The Pilgrim Family of Winneshiek County, Iowa

CHARLES W. PILGRIM.

Winneshiek county numbers among her most valued and worthy citizens, Charles W. Pilgrim, whose fine farm of one hundred acres on section 14, Madison township, is visible evidence of his life of industry and thrift. He has been a resident of Iowa since 1870 and has consequently witnessed a great deal of the later growth and development of the state, the years bringing him success, prominence and a comfortable fortune. He was born in England, December 14, 1845, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Croft) Pilgrim, the former a native of England and the latter of Wales. The father came to America and settled in French Grove, Peoria county, Illinois, in 1851 and he remained there two years, moving at the end of that time to Knox county in the same state. He rented a farm, but one year later his wife died of cholera and the father moved from that property to another in Knox county. He afterwards married again and went to Henry county. Illinois, where he purchased land in the vicinity of Galva, operating this for a number of years. Eventually, however, he retired from active life and moved into Galva where he resided until his death in July,

Charles W. Pilgrim was only six years of age when his parents came to America and he acquired his education in the district schools of Illinois. After his mother's death he made his home with his sister until he was eighteen years of age. after which he worked out by the month as a farm laborer for five years. At the end of that time he married and rented a farm near French Grove. This property he operated for two years and then moved to Buena Vista county, Iowra, making his first location in that state in 1870. After a short time he moved into Clay county and there, took up a homestead claim of eighty acres which he improved and operated for seven years. A more than usually destructive grasshopper invasion, however, at length caused him to sell his farm and move into Winneshiek county where he had previously spent one season operating a threshing outfit and a clover huller for W. C. Cook of Hesper. When he returned after disposing of his property in Clay county, he settled in Hesper, bought property there and turned his attention to the teaming business. After nine years he hired out to William Beard & Sons as a cream hauler and thus began a connection with ' creamery interests of this vicinity which extended over a number of years. After two years and a half as hauler he was made cream inspector and overseer of all the routes controlled by his employers and during this period superintended the erection of a creamery at Galeville, Wisconsin, and established the interests of William Beard & Sons in that city. Tiring of outside work, Mr. Pilgrim was transferred to Ridgeway, where he superintended the erection of the creamery there and after its completion took full charge of the plant, acting also as buttermaker. At the end of three years he formed an association with H. and L. W. Beard, and the partners bought land, Mr. Pilgrim taking charge of the property in which lie owned a half interest. At the end of seven years during which he brought this farm to a high state of cultivation, he purchased four hundred acres on section 14, Madison township, and began its improvement and development. The farm upon which he now resides is a portion of this property and reflects everywhere the many years of careful supervision and practical labor that have been bestowed upon it. As his sons married he gave each one hundred acres, but one son sold to his two brothers, who now control tracts one hundred and fifty acres in extent. Mr. Pilgrim has retained one hundred acres and makes his home upon it, being numbered today among the men whose well directed labors have been forces in the agricultural development of this part of the state.

On the 3d of November, 1868, Mr. Pilgrim was united in marriage to Miss Nancy E. Boyer, a daughter of Levi and Mary A. ( Turbit ) Boyer, natives of Pennsylvania. The father went to Illinois at an early date and turned his attention to farming, operating a fine property in that state until his death which occurred in 1861. Mr. and Mrs. Pilgrim became the parents of four children: John Edward, who resides in Marshalltown, Iowa; Charles C. and William Franklin, engaged in farming on properties adjoining their father's; and Walter B., a farmer in Frankville township.

Mr. Pilgrim is a member of the Methodist church and his political allegiance is given to the republican party. He is not active as an office seeker, but during the many years of his residence in Winneshiek has been always interested in public affairs, and has borne an active and honorable part in the work of development. He is widely known and favorably regarded among the people of this locality, who respect his success and honor the methods by which it was attained.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

CHARLES CLEMENT PILGRIM.

Charles Clement Pilgrim is engaged in general farming and stock-raising in Madison township, owning one hundred and fifty acres of land on section 14. He has brought his fields to a high state of cultivation and his place presents an attractive appearance, constituting one of the pleasant features of the landscape. He was born in Clay county, this state, on December 25, 1871, and is a son of Charles W. and Nancy E. (Boyer) Pilgrim, a record of whom appears on another page of this work.

Charles Clement Pilgrim was six years of age when his parents located in Winneshiek county, and here he was reared and educated, attending public schools at Ridgeway and later in the vicinity of Frankville. After laying aside his books he taught for one term in district schools, and at the end of that time joined his father in the operation of the homestead. Eventually Charles W. Pilgrim gave his son one hundred acres of land on section 14, Madison township, and to this Charles Clement Pilgrim has since added fifty acres which he purchased from his brother. He has steadily carried forward the work of improvement and development, clearing a portion of his holdings and erecting the necessary barns and outbuildings. He spent four years in Burley county, North Dakota, where he engaged in farming, but his mother being taken ill he returned to Winneshiek county, where he has since made his home upon his farm. He makes a specialty of raising thoroughbred shorthorn cattle and Chester White hogs, and his stock-raising interests are extensive and form a lucrative branch of his enterprise.

In November, 1899, Mr. Pilgrim was united in marriage to Miss < gertrude Hill, a daughter of George and Catherine (Reiter) Hill, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Pennsylvania. The parents came to Jefferson county, Iowa, at an early date and until 1895 the father operated a farm in that locality, lie then removed to Decorah, where he has since engaged in landscape gardening. Mr. and Mrs. Pilgrim have two children: Dora Vesper, aged eleven; and Ellis Clement, aged seven.

Mr. Pilgrim is a devout member of the Methodist church and gives his political allegiance to the republican party, serving as secretary of the school board. His life has been a busy, useful and active one, and his success is indicated in his ownership of one of the valuable farming properties of Winneshiek county.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

WILLIAM F. PILGRIM.

William F. Pilgrim is one of the younger men who is finding his fortune in the soil of Winneshiek county, owning a fine property of one hundred and sixty acres on section 14. Madison township. He was born in Clay county, this state, in February, 1875, and is a son of Charles W. and Nancy E. (Boyer) Pilgrim, of whom further mention is made elsewhere in this work. He was reared and educated in Winneshiek county, having come to this part of Iowa as a child, and after completing the course in the public schools of Ridgeway, supplemented this by a course of Valder's Business College in Decorah. He remained with his parents until he was twenty-five years of age and his father then gave him one hundred acres of land on section 14, Madison township. To this he afterward added a tract of fifty acres which he purchased from his brother and another ten-acre tract, owning today one hundred and sixty acres of well improved land. He has operated it since that time and upon it has made substantial improvements, erecting all of the buildings with the exception of the house. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Hog Buyers Company of Decorah and is well known and favorably regarded in business circles.

In January, 1900, Mr. Pilgrim was united in marriage to Miss Anna A. Elwick. a daughter of John and Mary (Johns) Elwick, natives of England. The father came to this country about the year 1863 and turned his attention to farming in Decorah township, operating an excellent property near Decorah for the remainder of his life. He passed away in 1907, having survived his wife one year. Mr. and Mrs. Pilgrim have adopted two children, Harold, aged twelve, and Mildred, aged nine.

Mr. Pilgrim is a devout member of the Methodist church and is a republican in his political beliefs. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Masons and the

Modern Woodmen of America, and is well known in the local lodges of both organizations. A resident of Winneshiek county since his childhood, he is widely known within its borders, and the substantial qualities which he has displayed in his business and social relations have gained him a high place in the regard and good-will of his fellow citizens.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.