"History of Freeborn County", 1882
Mansfield Twp. Biographies
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BENJAMIN H. DILLINGHAM was born in Maine on the 27th of December, 1841. He was raised on a farm and attended the Friends Seminarv. located in Providence, Rhode Island. In 1862, he was joined in marriage to Miss Emma J. McCurdy, who was born in his native State. They came to Iowa in 1866. and engaged in farming three years, since which time Mansfield has been their home, taking a quarter in section thirty-two. Their children are, Henry E., James S., Charles H., Oliver E., George A., Mary F., Millard F., Lilian, and an infant not named. Mr. Dillingham takes a deep interest in educational matters, was one of the leading men in starting the public schools in this place and has been Clerk of the school board eight successive years.
JOHN KRAUS HAAR, an old settler in this place, is a native of Germany, born in the village of Shlenklfehlt, near Frankfurt-on-the-Main, on the
15th of April, 1817. He received a good education in the public schools of the village, and when fourteen years old began the trade of a cabinetmaker, and after four vears at the same was engaged in the manufacture of the celebrated Kraus Haar pianos and organs. In 1842 he came to America, located in Erie county, Ohio, and followed his trade two years, then to Berlin Centre, and afterward to Litchfield, Michigan. In 1844 he was married to Miss Sarah Beck. After some years at his trade in the latter place his health failed and he came to Rock county, Wisconsin, where he resided on a farm five years and then moved to Mitchell county, Iowa. Since 1863, he has been a resident of this place, taking land in section two. He is a respected citizen, has always taken an active part in all school and local matters, and assisted in the organization of the township, having since held a number of the principal town offices. His children are George H., Mary L., Samuel H., Elizabeth C., Isaac N, John C., and Sarah M.
WILLIAM JOST was born in Waldeck, Germany, on the 27th of August, 1842. In 1864, he came with his parents to America, and directly to Minnesota, locating in section nine, Mansfield. He now owns two hundred and eighty-four acres, about half of which is under cultivation, having a good house and barn. In 1870 he was joined in matrimony with Miss Caroline Frese, also a native of Germany. They have five children; Frederic, Fredrica, Mary, Augusta, and Emma. Mr. Jost's father died at the advanced age of eighty-two years, and his mother still lives, aged seventy-two.
HENRY JAHNKE. one of the first settlers in Mansfield, is a native of Mecklinburg, Germany, born on the 1st of August, 1822. He there grew to manhood, attending school, and in 1852 came to America, first locating in Illinois. He was married in 1852 to Miss Mary Miller. Two years later they came to this township, and under the homestead law took one hundred and sixty acres in sections three aad ten. which is still their home, having a desirable farm well cultivated. Mr. amd Mrs. Jahuke have had six children, five of whom are living, John, Mary, Christ, Mina, and Louisa.
VALENTINE KATZUNG, a native of Germany, was
born on the 6th of January, 1844. When eleven
years of age he came with his parents to America
and located on a farm in Rockford, Ill. From thence they moved to Kilbourn City, Wisconsin, and shortly after came to Minnesota and located in Blue Earth City. In 1864 Valentine enlisted in Company F, of the First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, was in the service one year and then honorably discharged. In 1867 he married Miss Christiana Yost, who was also born in Germany. They have a family of seven children; August, Edward, William, Ferdinand, Herman, Bertha, and Ernestina. Mr. Katzung's farm is situated in section nine.
DAVID LAVALLE, one of the old and substantial citizens of this place, was born near Lake Champlain in Canada in 1839, He grew to manhood in his native place and in 1860, married Miss Louisa Pearmsolt, who was also raised in Canada. In 1865, Mr. Lavalle came west and three years later located in Mansfield, upon the farm which is still his home. He has a family of six children; Elizabeth, David, Milda, Hulda, Eva, and John O. His father, Paul L. Lavalle, lives with him and is a well perserved man of seventy-three years, enjoying the comforts of life with his children's children.
JOHN NIEBUHR was born in Hanover, Germany, on the 22d of November, 1828. He received his education there and in 1864, married Miss Catharine King. They emigrated to America in 1872, coming directly to this place and locating in section seventeen which is still their home. Mr. Niebuhr now owns five hundred and seventy acres of land, about half being under cultivation, and has one of the largest dwelling houses in the place. He is an energetic farmer, keeping a fine lot of stock and also raising small grain He has a family of ten children; Dora, Mary, Eliza, Kate, Henry, William, Louisa, Maggie, Minnie, and George.
