The Other Owner of the Harriman-Nielsen House
Most of us are aware that Dr. Oscar B. Harriman and his family built and then lived in the now named Harriman-Nielsen House on the west edge of Hampton. Even more familiar to Hampton locals is the family of Christian Nielsen who owned the property from 1920 until it became the property of the Franklin County Historical Society in 2002. Far fewer us of us know much about the other family who lived and died in the Harriman-Nielsen House from 1907-1920. Here is their story.
Henry Wilhelm Skow (Vilhelm Skou) was born June 4, 1868, in Strandhuse, Denmark, the son of Han Mikkelsen Skou and Ingeborg Kathrine Jochumsen. He entered a blacksmith apprenticeship at the age of 15; when he was 18, he served for a year in the Danish Army. Mr. Skow came to America when he was 21 years old and settled at Badger, Iowa, where he was a blacksmith. On March 1, 1889, he married Maren Buhl in Fort Dodge Iowa. Maren was the daughter of Peter Buhl and Anna Hansen and was also a Danish immigrant. They had three daughters: Ingeborg (1890), Annie (1892), and Mary (1894). Maren died during the childbirth of Mary and is buried in Badger, Iowa, in the Hovey Cemetery.
Following Maren’s death, Henry took his daughters back to Denmark and left them with family. The Hampton Globe reported in April of 1896 that Henry was returning to Stranhuse, Denmark, where his mother had been caring for his three daughters for two years. While in Denmark, he married Maren’s younger sister, Mary Cathrine, in October of 1896. The family returned to Hampton in April of 1897.
The March 4, 1898, issue of the Hampton Globe reported:
“H. Skow opened his new blacksmith shop, corner of Fifth and Walnut streets, Monday for business. His commodious shop is thoroughly equipped for blacksmithing and wood work of all kinds, and being experienced in both branches of the business, Mr. Skow assures the public that all work turned out by him will be well done. That he has faith in Hampton and faith in his ability to do the best of work is evidenced in the fact that he has invested largely of his means in building the substantial shop he has in which to do business. Mr. Skow is a good citizen and an honest man, and those who patronize him will find him fair and honorable in his dealings.”
Henry and Cathrine had two daughters: Helen, who lived only a few months in 1901, and Kathryn Henrietta born in 1904. Henry purchased the Harriman property in 1907 after Dr. Harriman died. While living on this property, two of Henry’s children with his first wife died. Annie Kristine died in 1909 of a ruptured appendix; Mary died in 1912 of consumption (tuberculosis). Hellen, Annie, and Mary share a gravestone in the Hampton Cemetery.
In 1920 he sold the property to Chris Nielsen and moved the Skow family to the C.B. Clark estate located on the SW corner of Third and Iowa Streets (now 1st St SE) in Hampton.
On September 6, 1932, Henry was badly burned when his clothing caught fire while he was sitting on the porch of his home. It was believed that his clothing caught fire either from sparks from his pipe or from matches igniting in his pocket. He was wearing his work clothes, which were pretty well grease soaked; the garments became a mass of flames. Reportedly he rushed into the house and Mrs. Skow extinguished the blaze with water. However, he was badly burned from his shoulders down and perished four days later from his injuries.
The funeral was held at Mr. Skow’s home; his is buried in the Hampton Cemetery. He was a life-long member of the Danish Lutheran Church and a member of the I.O.O.F and Rebekah Lodges. He served for a number of years as a member of the city council and was superintendent of the water department for a number of years. At his death he had two brothers and three sisters who still lived in Denmark.
(Hampton Chronicle Sept. 15, 1932)
What happened to the two surviving children and his second wife? Look for another article.
Home of Henry and Cathrine Skow 1907-1920
Henry Skow in late 1920’s or early 1930’s.
Henry Skow with Ingeberg, Annie and Mary (L to R) 1894
Cathrine Skow 1907-08 when 31-32 years old