Charles Almond Iverson, was born 22 April 1867, the second son and fourth child
of Ole Iversen and Sonnov Olsdatter. He was born on the Ole Iverson Homestead,
located about one mile north by northwest of the Rock Church.
Not much is known of Charles Almond's childhood or youth. During the early
part of 1888, Charles Almond journeyed to Sioux County, Iowa with his sister,Juliane, and her husband, Eugene Ernest Coyer. However, he returned to Clifton
Township after a couple of years, where he lived the remainder of his life.
Charles Almond, one of the most dapper young men in the township, married Nettie May Biddick, one of the most beautiful women in the area. They were
married on 19 June 1895 in Platteville. Nettie May was the twelfth child and
last daughter of Richard Biddick and Ann Rundell. She was born 26 May 1870 in
Mifflin Township, Iowa County, Wisconsin. Mifflin Township is next to Clifton
Township, so Charles and Nettie probably knew each other as they were growing
up.
After their marriage they then went to Chicago for their honeymoon. While
there they attended the Chicago World's Fair and rode on the largest ferris
wheel that was ever built. This ferris wheel was so large that the cars on it
were railroad cars.
After they returned to Clifton Township, they settled down to farming on what
is now the headquarters of Trelay Farms, Inc. , two miles north of Livingston.
While living on this farm, three children were born to them, namely: Geneva Mae, on 25 December 1895; Gertrude Amelia, on 9 July 1897; and Leonard Aaron,
on 17 February 1899. In 1900, Charles Almond bought the Ole Iverson Homestead,
to which the family then moved. Four children were born on this farm,
including: Raymond Richard, born 7 November 1901; Alice Viola, born 11
September 1904; Anita Ida, born 1 December 1905; and Gladys Mildred, born 13
May 1907. In 1908 they moved to the Fred Washburn place, which Charles Almond
had just purchased. This farm was located next to the Ole Iverson Homestead,
about half a mile north of the Old Rock Church. Charles's and Nettie's
remaining children were born on this farm and they included: Florence Elizabeth, born 30 September 1908; Homer Harold, born 11 March 1910; andClarence Wesley, born 19 April 1912.
While the Iverson boys were in their teens, they often went up to the Old Rock
Church in the evening hours to play around and to drink alcohol. On the north
side of the cemetery there is an old bronze monument with plates on each side
which are fastened with bolts, belonging to a Mr. Wright. During these outings
the boys often took off these plates and yelled into the monument, "Are you
there Mr. Wright?" One night, while they were yelling, "Are you there Mr.
Wright?", Charles Almond, who was hiding behind a tree near the monument,
responded with, "Yes, I am and here I come to get you." Without a moments
hesitation, the boys ran across the cemetery, jumped the fence, and ran down
the hill towards the Home Farm. They were so scared that they did not see
their father rolling on the ground and laughing.
During one of his surveys of the farm, Charles Almond, found a grave below
Homer's woods. He did not know who it belonged to, but he thought it must have
been a Negro slave or an Indian.
Nettie May was quite an amiable woman, well mannered and even tempered. One of
her favorite phrases, which she used at mealtime was, "Pitch in, pitch out,
help yourself or do without." This phrase was passed down and often used by
her daughters, especially by Florence.
Homer and neighbors built a dam below the bridge on the Home Farm. The water
was deep and the pond became a swimming hole for the whole area. Homer was
quite a swimmer and several times was called upon to use talents to rescue
others from drowning. These included Gib Shin and Howard Wagner. To
supplement the enjoyment of the pond, Raymond and Leonard built a raft out of a
log house.
Florence, Clarence, Anita, Gladys, and Homer graduated from the high school in
Livingston. Later, all but Anita attended Platteville Teachers College.
Both Homer and Clarence were on the football team in high school. Clarence was
in the backfield and Homer was a running back. During high school Homer hurt
his knee in baseball. Unfortunately, Homer was to small to play any sports in
college. Clarence, was known as an agile runner and progressed to the regional
track meet, where he took first place.
Raymond and Geneva had an accident in the Chrysler at the Rock Church corner.
Geneva was quite shook up by the whole incident, but Raymond didn't seem to
mind in the least.
Gertrude slept with the windows open throughout her life. In the winter of
1945 she caught pneumonia and died from it on 16 December, as a result.
Charles Almond served in many capacities of service during his lifetime. He
was on the Town Board for a year. That year the Board was called the "whiskey
board" for obvious reasons. They "spent less money that year than any before
or since", and were not re-elected because of it. Later, Charles Almond served
as
the Town grader. Unfortunately, he did not understand the principles of
grading roads and graded them until level instead of mounded. Again, he was
not re-elected because of it.
During his middle age, Charles Almond gave up alcohol and caught the spirit of
religion. He attended the Rock Church and later, became the superintendent of
the Sunday School there. He held this post for many years.
In 1939, Charles Almond and Nettie May retired from farm life, selling their
farm to their son, Homer, and moving to the Franklin B. Rundell home in
Livingston. On 30 April 1941 Nettie May passed from this life, as did Charles
Almond on 14 May 1949. They are both buried at Rock Church Cemetery on the
south side of the church.
(George Wm. Phillips, Ancestry and Family History of Mary Anne Iverson, Family
History Group, 2001 - 2003, GWP Archives and Databases.
Based on personal research of the author commencing in 1980. Published on the
internet, beginning 2001. Source Media Type: Electronic Data.
)
