The residence is presently owned by Mrs. John K. Jensen of Palatine, Ill., and her son John K. Jensen Jr. of Green Bay, Wis. Mrs. Jensen is the daughter of K. D. Miller, one-time superintendent of schools in Fort Dodge, who purchased the property in 1939 from the estate of Rowena H. Haviland.
A. J. Haviland was born in Pawlings, N. Y., in 1820 and did some carriage making and contracting in the east before coming to Webster County in 1855. He located in Cooper Township north of the city where he farmed for six years and then moved into Fort Dodge and in 1870 built the Third Avenue North residence. He resided there with his wife, the former Mary Colby, and their four children.
Two years after his arrival in the county he established the Fort Dodge Nursery at the north edge of the city and operated it along with his farm. He was a noted horticulturist and was well-known throughout the northwest part of the state as an authority in this line of work. Following his death in 1888, Mrs. Haviland and children continued to make their home in the old homestead until her death in 1901.
Historians report that “The Evergreens” at the north edge of the city, formerly used as a nursery by A. J. Haviland, was “one of the most beautiful places to be found in or around Fort Dodge.” W. C. Haviland, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Haviland, was credited with planting the first apple trees in Cooper Township. Later he had the large apple orchard at the north edge of the city.
THE JOSELYN HOME
The Joselyn home
310 Northwood Avenue
A graduate pharmacist, who later manufactured mineral feeds for livestock, built this impressive Snell Place residence at 810 Northwood Avenue in 1922. He was Ed S. Joselyn who moved his manufacturing operations from Rockwell City to Fort Dodge in 1921 and continued in business here until 1930.
Mr. and Mrs. Joselyn and family resided in this large home until 1932 when it was sold to Charles A. Helsell, Fort Dodge attorney. Helsell was transferred to Chicago in 1938 as solicitor general for the Illinois Central Railroad and the house was then sold to Dr. and Mrs. E. F. Beeh.
Present owners of the home are Herbert Bennett, Fort Dodge attorney, and his wife, Geraldine, who acquired the property in 1964 from the estate of Dr. Beeh. They reside in the attractive residence with their daughters, Karen, and twins Kathy and Kris.