BIOGRAPHIES: Past & Present of BV Co., 1909; Q thru Z; Buena Vista County, Iowa ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES PROJECT NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://usgwarchives.net/ ************************************************************************ The USGenWeb Archives provide genealogical and historical data to the general public without fee or charge of any kind. It is intended that this material not be used in a commercial manner. All submissions become part of the permanent collection. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Sheryl McClure Febuary 9, 2002 ____________________________________________________________________________ NOTE: For more information on Buena Vista County, Iowa Please visit the Buena Vista County, IAGenWeb page at http://iagenweb.org/buenavista/ ____________________________________________________________________________ From the History Book; Buena Vista Past & Present (1909) INDEX SUCKOW, Nelson SUTTON, Frederick E. WINTHER, Paul WITTER, George NELSON SUCKOW Nelson Suckow, who follows farming on the old homestead property in Lee township, Buena Vista county, is a worthy representative of one of the old and prominent families of this section of the state. He is a native of Decorah, Iowa, born July 7, 1854, a son of Lars J. and Sigried (Boe) Suckow, both of whom were natives of Norway. In 1844 the emigrated with their family to America, the trip across the Atlantic requiring ten weeks. Landing at Quebec, Canada, they journeyed by lake to Muskego, Wisconsin, where they spent two years. On the expiration of that period they continued their journey to Winnebago county, Illinois, where they remained six years. With a wagon and team of oxen they then journeyed to Decorah, Iowa, where the father engaged in farming for twelve years and, then, being a shoemaker by trade, he also did shoemaking in connection with his farming operations. In 1864 Buena Vista county was being opened up for settlement and in May of that year Mr. Suckow, with a colony of people, made the journey from Decorah to this section. He had two yoke of oxen and in all there were twenty-four teams, and they also brought sheep, cattle and goats. This part of the country was entirely wild and unimproved, roads had not yet been laid out, and streams and rivers were unbridged. It was a long and hazardous journey but these sturdy pioneers possessed the fortitude and courage that enabled them to press onward into the interior of the country. They traveled through Fort Dodge and coming to the Des Moines river, found that there was no bridge on which to cross. They journeyed on from Twin Lakes to Sac City, which at that time contained but one store and a post office. From there they made their way to the present site of Storm Lake, which at that time was not laid out. After remaining in camp for two days they journeyed north and Mr. Suckow, be acquainted with Torkel Torkelson. Managed to find his place and by him was directed to the land on which Mr. Suckow settled. The 20th of June, 1864, witnessed his arrival there. He then had to go to Sioux City to file his claim on a homestead and the trip required about a week, it being the 4th of July that he returned home, proud that he had in his possession a deed to one hundred and sixty acres of land. The next problem that confronted him was the improvement of the land. He at once built a log cabin, twelve by fourteen feet in dimensions, with a sod roof and no floor, for the nearest point that lumber could be secured was at Fort Dodge, seventy-five miles distant. The first year Mr. Suckow cleared but six acres and the following year he cleared a similar amount, which was planted to the products that were needed only for their own living, for there was no market within reach of them and thus it was necessary to raise all the supplies needed by the family. It was about this time, in 1866, that the grasshoppers appeared and for three years most of the crops were destroyed.. The government then gave out wheat for seed to all who would apply and would appropriate the crops for their own use. In this way Mr. Suckow managed to provide for his family, consisting of nine children. The winter of 1869 was a severe one, the snow was so deep it was impossible to get to market and the only man who had any corn was Mr. Brook, who lived in Brook township, thirteen miles distant, and Mr. Suckow made a trip, requiring three days, to his place and secured corn from which to make bread. As time passed the country became more thickly settled, towns and villages sprung up, railroads were built, and they were brought in closer connection with the outside world. The father, as stated above, was a shoemaker by trade and he eventually left the care of the farm to his sons, while he built a shop in Sioux Rapids and worked at his trade there. He became a prominent factor in the upbuilding and development of this section of the state