REV. P. G. OSTBY was born in Trysil, Norway, on the 12th of August, 1836. He received a good education and at the age of twenty commenced teaching school, and after two years entered a high school, similar to our Normal schools, where he remained two years, then returned to teaching. In 1868, he came to America and attended the College at Paxton, Illinois, and afterward at Marshall, Wisconsin, where he passed a theological course and was ordained as a Lutheran minister. He was Chaplain for C. L. Clauson at St Ansgar, Iowa, for one year, then moved to Austin, Minnesota, and was pastor of the Norwegian
Lutheran church there for seven years. In 1871, he married Miss Garo B. Thornby, and they have a family of five boys; Johannas G., Bernhard I., Paul I. D., Selmar O., and James O. C. In 1878, Mr. Ostby came to Mansfield as pastor of the Lutheran Church of this place, and through his energy and benevolence it is now in a prosperous condition.
OLE I. OPDAHL was born near Bergen, Norway, on the 5th of January, 1853, and came with his his parents to America in 1865. After a residence of a short time in Iowa the family removed to Minnesota and located in Nunda. In 1874, Ole was united in marriage with Miss Betsy Davidson, also a native of Norway, and the same year came to Mansfield, buying land in section eleven which has since been their home. Mr. Opdahl takes an active part in the advancement of education, has held school offices and was a member of the board of Supervisors three years. His farm now contains three hundred and twenty acres and is well improved. He has five children; Louisa, Emma, Gilla, Eva, and David.
ALEXANDER PETERSON was born in Uddevalla, Sweden, on the 8th of August, 1829. At the age of fifteen he went to Norway where he received a good education. He was married in 1853, to Miss Enger Serena Norby, a native of Norway. In 1864, they came to America and resided in Iowa for three years, then moved to this place, settling in section twenty-four. His farm now contains two hundred acres of well improved land. Mr. Peterson is always interested in local matters and has held different offices, is at present Town Clerk and also school clerk. His children are; Mary, Hanna, Caroline, Carl, Peter, Otto, and Alphons.
HIRAM M. PETTIT was born in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, on the 18th of July, 1833. He was raised on a farm, and in 1853, came west to Iowa, where he resided two years, then located in Minnesota, but returned to Iowa in a few years. He was joined in matrimony with Miss Elisif Dibble in 1859. In 1861, he enlisted in the Twenty-seventh Iowa Volunteer Infantry, Company I, and after a campaign through to Mississippi, was taken sick and confined in the hospital at Jackson, Tennessee, five months, after which he was honorably discharged. In 1864, he entered land in section one, Mansfield, and now has it nearly all under cultivation, making a good home. He has filled a number of school and town offices. Mr.
aiid Mrs. Pettit have four children; Edison, Hudson, Elmer, and Mary.
HIRAM J. STEWARD, a native of Maine, was born near Bangor, on the 21st of September, 1831. At the early age of twelve years he began working by the day, following the lumber business twelve years. In 1855, he was married to Miss Mary E. Steward, who was also born in Maine, and they settled on a farm near Saint Albans. In 1862, Mr. Steward enlisted in the Twenty-second Maine Volunteer Infantry. Company K, went to New Orleans and at the battle of Port Hudson, June 13th, 1862. was wounded in the right knee where the buckshot still remains. After a service of eleven months, he received an honorable discharge and returned to his home. In 1866, he came west to Iowa, remained three years and then came to Minnesota, taking land in section twelve where he still resides. He has a fine farm, and the tidy appearance of his home gives evidence of his eastern education and habits. Mr. and Mrs. Steward have three children: Phedora C., Lizzie M., and Hiram H.
HENRY J. SCHMIDT was born near Joliet, Illinois, on the 26th of August, 1853. and when three years old came to Mansfield, with his parents who were among the first settlers in this place. Henry was married in 1878, to Miss Caroline Leonhardi, also a native of Illinois. They have had two children: Henry and Arthur, the former having
died when one year old, and the latter on the 23d of September, 1882. Their farm contains two hundred and eighty acres with the greater portion under cultivation. Mr. Schmidt has been school Clerk six years, Town Treasurer four years, Postmaster for a time, and is at present Treasurer of the school district. His parents are both dead, his mother having died when thirty-eight years old, and his father at the age of sixty-seven.
HENRY TUNELL was born the 29th of June, 1826, near Hanover, Germany. When seventeen years old he enlisted in the army as a Volunteer, serving seven years and one month. In 1850 he married Miss Dora Olmyer and the same year emigrated to America. They located near Blooming Grove, Illinois, and after farming there six years, came to Minnesota, settling in Mansfield on section eight, where he has a farm of four hundred and twenty acres, all cultivated. He has eight children; William C., Henry J., Charles, George J., Alvina D., Gustavus. Robert, and Edward, all of whom are grown. Mr. Tunell is one of the influential citizens of this place: has been in the Legislature two terms; Chairman of the board of Supervisors fifteen years; school Director ten years, and Clerk of the, school board of Trustees. After the Sioux Massacre in 1863, he was commissioned Captain of a Militia company for home protection.
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