Dickinson County Biographies
Abraham B. Funk Abraham B. Funk, journalist and legislator, was born at Liberty. Illinois, January 12, 1854. He came to Iowa with his father's family in 1865, first locating in Hamilton County and later removing to Estherville. Here in 1870 the young man entered the office of the Northern Vindicator as compositor and made such progress that in two years he became half owner of the Spirit Lake Beacon. In 1878 he established a paper at Flandreau, Dakota, where he was elected the first mayor of the town. In 1879 the same year he returned to Spirit Lake of which he also became the first mayor, and was connected with the Beacon at the same period. Through this journal Mr. Funk acquired wide influence in northwestern Iowa. His political career began with his election as delegate to the National Republican Convention of 1884, and in 1887 he was elected to the State Senate from the district consisting of the counties of Clay, Dickinson, Emmet, Palo Alto and Kossuth. He served in that position for three terms, attaining high rank among the leading members of the General Assemblies during that period of twelve years. As chairman of the committee on ways and means he was largely instrumental in framing and securing the passage of the bill creating the State Board of Control. In 1897 Senator Funk was one of the most prominent candidates before the Republican State Convention for nomination for Governor, at the time Leslie M. Shaw was nominated. Upon the creation of the State Commission to improve and complete the Capitol building, Senator Funk was made a member. [History of Iowa, 1903, submitted by Cathy Danielson]
W. W. Nelson W. W. Nelson, who is now successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits on section 2, Lloyd township, Dickinson county, is one of Iowa's native sons, his birth occurring in Marshalltown, August 7, 1872. His parents were Peter and Tena (Williams) Nelson, both of whom were natives of Denmark. It was in the latter part of the '60s that they came to America and settled in Hamilton county, Iowa, where the father engaged in farming for many years. He is still living but now makes his home in Los Angeles, California. The mother passed away in 1907. In the family were three children, all of whom are still living. W. W. Nelson was reared and educated in much the usual manner of farmer boys of this state and at the age of nineteen years started out in life for himself. For three years he was employed as a farm hand and then turned his attention to the harness business for two years. At the end of that time he purchased a farm in Hamilton county and to its cultivation and improvement devoted his energies until 1906. He then sold out and removed to North Dakota, where he still owns one hundred and sixty acres of land. After residing thereon for five years Mr. Nelson returned to Iowa, but this time located in Dickinson county, where he rented the Empire Farm for a time. Subsequently he purchased one hundred and forty-eight acres on section 2, Lloyd township, and upon that place he still makes his home. He has made a number of useful and valuable improvements upon the farm and is successfully engaged in its operation. In 1897 occurred the marriage of Mr. Nelson and Miss Mary Peterson, who was born in Eldora, Iowa, and is a daughter of Andrew and Carrie Peterson, natives of Denmark, who are still living and now make their home in Story county, Iowa. To Mr. and Mrs. Nelson have been born two sons: Arthur, who is now attending high school in Terril, and Harold, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson are earnest and consistent members of the Christian Church and he is also identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Terril Lodge, No. 612, A. F. & A. M. By his ballot he supports the men and measures of the democratic party and is now serving as school director. He takes an active interest in public affairs and does all in his power to promote the welfare of his community. (History of Emmet County & Dickinson County, Iowa, Vol. 2, 1917)
Roderick A. Smith Roderick A. Smith, one of the early settlers of northwestern Iowa, was born in the State of New York, October 13, 1831, and came to Iowa in 1856. In 1857 he was a volunteer in the Spirit Lake Relief expedition under Major Williams which marched to the scene of the massacre by the Sioux Indians. He made his home at Spirit Lake soon after the massacre and in 1867 was elected to the House of the Twelfth General Assembly from the district composed of the counties of Dickinson, Emmet, Clay and Palo Alto. He has long been a member of the Pioneer Lawmakers' Association of Iowa, and in 1898 read before the Association a valuable historical article on the "Iowa Frontier During the War of the Rebellion.'' In 1894 he was appointed by the Governor a member of the State Commission to superintend the erection of a monument to the memory of the victims of the Spirit Lake massacre and the Relief Expedition under Major Williams. To Mr. Smith was assigned the duty of grading the ground, superintending the construction of the monument and re-interring the remains of the victims of the massacre. Mr. Smith is the author of a very complete "History of Dickinson County" which is a valuable contribution to the historical record of northwestern Iowa. [History of Iowa, 1903, submitted by Cathy Danielson]
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