and his labors were of direct benefit to Lee township. He became active in public affairs and for eight years served as county supervisor.. He was also prominent in the rural development of his community, being a devoted member of the Lutheran church, in the faith of which he passed away July 4, 1896, lacking but a few days of being seventy-nine years of age. Thus ended a long, useful and honorable career of one of the best known pioneers of Buena Vista county. The mother survived for about ten years and died May 24, 1906, having reached the advanced age of eighty-five years. Both are buried in the Sioux Valley cemetery. The family numbered fourteen children but only five of the number now survive. The record is as follows: Christine died in Sioux Rapids in 1892. Fred and Christopher are twins, the former living in Millelacs county, Minnesota. Christopher enlisted in 1866 as a member of the regular army and for some time was stationed in Macon, Georgia. After his discharged it was learned that he started for the north and later it is supposed that he started for South Africa, but nothing has ever been heard from him since that time. Carl died in infancy. Ellen became the wife of Theodore Steen, an old soldier. He was mail agent on the Union Pacific railroad from Omaha to Ogden. His death occurred in Omaha in 1880,while his wife died August 13, 1881. They had two children: Lewis Steen is an electrician residing in California. Effie Steen is the wife of J. C. Kittleson, employed in the Columbia National Bank of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Edward died in infancy. Ludwig, now residing in Rapid City, South Dakota, wedded Julia Johnson, of Fort Dodge, Iowa, and has a family of six children. Bernard is the next member of the family. Nelson, the next in order of birth, is the subject of this review. Norris, who was born near Decorah, in Winneshiek county, still survives. Surene died in infancy. Theodore died at Spirit Lake, this state, in 1884, while out with a surveying party. Edward, who was born in Winneshiek county, Iowa, was lost in snow storm on the mountains near New Castle, Colorado, in 1902. Rudolph went to the Black Hills at the age of twenty-two years, and contracted an illness after which he returned to Sioux Rapids and died in 1888. Nelson Suckow spent the period of his boyhood and youth amid pioneer surrounding and shared with the other members of the household in the hardships and privations which had to be met when they first located in Buena Vista county, for he was a little lad of ten years at the time of the removal of the family from Decorah to this county. From the time he was able to handle a plow he assisted his father in the work of the fields and remained under the parental roof until he had reached the age of twenty-two years. At that age he went to South Dakota and located on a homestead in Beadle county, while in 1880, in the companywith Robert Ingersoll and John King, he established the first printing office in Huron, that state, and erected the first building in town. Mr. Suckow speculated in land and also did surveying, while his partners conducted the work in connection with the newspaper. He also took an active part in the building and development of Mitchell, South Dakota, which is today one of the thriving cities of the north. In the fall of 1881 he located a homestead within a half mile of Redfield and in partnership with Rufus Hadley conducted a land office at that place. In February 1885, he disposed of his holdings in Redfield and moved to Fairbanks, where he engaged in the real estate business, but a year later the town, after having a boon, suffered a collapse and Mr. Suckow then abandoned the place and made his way to Rapid City, where he carried on a similar enterprise. He spent several years thereafter in the north in various cities and at one time conducted a hotel in Ortonville, Minnesota, but eventually, on account of the advanced age of his parents, he returned to Buena Vista county and has since operated the old homestead property in Lee township, being numbered today among the substantial agriculturists of the part of Buena Vista county. Mr. Suckow married April 10, 1885, in Fairbanks, South Dakota, to Miss LenaOlson, a daughter of Ole and Martha (Veride) Olson, natives of Norway, whence the family emigrated to the new world and settled in Buena Vista county in 1877. The father died in Norway in 1883, while the mother passed away in Bristol, South Dakota, in 1895. