages, blue and the writing, brown and dim.  In this book, the first record is dated, September 3, 1855, and is a court call by the county judge, the business on hand being a road petition in the vicinity of Deloit.  This petition was not allowed - establishing a precedent which has been followed by the board of supervisors many times.  On December 3, of the same year, it is recorded that the county judge, the clerk and recorder met and presented their different accounts of moneys received by them, from August 1st to December 1st, and divided the same between them according to law.  The whole amount received to apply on their salaries was seventeen dollars and forty-five cents, which was divided as follows: John R. Bassett, county judge, five dollars and seventy-five cents; Thomas Dobson, clerk, three dollars; Benjamin F. Wicks, recorder, eight dollars and seventy cents....

EMIL BIELENBERG, a well known and substantial resident of Schleswig, devotes his attention to general farming and stockraising interests, owning one hundred and sixty acres of productive land in Ida county. His birth occurred in that county on the 4th of November, 1879, his parents being Jacob and Emma (Meyer) Bielenberg. Their family numbered seven children, as follows: Emil, of this review; Lena, the wife of Fred Petersen, of Crawford county; William, who is likewise a resident of Crawford county; Dora, the wife of John Bendixen, of this county; Fred, who is deceased; Minnie, the wife of William Aldog, of Ida county; and August, who has passed away.

Emil Bielenberg was reared on the home farm and early gained practical knowledge of the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. The work of the fields has claimed his time and energies throughout his entire business career and until the spring of 1910 he worked as a farm hand. At that time he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Ida county, where he is now carrying on general farming and stock-raising, meeting with a gratifying measure of success in both branches of his business.

On the 25th of June, 1903, Mr. Bielenberg was joined in wedlock to Miss Maggie Petersen, a daughter of J. C. and Anne Petersen, of Schleswig. His political allegiance is given to the democracy, while in religious faith he is a Lutheran. He is a young man whose life has ever been actuated by upright and honorable principles and well merits the regard and esteem which are uniformly accorded him.

John Brogan submitted by Paula Curcio

John Brogan, who for nearly a third of a century has been conspicuous as one the the leading agriculturists of Crawford county, is a native of Ireland, where his birth occurred June 24, 1824, being one of three children born to William and Ann (Coyle) Brogan. The other two, Bridget and Francis, are deceased, the latter having died in Kansas. John Brogan remained in the land of his nativity until attaining his majority and in 1845 emigrated to the United States, first locating in Pennsylvania, where he remained for about five years. He then moved to Clinton county, Iowa, and there took up a quarter section of land, the site of which is now occupied by the city of Lyons, where he continued to reside for the ensuing twenty-five years.

In 1875 Mr. Brogan came to Crawford county and bought two hundred and forty acres of land on sections 6, 7, and 8, Jackson township, to which he added from time to time until his holdings now aggregate four hundred and forty acres of cultivated farm land, upon which he has made all modern improvements, including residences, outbuildings, and fences. Here he carries on general farming but makes a specialty of shorthorn cattle, which he buys and ships on an extensive scale.

On February 9, 1849, Mr. Brogan was married to Miss Jane McClosky, a daughter of John and Ann (McLaughlin) McClosky, both of whom were natives of Ireland, where they spent their entire lives. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Brogan have been born eleven children, of whom the following eight survive: Andrew and Thomas, who reside in Crawford county; Edward, who lives in Sac county; William, a resident of Nebraska; and Frank, James, Mary, and Lizzie, who are living at home. The three deceased are Rosanna, Sarah, and one who died unnamed.

In Politics Mr. Brogan has always given his support to the democratic party and has at different times been called upon to hold various township offices. In religion he is a faithful member of the Catholic church. Today, after having passed the eighty-seventh milestone on his life journey, he is enjoying the aftermath of his early endeavors in the possession of a fine farm where he has all the comforts and some of the luxuries of life.

Blume Brothers submitted by Dean & Tena Schroeder

The Blume Brothers, W.A. and F.G., have gained a wide reputation as stock breeders and farmers and are also recognized as two of the most enterprising and progressive business men of Crawford county. As a result of their energy and good judgement they are now the owners of one of the finest farms in the county.

Charles T. Blume, their father, was born in the province of Saxony, Germany, and came to the United States in his young manhood. He worked in various eastern states and then removed to a farm near Streator, Illinois. In 1880 he came to Crawford county, Iowa, and settled on section II, Hanover township, where he improved one hundred and sixty acres of land. He passed away in 1910 and was buried in Morgan Cemetery, Morgan township. The mother, whose maiden name was Amelia Girard, is also a native of Germany and is of French Huguenot ancestry. She married Mr. Blume in Illinois and now makes her home with her two sons, F.G. and W.A. There were eight children in the family, namely: Theodore, who is living on the old homestead in Hanover township; Caroline, now the wife of J.L. Adams, of Maywood, Illinois; Clara, who married Ferdinand Hartman, of Klamath Falls, Oregon; Otto H., of Albany, Oregon; F.G.; W.A.; and Edward and Rosie, who died in infancy.

F.G. Blume was born at Livingston, Illinois, December 14, 1869, and W.A. Blume was born at the same place, August 12, 1871. The brothers grew to manhood under the parental roof and received their education in the district schools. At twenty one years of age F.G. Blume began farming for himself in Hanover township and three years later became associated with two of his brothers in operating a steam threshing machine, one of the first machines of the kind in this part of the country, and was identified with the threshing business for about seven years. In the meantime, however, he and his brothers, O.H. and W.A., engaged in farming in partnership in Otter Creek township and subsequently removed to Woodbury county, where W.A. and F.G. lived together, but each had his own farm. They succeeded so admirably that in March, 1901, they located on section 13, Boyer township, Crawford county, where they are now conducting a thoroughly modern stock farm. The place comprises three hundred and sixty acres and they have made extensive improvements, including large barns, repair shops where they do their own horseshoing ,a complete telephone system and a thorough equipment of machinery, the very best that can be bought in the market. They were the first in their part of the county to grow winter wheat successfully and they were also the first to rotate grain with clover. They have built a private steel bridge across Boyer river, the only individual enterprise of this kind in Crawford county. The predominating feature of their business is their registered herd of Aberdeen - Angus cattle. Eighteen years ago they began breeding this kind of stock and about 1900 they started a thoroughbred herd, which is now headed by the noted sire, Bardolino. The herd numbers thirty-five head of cattle. They also have twenty-one head of high grade Percheron horses and are feeders of stock, shipping extensively to the market each year, having recently made a shipment of three carloads of hogs.

The brothers have demonstrated on an important scale the results which may be expected from cooperation when each individual in a firm thoroughly understands his business and is deeply interested in the work. Their splendid success cannot fail to inspire young men who have the ambition to accomplish a worthy object in life. Progressive in their methods and always reliable in their dealings, they have truly earned the confidence which is instinctively accorded them wherever they are known. F.G. Blume is a member of the Odd Fellow lodge at Dow City.