History of Monona County, Iowa - 1890

History of Monona County, Iowa
Chicago: National Pub. Co., 1890

Unless noted, biographies submitted by Dick Barton.

Mrs. SARAH THOMPSON, who is residing upon her farm o section 10, in Spring Valley Township , was born in Chautauqua County , N. Y., February 8, 1837 , and is the daughter of Thomas and Percy ( Baldwin ) Curtis. Her father was born August 27, 1799 , and her mother September 10, 1802 , both in Vermont . Having joined the Latter Day Saints, her parents left New York in her infancy, and spent the summer at Kirtland , Ohio . From there they went to Missouri , and while on the road, her father died. Her mother went on to Far West , Missouri , and was there during the Mormon troubles at that place. From there they went to Lima , Ill. , and finally to the City of Refuge , Nauvoo. In the meantime her mother married Edward Johnson.

After the assassination of Joseph Smith, in 1844, the family started with the other members of the church for their unknown destination toward the Pacific Coast , but only went as far as Council Bluffs . From the latter village they went to St. Joseph , Mo. At the latter place the subject of this sketch was married to Henry Thompson, in February, 1853. From St. Joseph they moved to Cincinnati , Ohio , and later on to Warsaw , Ill. , from which place, in 1860 they came to Preparation. Here and in the vicinity she has made her home ever since. By her marriage Mrs. Thompson had four children - Francis L., Alice B., Henriettie, and Traverse C. During the War Mr. Thompson enlisted in the army, and like so many others who went to the front, never returned. In 1865, Mrs. Thompson was again married, this time to Miles Outhouse, and is the mother of four children - Edward C., David G., Ernest R., and Sarah K. All but two of the family are members of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

KNUD THORESON submitted by J. T. Thoreson

Knud Thoreson, an extensive farmer and large stock-raiser and feeder of Spring Valley Township, of which he is a member of the Board of Trustees, has his neat and tasty home upon section 12. A large portion of his farm he has under cultivation and the buildings upon it are of a superior character. He came to Monona County in September, 1867, and commenced his life here upon one hundred and twenty acres of unimproved land for which he paid some $5 an acre. From this beginning he has wrought out his present easy and affluent circumstances.

Mr. Thoreson was born in Norway, September 16, 1844, and is the son of Thore and Carrie (Knudson) Nelson, both of whom were natives of the same kingdom. His father died in that country in 1851 and with her family the mother of our subject crossed the ocean and located in Ozaukee County, Wis. There they made their home until 1860, when they removed to La Crosse County in the same State. In the latter county our subject was reared to manhood receiving his education in its common schools.

On February 6, 1865, with a love for his adopted country, Mr. Thoreson enlisted in Company K, Forty-sixth Wisconsin Infantry, and with his regiment served in Alabama for some eight months, receiving his discharge at Nashville, Tenn. In September 1867, in company with his mother, our subject came to Monona County and settled as above. The latter, who was born May 15, 1817, died at his home, February 20, 1888, having been the mother of four children, of whom Knud was the eldest.

December 28, 1868, Mr. Thoreson was united in marriage with Miss Emma Severson, who was born in Norway, May 10, 1848. She had come to the United States in 1856 with her parents, Sever and Aster (Jensen) Halverson, the former born in Norway, August 3, 1803, and the latter February 2, 1810. Her parents settled in La Crosse County, Wis., whence, in 1869, they came to Monona County and located on a farm in Willow Township, where her father died April 3, 1882. Her mother died at Independence, Iowa, April 3, 1889.

Mr. and Mrs. Thoreson are the parents of ten children, born upon the following dates: Theodore S., September 28, 1869; Adolph C., August 16, 1871, who died August 4, 1873; Clara A., born October 20, 1873; Ida J., August 16, 1875, who died October 22, 1878; Bertha R., born March 27, 1877; Adolph C., April 22, 1879; Oscar E., February 14, 1881, who died February 27, 1881; John W., born May 2, 1882; Alla L., January 27, 1885, and Nellie J., May 3, 1887. All the family were reared in the Lutheran faith and still hold close connection with that communion. In politics Mr. Thoreson is a Republican, and has served for several terms in his present position of Township Trustee.

ESTHER R. TILLSON, nee DAVIS, one of the earliest pioneers of Monona County , now residing on section 5, Franklin Township , came here with her brother, Isaac Davis, November 13, 1855 , from Lee County, Iowa, and made the entire trip with an ox-team. She made her home with her brother until December 25, 1856 , when she was united in marriage with Francis C. Case, a widower with five children. He was a native of Indiana , and died here April 19, 1858 , after having been just elected to the office of Sheriff, but the duties of which he had not yet assumed. By this union there was one child: Francis C., Jr., born June 21, 1858 , who now resides at home and carries on the farm for his mother. On the settle ment of the estate, Mrs. Case took charge of her late husband's youngest daughter, then a girl ten years of age, who staid with her about four years.

Our subject again assumed the marital vows, January 5, 1859 , being united with Hon. Stephen Tillson, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere, and by this union had one child: Stephen, Jr., a rising young attorney of Onawa, who was born December 9, 1859 . The latter, after founding his education in the schools of the county, finished it at Quincy , Ill. , and in the Iowa State University at Iowa City .

Mrs. Esther R. Tillson, was born in Columbiana County , Ohio , July 17, 1818 , and is the daughter of Isaac and Edith Davis, natives of Wales and Virginia respectively. About 1840 her father removed from Ohio to Quincy , Ill. , and after an extended stay, came by way of Nauvoo, to Lee County, Iowa, where he purchased a farm and made his home for some time. From there he moved to what was known as Winter Quarters, now Florence , a few miles above Omaha , Neb. , where he died. His widow returned to Lee County , and later in life made her home with her son Isaac Davis, in this county where she died.

Hon. STEPHEN TILLSON, Sr., one of the earliest settlers and most prominent citizens of the county of Monona , in his day, came here in February, 1856. He was a native of Huron County , Ohio , born near Norwalk , July 25, 1822 . He received his education in the common schools, and at the Michigan State University , at Ann Arbor , Mich. , being graduated from the law department of the latter noble institution, about 1847. He then engaged in the practice of law at Chicago , Ill. , where he attained some eminence, but seeking a larger scope for his abilities and energies, in 1856, he came to Monona County and settled. He was one of the leading attorneys in this section of the State, and took an active part in the politics of the county and district, and represented this district in the Lower House in the Twelfth General Assembly, in 1868-69. He died here November 13, 1884 .

STEPHEN TILLSON, Jr., of the law firm of Oliver Brothers & Tillson, was born in the county of Monona , December 9,1859 , and is the son of Hon. Stephen and Esther Davis (Case) Tillson, sketches of whom appear elsewhere. He is a graduate of the law department of the Iowa State University , and has charge of the abstract branch of the firm's business. He was married April 28, 1886 , to Miss Tena M. Johnson, a native of Norway , and is the parent of two children: Ruth M., deceased, and Rufus S.