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Suckow has been blessed with one daughter, Laura, who on the first of January, 1907, was married to D. C. Haase, and they are now on the farm with her father. About three years ago they adopted a son, Ludwig A. D. Suckow, who is now five years of age. Mr. Suckow is a stanch republican in his political views and for sixteen years has filled the office of the justice of the peace, while for two years he was treasurer of the township and is now serving as school director. He and his family are members of the Lutheran church. No pioneer of Buena Vista county is more familiar with its early history than is Mr. Suckow. Although he spent some years in the north the period of his boyhood and youth were passed here, and he is familiar with the hardships which confronted the family in the days of the county's early history and he today rejoices in the progress that has been placed upon a par with the older sections of the state. He is highly esteemed in his community and it is therefore with pleasure that we present the record of his life to our readers. END FREDERICK E. SUTTON After a long, active and useful life identified with the agricultural interests of Buena Vista county, Frederick E. Sutton is practically living retired in Sioux City, where he owns a nice residential property, but still gives supervison to his extensive landed interests. Mr. Sutton was born in Oxford, New Haven county, Connecticut, June 10, 1844, a son of Edward J. and Lucretia A.(Morris) Sutton, the former a native of Chittenden county Vermont, and a son of James Sutton, of English ancestry. Mrs. Sutton was born in Connecticut and by her marriage became the mother of three sons: E.M., who was married and spent his entire life in the east, passing away in 1907; F. E., of this review; and C. J., a resident of Chittenden county. Frederick E. Sutton was quite young when the family removed from its native state to Vermont and there he was reared and educated, being given good school advantages. He remained on the home farm during the period of his boyhood and youth and farmed in Chittenden county for several years. In 1872, however, believing that the new and rapidly developing west offered more oppotunities than east, Mr. Sutton removed to Buena Vista county, Iowa, and purchased eighty acres of land on section 13, Maple Valley township, on which stood a small house but was otherwise unimproved. He broke the land with an ox team and in due course of time had the soil in a fine state of cultivation, so that he harvested plentiful crops each year as a reward for his care and labor. He later remodeled his pioneer home and eventually replaced that structure with a modern two-story residence. He also enlarged the boundaries of his farm by adding eighty acres, so that the old home place now embraces one hundred and sixty acres of rich and valuable farm land. Moreover, he purchased twenty acres of land in Sulphur Springs, which tract is supplied with a good residence, also owning two business houses there, and in that city he made his home for several years. As his financial resources increased he invested in three hundred and twenty acres of land in Beadle county, South Dakota, which is improved with a fine dwelling and substantial outbuildings. For a long time Mr. Sutton was actively engaged in general agricultural pursuits but for the past few years has made his home in Sioux City, Iowa, merely looking after his invested interests, for the competency that he has acquired now enables him to rest from his former toil. Mr. Sutton was married in 1864 to Miss Etta Smith, who was born and reared in Vermont. After a happy married life, covering a quarter of a century Mr. and Mrs. Sutton were separated by the death of the latter in 1889. Mr. Sutton formerly gave his support to the democratic party but is now a republican, casting his last presidential votes for Presidents McKinley and Roosevelt. His activity in business has not only contributed to his individual success, but has also been a prominent factor in the development of Buena Vista county where he has so long made his home and although he now resides in Sioux City, where much of his interest centers, he still maintains a deep concern in the section of the state which he saw grow and develop from a wild region into a rich agricultural district and his labor was an imnportant means in bringing this about. END PAUL WINTHER Paul Winther, residing on section 23, Newell township, is the owner of a farm of three hundred acres and is an extensive breeder of stock, making a specialty of raising polled Angus cattle. Denmark claims him among her native sons, but no resident of Buena Vista county is more loyal to the interests of America and her institutions than Paul Winther. He was born in Voxlev Sogn, May 4, 1842, his parents being Christian Kjarsgaard and Maria (Winther) Kjarsgaard, both of whom were natives of Denmark. The father was a farmer in Denmark and there spent his entire life. The paternal grandfather was named Peterson and died in Denmark when well advanced in years. He devoted his life to farming and gardening. The maternal grandfather was Ole Winther, who also followed farming in Denmark throughout his entire life. The death of Christian Kjarsgaard occurred in December, 1870, when he was seventy-five years of age and his wife passed away about eight years later when