Pocahontas County >> 1904 Index

The Pioneer History of Pocahontas County, Iowa
by Robert E. Flickinger. Fonda: The Times Print, 1904.

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Unless otherwise noted, biographies submitted by Dick Barton.

JARVIS CHARLES, brother of William and Henry, located east of Old Rolfe in the Des Moines settlement in 1861. During the war he enlisted as a member of Co. B, 4th Iowa cavalry and spent three years in the service. He then returned to his homestead, which was across the line in Humboldt county, and occupied it until 1897, when he moved to Bradgate, where he died in November, 1899. On coming to America at the age of seventeen, he located first in New York state and then six years in Illinois. In 1860 he married Charity O. Van Natta, of Kirkland, Ind., and his family consisted of seven children, one of whom died in infancy, and William H., at Havelock in 1893 at the age of twenty-nine. Nellie M. (Atherton), Minnie (Boyden), James C., Elmer and George are married and live in Humboldt county.

JARVIS, HENRY

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Henry Jarvis, whose home near Old Rolfe, became the first voting place in the north part of the county, was a native of England, where he was born Jan. 11, 1832. After coming to America he located first in Illinois and later at Dyersville, Iowa, where on May 25, 1858, he married Mary Tilley, (b. June 19, 1839) and accompanied by his brother William Jarvis, they came to Pocahontas county and built a log shanty in the Des Moines settlement, on the NW 1/4 Sec. 24, in which for several months they lived together.

Both of them selected pre-emption claims. Henry, on Sept. 20, 1859, entered his claim for lots 2, 3 and 4,60 acres, on Sec. 24, Des Moines township, and received the patent April 5, 1862. On June 10, 1864, under the homestead law, he filed a claim for lots 7 and 8, Sec. 25, 115 acres, and renewed this claim May 5, 1870. In 1894, he purchased some land near Rolfe and building thereon, moved to town where he and his wife still reside. Their family consisted of eleven children, two of whom died young and George, the eldest, after his marriage.

Henry Jarvis was the second sheriff in Pocahontas county, and he served in that capacity 1860 to 1863 and 1865 to 1867. His cabin was the polling place in the Des Moines settlement for the first three elections held in the year 1859, and the fourth one, on Nov. 19, was held at the home of his brother William Jarvis.

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Jarvis Henry, (b. Jan. 1, 1832,) Rolfe, the second sheriff of Pocahontas county, is a native of England, a brother of William* (*See page 158.) and Charles, who were also early residents of Des Moines township. Henry was one of the little band who left Fort Dodge in May 1857, and founded the first permanent settlements in the north part of this county. On May 25, 1858, having located his home he made a trip to Dyersville, married Mary Tilley, (b. June 19, 1839) and they commenced keeping house in a log cabin on section 24, Des Moines township. A few years later 115 acres more were purchased on section 25. Subsequently the cabin was replaced by a large and comfortable dwelling house that was the home of the family until 1894, when he built a residence and moved to Rolfe. He was the most popular sheriff of this county in the early days, having held that office seven years, 1860-63, and 1865-67.

His family has consisted of eleven children:

1 - George, (b. Nov. 13, 1859 ) in 1880 married Minnie M. Flory and located in the state of Washington, where he died leaving two children, Eda and George, who now live with their mother at Denver.

2 - Sarah Ann, Dec. 25, 1882, married Carmi Vaughn, owner and occupant of a fine farm in Des Moines township, and has three children, Dell, Ernest and Leila.

3 - Nellie E., Feb. 21, 1881, married Edward H. Vaughn, who, after a few years, moved to the state of Washington and engaged in keeping store. On March 8, 1892, she died at Rolfe, leaving a family of three children, Frank, Arthur and Myrtle.

4 - Rosa Bell, in 1886, married Albertus Doe, lived in Powhatan township and died at Rolfe Sept. 7, 1900, leaving four children.

5 - William (b. June 7, 1867,) located in Washington, where he is farming and has a family of three children.

6 - Minnie married C. A. Charlton. (See Charlton.)

7 - Frank (b. June, 1872,) in 1899, married Minnie Alberts, of Lincoln township, and is farming near Rolfe.

8 - Charles (b. 1873) died in 1895, and John (b. 1876) in 1896.

Bert is at home and Carrie, the youngest, May 29, 1900, married Robert Freel and lives at Rolfe.

WILLIAM JARVIS pre-empted the SE 1/4 Sec. 14, Des Moines township, 160 acres, making the entry Sept. 20, 1859, and receiving the patent Sept. 15, 1861. He was born in Somersetshire, England, Jan. 4, 1829, and married there Sarah Sandy, March 26, 1856. Three weeks later they came to America and after one year spent in Illinois, they came to Dyersville, Iowa. From this place they came to the Des Moines settlement by ox-team, in the spring of 1858. The weather was wet, the streams and sloughs were full and frequently they had to make their own road. On their arrival they erected a log shanty 16x24 feet, with two rooms and began farming operations with the oxen, having brought with them a year's supply of provisions. Mr. Jarvis was a good feeder, and turning his attention to raising cattle and hogs, he soon acquired a considerable fortune. After occupying their first residence fifteen years, they returned to England, and after three years they located in the town of Old Rolfe, and now reside at Rolfe.

William Jarvis, in 1860, served as coroner and drainage commissioner for the county. At the first election for the township he was chosen one of the trustees for Des Moines township and served in that capacity from 1860 to 1872, when he returned to England, a period of thirteen years.

Johnson John A., (b. Aug. 25, 1881)owner and occupant of a homestead on section 12, is a native of Sweden.  In 1869 he came to America and filed a claim for this homestead.  He began the work of its improvement by the erection of a sod house in the spring of 1870, and there lived with him in it that year Charles and John Peterson and John Carlson.  This was the first sod house in that part of the township.  On October 12, 1872, he married Christina Anderson, (b. Sweden, Sept. 17, 1852,) who came to America in 1870.  They began housekeeping in a frame building 12x12 feet, and this is still in use as a part of their present house which was built in 1881.  In 1888 the farm was enlarged to 250 acres by the purchase of 170 acres adjoining it in Bellville township.  Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are highly esteemed members of the Swedish Lutheran church.  They have experienced the trials and hardships of pioneer life, but are now surrounded with all the comforts that a good home on the farm can supply.  Their family consists of seven children - Jennie, Oscar, Edward, Minnie, Alfred, Victor and Ida.