seventy-six years of age. He served his country as a soldier in the regular army for seven years. Both parents of our subject were Lutherans in religious faith. The father was twice married and by his first wife had two children: Catharine, who is now the wife of Bek Toft; and Metta, who is deceased. Paul Winther was one of a family of four sons and one daughter: Ole, who is living in Denmark; Peter, also of the same country; Nels, whose home is in Newell township; Paul, of this review; and Kirstina, the wife of Christ Jensen, of Denmark. No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for Paul Winther in the days of his boyhood and youth. He acquired his education in the schools of his native country, and through the summer months worked in the fields, remaining at home until he reached man's estate. A comparative review of the business situation and opportunities of the new world and of the old led him to the belief that he might have better advantages in America and accordingly in 1871 he sailed for the United States and came to Iowa, purchased one hundred and ten acres of land in Newell township, Buena Vista county. As the years passed by he has prospered and has extended the boundaries of his farm until he now owns three hundred and thirty acres of finely improved land. He has been extensively engaged in breeding and raising polled Angus cattle and is considered an authority on fine stock. He has produced some of the best cattle raised in the county and in his farm work he is also meeting with success, his richly tilled fields annually bringing forth golden harvests. He bought land for thirty dollars per acre, which is today one hundred dollars per acre, owing to the care, labor and improvements he has placed upon it. On the 22nd of April, 1871, Mr. Winther was married to Miss Mary Staun, a daughter of Nels and Julia (Nelson) Staun. Her birth occurred in Denmark, September 12, 1844, and her parents were also natives of that country. Her father died when about fifty-three years of age, while the mother survived him until 1890 and passed away when eighty years of age. They were the parents of eight children: Metta, deceased wife of Martin Hansen; Sena, the wife of Andrew Dalsgaard, of Denmark; Peter Christian; Paul; James; Carrie, the wife of Peter Kjarsgaard; Mary, the wife of Paul Winther; and Annie, the wife of Nels Knutsen. All are yet living in Denmark, with the exception of Mrs. Winther. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Winther have been born the following named: Christ, who died in infancy; Charles, who died at the age of twelve years: Julia, deceased; Julia, the second of the same name, who became the wife of L. N. Peterson, of Newell township, and has five children: Esther, Marion, Bernice, Martin, and Ruth; Martin, who died at the age of fourteen years; Mary, the wife of Christ Lobner, by whom she has one child, Francis; Nellie, who married Peter Hemmingsen, a resident of Newell, and has three children, Elmer, Leon and Naomi; Frank, deceased; Frank, the second of the name; Charlotte, at home; Elvira, who died at the age of 10 years; and Delsina, also yet under the parental roof. Mr. and Mrs. Winther are members of the Baptist church; and are earnest consistent Christian people. He votes with the republican party and is interested in community affairs, giving stalwart support to many measures for the general good. He has served as school director and is now filling the position of school treasurer. Aside from his farming interests he is the president of the Newell Creamery Company. He is today numbered among the prominent agriculturalists of Newell township and is an influential citizen, for all who know him esteem him for his integrity of character and recognize his genuine worth. He has the best interest of the community at heart and withholds his cooperation from no movement which he believes will prove of public good. His worth is widely acknowledged and his prosperity is well merited as it has come as the logical sequence of a life of industry and will directed thrift. END GEORGE WITTER George Witter, whose business activity is now confined to the supervision of his invested interests, was for many years one of the most enterprising and progressive merchants of Storm Lake, and his business affairs contributed in large measure to the upbuilding and prosperity of the city, as well as to his individual success. There are few men who continue in trade for forty years that enjoy so spotless a record of business integrity, and his record may well serve as an example that might profitably be followed. He was born in Dubuque county, Iowa, April 1, 1851. His father, George P. Witter, was a native of Germany and came to the United States in 1846, in which year he located in Dubuque county upon a farm which he entered from the government. He had acquired his education in the schools of his native land and had there learned and followed the weaver's trade but in this country his entire attention was given to general agriculture pursuits. Becoming a naturalized citizen, he gave his political support to the whig party until his death, which occurred in 1852 when he was forty-two years of age. Both he and his wife were consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mrs. Witter, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Peter, was born in Gemany and passed away July, 1872, at the age of sixty-one years. They were married ere their emigration to the new world and they became the parents of twelve children, of whom five are yet living: George and Adam, who are residents of Buena Vista county; and three now living in Dubuque county. George Witter, the youngest of the family, was reared upon the home farm and attended the district schools nearby, also pusuing his studies in a private school in Galena, Illinois. There he learned the carriage-making trade, which he followed for about ten years, on the expiration of which period he removed to Storm Lake in the spring of 1878 and here engaged in the furniture and undertaking business. For thirty years he was a factor in the commercial circles of the city, retiring on the 1st of January, 1908. He has been vice- president of the Commercial National Bank of Storm Lake since its organization. He had been very successful and had developed an enterprise which is second in importance to no establishment of this character in north-western Iowa. His business policy was one well worthy of emulation. His path was never strewn with the wreck of other men's fortunes, nor was he ever known to take advantage of the necessities of another in a commercial transaction. He won his success through close application, enterprising methods, and honorable dealing, and while promoting his individual interests he also contributed to a great extent to the upbuilding of the city. In 1878 he erected a frame building in which to carry on his business and in 1881, in order to meet the growth of the trade, he erected a brick structure twenty-one by one hundred feet. His business still grew, however, and in 1888 he built a two-story L, extending east from the rear and facing on Erie street. This is now occupied by the Vidette office. In 1899 he erected another business block west of and adjoining his original property on Fifth street. It is thirty-five by ninety feet and three stories and basement. It has a pressed brick front and is a modern establishment in all of its appointments and equipments. The block has a frontage of seventy-five feet from the Erie street corner west on Fifth street. In 1878 Mr. Witter was united in marriage to Miss Kate Bauman, who was born in Dubuque county, Iowa, in 1855, a daughter of John and Mary Bauman, who were natives of Germany, and on coming to this country settled in Dubuque county in the early '50s. Mr. and Mrs. Witter became the parents of five children: Lora, born September 14, 1879 and passed away July 15, 1880; Ella N., whose birth occurred in 1882 and who is supervisor of art in the Muscatine schools; Willard W., born March 8, 1884, who is at home; Florence F., whose natal day was July 7, 1885, also at home; Frances M., born September 12, 18877, who is supervisor of music in the Storm Lake schools. The parents are members of the German Methodist church, in the work of which they take a most active and helpful interest. As his financial resources have increased Mr. Witter contributed more and more largely to its support and for the past thirty years he has been superintendent of the Sunday school. While he frequently gives his support to the republican party, he is a stanch advocate of temperance and casts an independent local ballot. He has served as member of the school board and no interest of the community along material, intellectual, social or moral lines fails to receive his endorsement and hearty cooperation. In 1902 he erected one of the most handsome residences of Storm Lake and in this he and his family are now comfortably situated. He thoroughly enjoys home life and takes great pleasure in the society of his family and friends. He is always courteous, kindly and affable and those who know him personally have for him warm regard. A man of great natural ability, his success in business from the beginning of his residence in Storm Lake has been uniform and rapid. As had been truly remarked, after all that may be done for a man in the way of giving him early opportunites for obtaining the requirements which are sought in the schools and in books, he must essentially formulate, determine and give shape to his own character, and this is what Mr. Witter has done. He has persevered in the pursuit of a persistent purpose and gained the most satisfactory reward. His life is exemplary in all respects and he has ever supported those interests which are calculated to uplift and benefit humanity, while his own high moral worth is deserving of highest commendation. END